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[00:00:00] So, my name is Michael Toy. I am a lay minister here at St. Peter's on Willis. It's an Anglican church in Te Aro, Wellington. And why are we here today? So, tomorrow starts the Trans Awareness Week. And so, here at St. Peter's, we have a history of Um, being activists and agitators for inclusion of all rainbow peoples, especially within the church, um, and outside of the church. And so, um, a few [00:00:30] of us have been, um, planning some decorations just to celebrate and mark the week and to make sure that everyone knows that. Churches can and should be places of inclusion, of belonging, of liberation, um, for all people, especially trans people. And when you say decorations, what are we talking about? Uh, so we've got quite a few plans. So we had some lofty plans, um, and had to scale them back down. We've, um, got some fabric that we weave through our fence. Um, we, during Pride Week, we do [00:01:00] a rainbow colored weave, um, and this week we'll do a weave with the, um, trans fly colors of blue and pink and white, um. And I think it's, it's a, it's a way of showing that, um, even those barriers, those places, um, that have been, um, obstacles, things like fences, um, they can be redeemed, and they can be places that enfold and protect, uh, and enclose, um, and not [00:01:30] just barriers to exclusion, for exclusion. Why was it important for you to do this today? Um, so I'm a queer Christian and, um, you know, it's just always been, uh, on my heart and on my, um, and my journey throughout Christianity, that story of liberation has been really important to me. And so it's really important to me for, um, Christians to be able to take a stand, uh, and to reclaim, um, this message of liberation when so many other churches and so many other [00:02:00] people of faith only use their religion as a tool for exclusion and control. Hi, I'm Jim Traylan. I'm a member of the St. Peter's on Willis Church, and we decided this year to support the kaupapa of Trans Awareness Week. In fact, we were approached by St. Andrews on the Terrace. Both churches have, in fact, being staunch advocates of queer rights, probably dating back to at least the 1960s. So it's a very proud tradition. [00:02:30] And, um, so yeah, we decided to join forces and not just, like, focus on Trans Day of Remembrance, but actually, um, maybe sort of highlight it all through the week. And we're getting quite excited because we're going to actually light up the church in Trans Pride colours. So we didn't even have to go to the council to ask for them to do some lighting. We're going to do it ourselves. So, St Peter's has a long history with rainbow communities. Can you talk to me a wee bit about that? I'm probably the wrong [00:03:00] person to ask, but, um, it was something around about 1967 or thereabouts, there was this famous, um, Sermon on live radio by I believe it's the Reverend Godfrey or Godfrey Morgan Godfrey Godfrey Wilson Godfrey Wilson That sounds right. Yes, and I don't think he told anybody of his plans, but he's a subtly started preaching on I'm a sexual rights which 1960s would have been a bit of an eye opener to people tuning in for a church sermon. So [00:03:30] Yes, so from about that time, and I'm sure St. Andrews also from about that time have been on the forefront of preaching for queer rights and and for, you know, in making church as an inclusive space, which I think is really important. My own personal viewpoint on it is I mean, I think the church has to take a risk, has to take a lot of responsibility for the, I guess, residual queer phobia in our society because I think a lot of that can [00:04:00] be traced back to to, um, church doctrines. And so, um, it's just great to be part of a church that is Doing its best to address that issue, um, including, you know, within, within our own church, and, but also, yeah, um, taking the, you know, the, um, the advocacy out into the community, um, and also, you know, also, um, I think another role that churches can play is, um, trans people and, and other queer [00:04:30] folk, you know, often, um, are struggling, and, you know, for there to be a, a safe, sort of, a safe place and a, an oasis, you know, that they can come to just, just, just to hang out or, or receive some kind of support. Um, I think that's an important role that, that we can play as well. You mentioned queerphobia and, uh, this year has been horrendous for transphobia, um, around the world, but particularly in Aotearoa. How has that affected you? [00:05:00] Um, well, I suppose in some ways, I like, cause I'm I think I'm about seven or eight years into having come out and transitioning, so I was kind of settled into an almost comfortable routine and then suddenly, um, she whose name shall not be spoken to our country. So I guess Um, and I came out at a time when, when it was just sort of people talking about a trans tipping point. Um, you