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(intense music)
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(birds squawking)
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(soft music)
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- Pagans promoted homosexual acts,
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and let's have a look at it.
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Leviticus 18:22, "Thou
shalt not lie with mankind",
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"as with womankind."
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"It is an abomination."
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So they had a law governing this.
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- They shall surely be put to death.
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Their blood shall be upon them,
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and that my friend is the cure for AIDS.
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It was right there in the Bible all along.
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And they're out spending
billions of dollars
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on research and testing.
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It's curable, right there.
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Because if you executed the
homos like God recommends,
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you wouldn't have all
this AIDS running rampant.
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"See, well I just don't believe that."
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- I don't care what the news media pushes
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and what the public school has to say,
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this Bible said marriage is
between a male and female!
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- [Audience] Yeah!
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- Praise be!
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I was meant to tell you in the mid-90's,
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about '94, '95, no later than that,
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God will destroy the homosexual
community of America.
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- There's such a generation
gap in the world today.
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You're not from my world,
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and I'm not from yours.
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That's why my generation thinks we need
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a constitutional amendment
to protect the sanctity
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of marriage that
guarantees that in America
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the only marriage to be recognized
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is the marriage between a man and a woman.
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- [Sally] In my opinion,
the homosexual agenda
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is a bigger threat than terrorism.
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The homosexual agenda is
destroying people's lives.
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More people have died from AIDS
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than have died from a terrorist attack
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here in America.
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- [Oral Roberts] I go to church too,
43
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but you know it didn't make me queer.
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And I wouldn't buy that 100%.
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Please erase that from the tape.
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Let's edit that out, will you?
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- Woo, 1995 Oklahoma, gay's not good.
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You don't go shopping together.
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You don't necessarily go out
and eat frequently together.
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You have to be careful.
51
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- Even with this bright
lighting right here
52
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on this front porch, you can
see that the vandals managed
53
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to still light the front
of this truck on fire,
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threatening they'll be back.
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That same night, it may
be a little tough to see,
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00:05:12,940 --> 00:05:16,336
but you can see that the
wrote on the garage, CMG,
57
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but that wasn't enough.
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Let's take a bigger look right here.
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You can see in the big white writing.
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It says, gay must go and
it's all over the home.
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A charred truck threats I'll be back,
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and in bigger writing for everyone to see,
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gay must go.
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The message is clear for Robert Stotler.
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He's the gay man that
lives behind these walls.
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- [Robert] This is a big advertisement,
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telling me I must leave.
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- [Reporter] He doesn't wanna leave,
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but Robert says he has no choice.
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The state won't protect him.
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- Right now, I live in fear.
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I cannot live in this house.
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My partner and I had a
rent house in East Tulsa.
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We had just gotten together,
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so he still had stuff in it,
76
00:06:03,603 --> 00:06:05,916
but we had another friend
of ours stay in it.
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The neighborhood I guess had gotten tired
78
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of our other friend staying there.
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- Even though this vandalism
isn't considered a hate crime
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under the Oklahoma State Statute,
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if it were, it would carry anywhere
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between one to 10 years in prison
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with a very hefty fine.
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But for right now, it's just vandalism,
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and that could only carry
about six months in jail
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and a $500 fine.
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- In 1995, there wasn't a place in Tulsa,
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where gay people or transgender people
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or females, there was not a place
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where you could be who you were
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and freely express yourself spiritually.
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There was no, gay people
could not go and hold hands
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and be in the pews and worship God
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without judgment following.
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There was, in 1995 there wasn't a place
96
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where you could be yourself and worship
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as as gay person.
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- I had received several
comments in previous churches
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that I had attended here,
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and it probably played
into one of the reasons
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why I decided to stop going
to church all together,
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because I really did not feel
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that I should be alienated
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or that I should not attend church
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because of the way that I am.
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I believe God has created me
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in his marvelous design,
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and so I felt personally
that if the church
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was not going to accept me,
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then I was not gonna be
affiliated with them.
