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Reflections on Writing for OITM
Reflections on Writing for OITM
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What I first was told was that Guilford Community Church – the church I grew up in – was looking into whether or not they would allow Civil Unions to be performed in their church, and that they expected to have an answer in a year. I was greatly disappointed in the community in which I was raised. That there would even be a debate – a consideration to not allow Civil Unions – shocked me.
When I mentioned this to Euan Bear, OITM’s Editor, she looked me straight in the eye and asked, “Can you write the story?” Reluctantly, I said I would try.
Writing the piece on Guilford Community Church was an eye-opening experience for me. For starters, it was the first time I had ever undertaken the task of writing a news piece. Initially the concept made me nervous, but I really enjoyed the process once I got started.
I learned very early on in this process that my mother still has some phobias. I wondered, at first, whether it was heterosexism or homophobia, but neither seemed quite right. I’ve settled on the idea that my mother has the dreaded “What will others think” fear, and her lack of knowledge about the GLBT community puts a bit of a spin on it.
You see, Mom was the person who first told me about the process. She said it in such a proud tone, knowing that I, too, would be glad that Guilford was moving forward. After all, I am a member of the church as well, even though I haven’t attended a service there since the late 1980s. But when she heard about the article I intended to write, my 70-year-old mother grew more and more nervous. She was afraid that the members of the church would see the article as “advertising” – she said that they probably didn’t want to have people pour into Guilford for their Civil Unions. She told me once that she didn’t want to be “blamed for it.” She felt better as I shared with her how I was writing the piece.
I also learned how very important it is to check the facts of something told to you before you react. I found out that there is a lot more going on with the church discussions than just civil unions. The congregation’s members are trying to answer questions about GLBT folks in the ministry, as well as our ability to teach Sunday School in the church. Both of those propositions run directly counter to the theology and doctrine many of them learned 40 or 50 years ago. Of course, most of us will still think of these questions as no-brainers, but for a large group of old-time Vermonters, it’s a new concept that they need to reconcile with their upbringing.
But what I noticed most is that it’s the little things you learn outside of the process that really stand out – the things you don’t necessarily put in a news piece, but are still important factors. For example, the Houghtons have been friends of my parents and their siblings for as far back as anyone can remember. I’ve admired and respected them all my life, knowing that they are among the most kind-hearted people in Guilford. Then, at a party, a friend shared with me that there was a huge Take Back Vermont banner in their yard during the last elections. And their daughter, who is in an inter-racial marriage, is a sitting deacon of the church and is really struggling with this decision. I’m still processing how to reconcile my experience with them as neighbors with their political views that seek to restrict my civil rights.
On the opposite side, there were also pleasant surprises like the elderly church members – folks you would assume to be “too religious” to accept anything even remotely related to the GLBT community – who are out there working on our behalf.
Everyone was very generous and giving in this process, so much so that I couldn’t even tell when I was speaking with someone totally against Open and Affirming until someone else later told me.
And finally, I learned what a great Editor Euan Bear is. She has been very supportive and giving during my initiation into the world of journalism. Volunteering for OITM is great! If you are interested in writing or any other aspect of OITM, I strongly suggest you give Euan a call.
Jim Petrie