know, [00:05:30] transgender people had, had sort of started to become a bit more known as, as people within our society. And I'd seen several years, I think, of steady progress. And then I think, I think it's always inevitable that there's some kind of pushback. And, and, but, um, yeah. You know, that, that did affect me in that sense. But what I really welcomed was the fact that I went to the rally in Wellington and wasn't that just spectacular? Like, tens of thousands of Wellingtonians turning out to support trans [00:06:00] people and affirming, um, our place in the society. And, um, even there was somebody from advocating a different viewpoint was there. It still remained relatively peaceful, so I was very glad for that. And I guess also it's good to keep in mind that actually the, uh, the people that have issues, it's a very small minority of people, isn't it? It is a small minority, but, um, I mean, I have to say, yeah, it, um, unfortunately that small minority can, can actually make a [00:06:30] difference. I mean, you sort of like, you know, in my personal experience, I have encountered occasionally people who've Um, you know, had, had an issue with me or made me feel a bit uncomfortable and it's always, you're always wondering like, because of that, when you meet a stranger, where they're coming from, um, if they're not being particularly friendly. So, um, but at least it's a still a small minority and hopefully a, a diminishing minority as the years go by. Alright, thank you all for gathering for our, um, [00:07:00] decorating the church for Trans Awareness Week. We begin with the litany and chorus of Thanksgiving. For the image of God in every person, thanks be to God. For human diversity and its joys and life giving challenges, thanks be to God. For women and their diversity, thanks be to God. For men in their diversity, thanks be to God. For transgender, non binary, and gender fluid people in their [00:07:30] diversity, thanks be to God. For those loved ones who share the lives of gender diverse people, thanks be to God. For professionals who help bring support and strength to gender diverse people. Thanks be to God. For those who give voice and expression to gender diversity, thanks be to God. For those who work for justice and empowerment, thanks be to God. For religious leaders and congregations who are truly affirming, thanks be to God. For continuing revelation and [00:08:00] life giving grace, thanks be to God. The reading from today comes from Genesis chapter 16 verses 10 through 13. The angel of the Lord also said to Hagar, I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude. And the angel of the Lord said to her, Now you have conceived and shall bear a son, you shall call him Ishmael, for the Lord has given heed to your affliction. He shall be a wild ass of a man with his hand against [00:08:30] everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall live at odds with all his kin. So she named the Lord who spoke to her, you or Elroy, the God who sees for. She said, have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing God? I wanted to open the floor for any comments or, um, prayers you'd like to offer on behalf of, um, [00:09:00] yourself or the trans community or the broad, whiter, queer community. Um, to me, this passage speaks To queer liberation, because it's the story of Hagar, that person who wasn't meant to belong. To Ishmael, that person who wasn't meant to belong in the text. And yet, even those people in the story have a place. Even those people still get a voice. And Hagar indeed is the very first person to name God in all of the Hebrew scriptures. The God who sees. And I [00:09:30] think that God continues to see us. Continues to create in us. Um, and to move in us. And all of our diversity and our fluidity, um, as we move in, in a graceful and queerful way. I'll open the floor. So for me, uh, Christianity is about Jesus saying, I have two commandments, both of which are about love. And what does love mean if you exclude [00:10:00] even one of your fellow human beings? So, for me, true Christianity is about inclusivity and It was a tragedy that, um, because of church doctrines in the past that, um, queer people and trans folk were kind of driven underground and persecuted. And so I think it is important for the church to show leadership and, and, um, take responsibility for that as, and I'm very proud to be part of St. Peter's. So I pray that St. Peter's, um, [00:10:30] reaffirms itself in its mission to be an inclusive church. And carry on being a beacon of light in this inner city. Amen. Um, for me, having grandchildren, at least one of whom I think is, um, gender diverse, I feel that everybody has the divine right to be and to express fully who they are and what they can [00:11:00] become. I, I guess I have learned that, um, there's no one pattern of a person that we all, um, that, that God, Love's diversity. So, why shouldn't we? I agree, um, I think that the