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- Coming from back east,
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Tulsa is a very conservative church town.
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There's all these churches
I've never heard of.
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I didn't even know what
a Baptist Church was
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until I moved here.
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- I haven't seen an
anti-gay situation directly.
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It's not directed at me,
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but I have seen the attitudes
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and comments said around that
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have led me to believe
that I can't open up
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and be who I am.
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- When I came to Oklahoma,
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it seemed somewhat backwards
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and just to be able to
walk into a grocery store
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and buy a bottle of wine,
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that was unheard of.
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You had to go to a liquor store.
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I had been traveling
with this gospel group.
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I had been going to these churches.
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I was dealing with the whole gay issue.
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I was not really out of the closet.
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I still had, was fearful going
to Oral Roberts University.
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Of course, you couldn't
go the bars and dance.
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They had their advisors there at the door.
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I was asked,
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it was to be a technical director
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for this production company,
138
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and the position was filled.
139
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And so they asked, "How
about if we incorporated you"
140
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"into a team of dancers?"
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And they asked me to dance.
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And so I danced.
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And after it, they came to me and said,
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"It just seems to me that you
are wrestling with something."
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"We noticed that when you danced,"
146
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"we just don't think
that you are a good match"
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"for the organization,"
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"and we think you're
wrestling with issues."
149
00:10:01,657 --> 00:10:02,766
"Is that correct?"
150
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And I knew what they were talking about.
151
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And because of that,
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they felt it would be infectious
153
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for me to be involved with the group,
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that somehow maybe I would be an influence
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on the other artists.
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That's what I got.
157
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They didn't have to say it.
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That's how they said it,
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that I just seemed to be
wrestling with something,
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and they kinda left it at that.
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And so I left a little bit upset
162
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that I was not able to be
a part of this organization
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because of the way I danced.
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Come on.
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- I had a lot of self-hatred,
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because I just thought,
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"I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do,"
168
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"and yet I can't overcome my
sexuality, my homosexuality."
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- I grew up as a Baptist
for the first 30 years
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of my life.
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A pretty serious Baptist,
'cause my grandma lived
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down the street and
cousins across the street,
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and we just went every
time the door was open.
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But in my 20s
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when I discover that I'm gay
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and it's really hard being
gay and being a Baptist,
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so I had basically had
quit going to church,
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because my sexuality and my spiritualness
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could not fit into one hand.
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I think that it was just
always something on your mind.
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I worked at a corporation,
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so you don't take your partner
to the Christmas party.
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My parents were another generation.
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My parents were born in the '20s.
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I didn't share with my
parents my sexuality.
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I didn't feel that it was safe to do that.
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Funny little things, when
you sit down in the chair
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to get your hair done.
189
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I've probably colored my hair at times
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when if it wouldn't be perceived
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that I was gay, I probably
wouldn't have colored.
192
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So you do things, you do things.
193
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You do funny things.
194
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- I was going through counseling
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and being prayed over and therapy
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00:12:14,340 --> 00:12:17,206
to kind work through my homosexuality,
197
00:12:17,230 --> 00:12:18,706
and through a series of events,
198
00:12:18,730 --> 00:12:20,726
it just was not working.
199
00:12:20,750 --> 00:12:22,816
And finally I remember, I just broke down
200
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and started crying,
201
00:12:23,731 --> 00:12:26,963
and I just said, "God, I
cannot do this anymore."
202
00:12:26,987 --> 00:12:28,203
"I'm done."
203
00:12:28,227 --> 00:12:30,453
"If you want to change
me, you've gotta do it."
204
00:12:30,477 --> 00:12:32,643
"But I'm not putting any
more effort into this."
205
00:12:32,667 --> 00:12:36,216
"I'm done, 'cause I can't do it anymore."
206
00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,870
And it was almost like this
boulder fell off of me,
207
00:12:39,894 --> 00:12:41,566
because that was something
I was carrying around.
208
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It wasn't God put it on me.
209
00:12:43,300 --> 00:12:45,363
It was something I was
carrying, I didn't know it.
