Jay Bakker reflects on family and encourages gay believers

[davidinalameda]

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/faith/entries/2008/02/25/bakker_reflects_on_family_and.html

for those of you who aren't familiar with Jay, he's one of the best allies the GLBT community can have

Jay Bakker, son of the scandal-rocked televangelist Jim Bakker and the late Tammy Faye Messner, spoke at Metropolitan Community Church in South Austin Sunday. He preached at both services, capping off a weekend of training for gay and lesbian families who about to embark on a campaign to confront churches that promote anti-homosexual teachings.

For those of you who’ve never seen Bakker on TV, he’s a 30-something, heavily tatooed, articulate guy who leads Revolution NYC, a church that meets in a bar in Brooklyn. He learned powerful lessons from his parents who lost their church in the PTL financial scandal. Bakker was 11 in 1987 when things fell apart and his dad went to prison. While he’s a far cry from the conservative Assemblies of God church that his parents grew up in, Bakker said he learned from his folks — particularly his mother — how to be radically welcoming and inclusive.

To that end, Bakker calls himself “gay affirming” and has taken some hits since stating publicly that he does not believe homosexuality is sinful. Reading from Ephesians, Bakker told the packed church, made up mostly of gay and lesbian families, that even though they may have felt unwelcome in churches in the past, the Bible says all believers are one in Christ.

“I don’t know if Focus on the Family wants to admit it or not, but we are one in Christ with them,” he said. “I don’t know if we want to admit it or not.”

[LostinVA]

1. Jim Bakker NEVER preached against GLBTers on the "PTL Club"

I'll give him that. And, Tammy Faye was always a very open and loving person towards everyone, including GLBTs. Her long illness and death were very sad.

I've read about Jay and his ministry. He's an interesting fellow.

[teenagebambam]

2. Tammy Faye

was the first, and as far as I know the ONLY, televangelist to publicly call for ministering to AIDS patients, way back when AIDS was still "the gay disease". She gets a bum rap.

[qb]

3. I used to laugh at Tammy Faye on PTL but she certainly has my respect now.

Her son, too.

[hendo]

4. Great OP!

Thanks for pointing that article out. I can't stand it when some people try to say that all Christians are homophobic A-holes.