message of the Bible and the message of Christ is about love. And so I think [00:11:30] loving people for who they are and who they identify to be is the main commandment that we have. And I really enjoy the affirmation of a church like this. Um, St. Peter's has It's been a firming of the queer community since 1967, I think it was, maybe it was 69, with, 67 with um, Godfrey Wilson's um, broadcast sermon. We still [00:12:00] hold. to that path, but the fact that even after all those years, the queer community is not fully integrated and accepted, both into the body of the church and the structures of the church, but also into broader society, reminds us that there is still work to be done, there's still more to be done, and that the opportunity to decorate the church is a way to just proclaim the reality of that, that there is still so much more to be done. [00:12:30] And, uh, this is a great opportunity for St. Peter's to, to reconnect and re engage, um, with that proclamation. Loving Creator, let the rain come and wash away the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds held and nurtured over generations. Let the rain wash away the memory of the heart and neglect. Then, O God, let the sun come out and fill the sky with beautiful rainbows. Let the warmth of the [00:13:00] sun heal us wherever we are broken. Let it burn away the fog so that each of us sees each other clearly. So that we can embrace each other as more than accents, gender, sexual orientation, or skin color. Let the warmth and brightness of the sun melt our selfishness so that we can share the joy and sorrow of our neighbors. And let the light of the sun be so strong that we will see all people as our neighbors. Papatūānuku, nourished by rain. We ask you to bring [00:13:30] forth flowers to surround us with your beauty and let the monga teach our hearts to reach upward to heaven. Then, dear God, grant us comfort, give us peace, and allow us strength to enable us to stand up, fight for, and be a voice for equality. In Jesus name, Amen. May the kaleidoscopic delight of God fill our souls with joy and give us strength to celebrate and embody Christ's love in the world. In the [00:14:00] blessing of God, the God who sees, the God who gives new names, and the God who continues to create within our midst, bring us to our true and loving home, now and always. Amen. Alright, so uh, now comes the fun part. Um, we're gonna decorate the church. Um, there's some cloth and the, the, the fabric clearance shred brag. Um, with that, uh, we can weave through this front fence here, the side [00:14:30] fence there, or maybe the side fence over here. Um, that's as far as I've gotten in terms of planning. Um, I've also got some lights that I will try to, um, hook up and tie down, um, and then I'll be snaking up into the, um, the bell tower to try to get some lights up there. But, um, thank you all for being here and, um, go with God's blessing. Michael. Uh, kia ora, I'm Jean Malcolm. I'm one of the priests here at St Peter's on the corner of Willis Street in Garsney. Um, and [00:15:00] today we, uh, Decorating our fence to, uh, make it clear that we are supportive of all those who are transgender, um, so that we can proudly wear the colors of blue, pink and white and pink and blue. So how, how are you decorating the church? So, first of all, we've, um, we have a set of, of the rainbow colors that we sometimes. weave in and out of the wrought iron fence in front of the church. Um, and today we are doing the, the trans colours. [00:15:30] Um, and so pieces of fabric that we're weaving so that people going past can see those colours. Why is it important for St Peter's to be doing this? One of the things that we, as part of the DNA of our place, is that we want to be a welcoming place for all. Um, and that includes You know, we have to figure out how to welcome all, including those who aren't very welcoming, um, because everybody is welcome here. Um, so the other thing we have to do is make it a safe place. And [00:16:00] so, this is one of the ways of showing that we want this place to be a safe place for transgender people, where they can find a place to express their spirituality and all, all that they are. The, the church has always had, uh, rainbow flags and, um, information about, for, for rainbow communities. Again, why, why is that important for the church? Um, Sadly, one of the places that has not been safe for rainbow people is churches. Um, and it's one of those things that because so [00:16:30] often, uh, churches were the more conservative way of interpreting the Bible have said that to be a rainbow person is somehow wrong. Rainbow people are generally not happy to be anywhere near a church, but what happens if you're a person who has a Christian faith and you're also a rainbow person? So this is about saying this is a place where both those parts of your identity can be celebrated, yeah.
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