210
00:12:49,341 --> 00:12:51,706
There was like a freedom of okay,
211
00:12:51,730 --> 00:12:53,846
now we've kinda gotten past that.
212
00:12:53,870 --> 00:12:58,306
- We tend to wanna separate our sexuality
213
00:12:58,330 --> 00:13:00,616
from our Christianity.
214
00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,646
And that's really hard to do,
215
00:13:02,670 --> 00:13:06,413
because it's not something
that you separate.
216
00:13:07,890 --> 00:13:09,949
Being gay and being
Christian is one thing.
217
00:13:09,973 --> 00:13:13,016
It's not two different
personalities you're living.
218
00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,546
But yet back in 1995,
that's what you were doing.
219
00:13:16,570 --> 00:13:19,446
You were living one life as a gay person
220
00:13:19,470 --> 00:13:21,306
and another life as a Christian.
221
00:13:21,330 --> 00:13:23,633
And there was nothing there to say,
222
00:13:23,657 --> 00:13:25,343
"Hey, let's bring this stuff together"
223
00:13:25,367 --> 00:13:27,274
"and just be yourself"
224
00:13:27,298 --> 00:13:30,186
"without having this
duality of personalities."
225
00:13:30,210 --> 00:13:31,806
- Scripture has been
used for so much abuse
226
00:13:31,830 --> 00:13:34,926
in the history of the world, and it's sad.
227
00:13:34,950 --> 00:13:36,746
Because there's so many
scriptures you can pick out
228
00:13:36,770 --> 00:13:40,776
and pretty much clobber
anybody for anything.
229
00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:41,886
But I think if you do that,
230
00:13:41,910 --> 00:13:42,986
you're missing the essence
231
00:13:43,010 --> 00:13:46,166
of what Christianity is supposed to be
232
00:13:46,190 --> 00:13:48,046
and what Christ's teachings were.
233
00:13:48,070 --> 00:13:51,336
- Dealing with homosexuality
is also dealing
234
00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,846
with people's intimate
sexuality themselves.
235
00:13:54,870 --> 00:13:58,156
And people aren't used to
dealing with that in public.
236
00:13:58,180 --> 00:13:59,067
That's private.
237
00:13:59,091 --> 00:14:01,586
That's intimate.
238
00:14:01,610 --> 00:14:04,606
And when that gets dealt with in public,
239
00:14:04,630 --> 00:14:07,733
it brings up a lot of
fears that people have,
240
00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:14,360
and that's a very difficult
issue to negotiate in public.
241
00:14:16,178 --> 00:14:18,595
(soft music)
242
00:14:30,334 --> 00:14:32,626
- I was kind of surprised
when Rick announced
243
00:14:32,650 --> 00:14:35,686
that he had a calling and that
he wanted to start a church.
244
00:14:35,710 --> 00:14:40,216
And honestly, I wouldn't
say that I was running
245
00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:42,806
down a path skipping in joy,
246
00:14:42,830 --> 00:14:46,726
because we were going
to commit every weekend
247
00:14:46,750 --> 00:14:49,546
to having to be in Tulsa and so forth.
248
00:14:49,570 --> 00:14:52,110
- We started out trying
to create an environment
249
00:14:53,110 --> 00:14:55,251
and a church where all
people were just accepted
250
00:14:55,275 --> 00:14:58,176
no matter how they came through our doors.
251
00:14:58,200 --> 00:14:59,586
And it was a place of safety.
252
00:14:59,610 --> 00:15:02,794
It was a place where people
could bring their children.
253
00:15:02,818 --> 00:15:04,826
It would be a place
254
00:15:04,850 --> 00:15:09,506
where people could
recognize same-sex partners,
255
00:15:09,530 --> 00:15:11,292
could answer the call,
256
00:15:11,316 --> 00:15:14,386
regardless of their sexual orientation.
257
00:15:14,410 --> 00:15:16,056
- Several of us that were involved
258
00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,086
at the very beginning of this church
259
00:15:18,110 --> 00:15:21,986
were involved with a large
Episcopal Church in Tulsa.
