When I was first put on church trial for ordaining and performing marriages for LGBTQ people many years ago I relied on two books more than any others. One of the books was “What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality.” By Daniel Helminiak. The other was “Things They Never Taught You in Sunday School” by D.L. Day.
D.L. Day was a retired pastor who had left the church because of our hypocrisy. These two books not only taught me about the vacuous nature of the case against homosexuality in English translations of the BIble, but they also opened me to a lost subtext of the Gospel of an ethic based on “fruits of the spirit” instead of “works of the flesh.”
A couple of years ago, D.L. Day called to see if we could meet for lunch. I did not make the connection until he gifted me with a stack of his books, including “Why the Clergy Lied” and “How the Clergy Lied.” On the bottom of the stack was one of the two books that helped save my ordination.
I’m sharing all of this because D.L. will be filling our pulpit tomorrow. He does not go to church any more so it is particularly moving for me that someone who has been so alienated from organized religion for so long would put all that aside aside and come fill the pulpit of a friend recuperating from heart surgery.
Anyone is welcome to come hear this remarkable man, but you can also join virtually or just watch on YouTube later. Details are on our website at staopen.org.