The new church policy regarding children of gay parents has been out for a few weeks now.
[poll id=”543″]
Agency, Church Policy, Faith, LDS, LGBT, Mormon, Mormon Culture, weekend poll
Next Steps? (weekend poll)
Agency, Church Policy, Faith, LDS, LGBT, Mormon, Mormon Culture, weekend poll
The new church policy regarding children of gay parents has been out for a few weeks now.
[poll id=”543″]
Wheat & Tares 
For a next step, how about moving on to other topics?
“Pray for leaders to change the policy” is a bit biased. I would recommend praying that the Lord’s will is done, whatever that ends up being. If, as some have claimed, this policy is not of God, then such prayers would have the same effect, without coming to the Lord with one’s own mind made up. All of us can join in those prayers irregardless of our personal opinion on the policy.
Also, I would recommend meeting with one’s church leaders rather than sending a letter. And tithing settlement gives us all a built-in appointment. The reason is that in a meeting you can pray and ask for the Spirit to guide your conversation. A letter can be more easily dismissed–and more easily misunderstood as we often see in online discussions. The non-verbal communication of in-person conversation is much preferable in conveying the intended meaning.
Go on a hunger strike = fasting?
It raised the bar on BS ing oneself about old Utah white men talking with God. Turns out thery’re just old Utah white men.
Other: Keep shouting your anger and disbelief at the interenet in the hopes that someone else will make the decision about you next steps for you.
Have you considered praying for an understanding of why the change was made and then actually opened your heart and mind to the idea that the policy, as hurtful as it may be, might be there for a perfectly good reason?
What answer did you receive Bea?
I’m not necessarily withholding my tithing, but being 10% of my annual increase, I have decided in 2016 to pay my tithing annually. I will set it aside each month and put it in a CD (so I don’t spend it). Then at the end of the year I will decide whether or not to continue to monetarily support the Church. My hope is either the Q15 will have changed their mind on what seems to me to be an unchristian policy or I will have received a witness of its divine inspiration. I pray regularly for one of these two things to happen quickly. If neither happens by the end of next year I’ll have a tough decision to make.
I should add that I am boycotting Deseret Book and even the Church’s other charities, (though I will continue to pay fast offerings because I trust my Bishop will use the donation wisely). I would boycott other Church-owned enterprises if I lived in UT.
“I pray regularly for one of these two things to happen quickly. If neither happens by the end of next year I’ll have a tough decision to make.”
It seems you have already made your decision — you have decided to hold your tithing as hostage, to be released only if the Church meets your demands (or God himself gives you a revelation). Others have said they are making similar decisions with attendance, membership, and so forth. This is all allowable under God’s gift of agency. But that same agency also allows for one to choose a course of patience, forgiveness, kindness, long-suffering, charity, generosity, sustaining, and so forth. In both the short term and surely the long term, somehow I think the latter is the better choice. This view may be in the minority here, but I recommend it in this matter.
I’m still processing things about the policy, the one way I know I can respond within the gospel is to increase how I show love to people who are marginalized. If the policy makes it harder for people to feel welcome, we need to increase how we love and reach out to people who are affected. My focus will be on “coming out” as a safe friend and taking every opportunity to reach out to those affected.