260
00:15:22,010 --> 00:15:24,756
We could sort of be ourselves.
261
00:15:24,780 --> 00:15:26,406
There were certain things
that we couldn't do.
262
00:15:26,430 --> 00:15:28,796
And so it was like all
of our spiritual needs
263
00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:29,886
were not being met.
264
00:15:29,910 --> 00:15:32,446
And so that was the main
focus of this church
265
00:15:32,470 --> 00:15:34,916
was so that no matter what
your spiritual needs were
266
00:15:34,940 --> 00:15:37,106
or what your needs personally were
267
00:15:37,130 --> 00:15:39,076
that this church could meet those.
268
00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:42,086
- Tulsa was experiencing
some interesting changes
269
00:15:42,110 --> 00:15:46,146
in that there were no,
what we would call now
270
00:15:46,170 --> 00:15:49,956
Open and Affirming churches
that were sacramental in nature
271
00:15:49,980 --> 00:15:52,607
or that would offer all
the seven sacraments
272
00:15:52,631 --> 00:15:56,146
as we would look at it for persons,
273
00:15:56,170 --> 00:15:57,716
lesbian and gay persons.
274
00:15:57,740 --> 00:16:01,556
It was felt that while we
had some wonderful churches,
275
00:16:01,580 --> 00:16:04,746
we had a shalom based Methodist
ministry here in town,
276
00:16:04,770 --> 00:16:09,186
we had the Metropolitan Community
Church here at that time,
277
00:16:09,210 --> 00:16:14,210
there weren't any churches that
approached the worship style
278
00:16:14,452 --> 00:16:17,406
in a Eucharistic or sacramental fashion.
279
00:16:17,430 --> 00:16:19,046
- Being a liturgical
church, you know exactly
280
00:16:19,070 --> 00:16:20,126
what's going to happen.
281
00:16:20,150 --> 00:16:22,076
It'll be different each week
282
00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:24,096
depending on the hymns and
the readings and all that.
283
00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,946
But basically the service is
going to flow the same way.
284
00:16:26,970 --> 00:16:29,766
So no matter what kind of
chaos there is going on
285
00:16:29,790 --> 00:16:32,866
in your life, for that
hour on Sunday morning,
286
00:16:32,890 --> 00:16:34,366
you know exactly what's going on
287
00:16:34,390 --> 00:16:35,796
and you can control it,
288
00:16:35,820 --> 00:16:37,776
and it gives you a sense of peace.
289
00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:38,737
I think for a lot of people,
290
00:16:38,761 --> 00:16:40,756
that's why they're drawn
to liturgical churches
291
00:16:40,780 --> 00:16:44,436
is because there is that sense of history
292
00:16:44,460 --> 00:16:46,646
and tying back and all of that.
293
00:16:46,670 --> 00:16:49,596
- And so our model of worship is like that
294
00:16:49,620 --> 00:16:51,286
of a Roman Catholic Church
295
00:16:51,310 --> 00:16:55,946
or of an Episcopal Church,
Anglican Church, Lutheran Church
296
00:16:55,970 --> 00:16:58,676
in that you have Eucharist
297
00:16:58,700 --> 00:17:00,912
or the liturgy brings the people together,
298
00:17:00,936 --> 00:17:03,886
and it's really stayed
pretty much the same
299
00:17:03,910 --> 00:17:06,166
through all the centuries of the church.
300
00:17:06,190 --> 00:17:08,406
And so you wouldn't find a great deal
301
00:17:08,430 --> 00:17:11,576
of difference if you came to worship here,
302
00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,726
if you attended any of
those type of churches.
303
00:17:14,750 --> 00:17:19,750
And so it follows a very
set order of the Mass.
304
00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:22,486
The rituals we do,
whether it be the incense
305
00:17:22,510 --> 00:17:23,447
of the bells that we use,
306
00:17:23,471 --> 00:17:25,206
all those things tie us back
307
00:17:25,230 --> 00:17:26,576
to the ancient church.
308
00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:27,586
I think that's one of the things
309
00:17:27,610 --> 00:17:29,816
that's very important to
someone who's interested
310
00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:31,596
in a liturgical church
311
00:17:31,620 --> 00:17:34,063
is that sense of connectivity and history.
312
00:17:35,208 --> 00:17:37,625
(soft music)
313
00:17:45,806 --> 00:17:48,139
♪ Ave Maria ♪
314
00:17:52,741 --> 00:17:54,726
- I had a friend that was an organist
315
00:17:54,750 --> 00:17:57,096
and he was going to substitute
316
00:17:57,120 --> 00:17:59,746
for this little church that was starting.
317
00:17:59,770 --> 00:18:01,870
And they were meeting in a metal building.
318
00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:07,952
(singing in foreign language)
319
00:18:21,347 --> 00:18:22,855
And I remember going there a couple times
320
00:18:22,879 --> 00:18:26,366
just to kind of see what it was like.
321
00:18:26,390 --> 00:18:28,316
- In the original building that we were in
322
00:18:28,340 --> 00:18:30,913
over on Utica, if you were the crucifer,
323
00:18:30,937 --> 00:18:33,846
you had to be very careful
carrying the processional cross,
324
00:18:33,870 --> 00:18:35,206
because as you were going down the aisle,
325
00:18:35,230 --> 00:18:37,346
you would hit the fluorescent lights
326
00:18:37,370 --> 00:18:39,276
that were going across the ceiling.
327
00:18:39,300 --> 00:18:40,736
Processional cross was made
328
00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,836
out of a cross that
was hanging on the wall
329
00:18:43,860 --> 00:18:45,066
at Rick and John's house.
330
00:18:45,090 --> 00:18:46,776
They took it down and put it on a stick,
331
00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,646
and we still use that
for Lent around here.
332
00:18:49,670 --> 00:18:52,996
So we have, it ties us back
to our original roots in that.
333
00:18:53,020 --> 00:18:56,966
- The priest Rick Hollingsworth found out
334
00:18:56,990 --> 00:18:59,516
that I was working, and I was dealing
335
00:18:59,540 --> 00:19:02,036
with a local community
theater here in town.
336
00:19:02,060 --> 00:19:05,136
Rick said, "So you all
know how to make costumes?"
337
00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:08,016
And we said, "Well,
yeah, we sew costumes."
338
00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,703
He said, "Well, how about,
would you be interested"
339
00:19:10,727 --> 00:19:14,706
"in helping us sew a cope?"
340
00:19:14,730 --> 00:19:17,263
- It's the old Scarlet O'Hara story.
341
00:19:17,287 --> 00:19:19,279
- I don't care what you
say, only give me the money.
342
00:19:19,303 --> 00:19:20,277
I won't let Tara go.
343
00:19:20,301 --> 00:19:23,363
I can't let it go while there's
a breath left in my body.
344
00:19:24,199 --> 00:19:28,183
- It came from drapes
in our home. (laughs)
345
00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:31,763
And so, yes.
346
00:19:32,730 --> 00:19:35,946
Actually the first set of
vestments that were made
347
00:19:35,970 --> 00:19:38,600
at that time actually were table cloths,
348
00:19:38,624 --> 00:19:41,556
and we had no money
obviously for vestments
349
00:19:41,580 --> 00:19:42,586
and some different things.
350
00:19:42,610 --> 00:19:45,616
And so we had people in
the parish who could sew.
351
00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:48,626
- And Paul and I were just
kinda looking at each other
352
00:19:48,650 --> 00:19:52,391
going, "Okay, so this is just
like a Carol Burnett moment"
353
00:19:52,415 --> 00:19:55,036
"when she did the parody
of 'Gone with the Wind.'"
354
00:19:55,060 --> 00:19:56,403
And we're like going,
"Okay, so we're living"
355
00:19:56,427 --> 00:19:58,706
"this Carol Burnett moment, right?"
356
00:19:58,730 --> 00:20:00,576
(audience laughing)
357
00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:01,746
And we all started chuckling.
358
00:20:01,770 --> 00:20:04,793
I said, "Well, don't you
think the curtains look good"
359
00:20:04,817 --> 00:20:06,446
"and could be used?"
360
00:20:06,470 --> 00:20:09,176
Paul and I took some of the drapes home,
361
00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:13,316
and we started to cut out the fabric,
362
00:20:13,340 --> 00:20:18,296
and we made a cope for our priest,
363
00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:20,406
since we were a poor parish.
364
00:20:20,430 --> 00:20:22,012
We used what we have available,
365
00:20:22,036 --> 00:20:24,736
and nobody knew the difference.
366
00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:27,566
- In the original building,
the metal building
367
00:20:27,590 --> 00:20:30,106
as we refer to it,
McDonald's was next door,
368
00:20:30,130 --> 00:20:33,056
and you could hear people
ordering at the drive-in window
369
00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,836
next to us when service was going on.
370
00:20:35,860 --> 00:20:38,256
And we shared space there.
371
00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:39,766
A lot of times there were more people
372
00:20:39,790 --> 00:20:40,637
in the altar party,
373
00:20:40,661 --> 00:20:41,976
the priest and the deacon
374
00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,860
and the crucifer and the
organist, those people,
375
00:20:44,884 --> 00:20:46,436
than there were in the congregation.
376
00:20:46,460 --> 00:20:48,739
- We worshiped on Saturday nights.
377
00:20:48,763 --> 00:20:51,296
The Unitarians worshiped
on Sunday morning,
378
00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,776
and the Methodists
worshiped on Sunday evening.
379
00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,226
- That's when we became
the church of the box,
380
00:20:56,250 --> 00:20:57,996
because we had to then
put all of our stuff
381
00:20:58,020 --> 00:20:59,486
in a box every Saturday night
382
00:20:59,510 --> 00:21:00,320
and put it all away.
383
00:21:00,344 --> 00:21:03,096
- The Methodists had the facility,
384
00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:04,586
and so we had our box,
385
00:21:04,610 --> 00:21:06,236
and we would carry our box.
386
00:21:06,260 --> 00:21:10,606
And then, we moved up town
387
00:21:10,630 --> 00:21:12,696
and went to the funeral home.
388
00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,826
That was delightful,
and we were very blessed
389
00:21:15,850 --> 00:21:18,653
to be able to use Ninde's
Funeral Home chapel.
390
00:21:19,689 --> 00:21:21,026
- Because it was a funeral home,
391
00:21:21,050 --> 00:21:23,866
the organ console was
actually in another room.
392
00:21:23,890 --> 00:21:25,976
And so they'd have to be in there playing
393
00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:27,526
a separate room from us,
394
00:21:27,550 --> 00:21:28,696
which was kinda difficult.
395
00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,026
It was kinda rough sometimes as I recall.
396
00:21:31,050 --> 00:21:32,106
It was sweet, I think,
397
00:21:32,130 --> 00:21:33,736
and that's the best part about it.
398
00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:34,727
It was sweet.
399
00:21:34,751 --> 00:21:36,736
It was people trying to do a good thing.
400
00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,556
- We have this friend, when
he worked at the funeral home
401
00:21:38,580 --> 00:21:40,026
is why they got that,
'cause he was involved
402
00:21:40,050 --> 00:21:42,046
with the church, and if we all had dinner
403
00:21:42,070 --> 00:21:44,225
on a Saturday night, he would
end up taking people for tours
404
00:21:44,249 --> 00:21:46,746
back in the funeral home late at night.
405
00:21:46,770 --> 00:21:48,516
But I was too scared to ever go.
406
00:21:48,540 --> 00:21:50,446
The chapel was on the
side of the funeral home,
407
00:21:50,470 --> 00:21:52,316
so you didn't think you were necessarily
408
00:21:52,340 --> 00:21:53,340
in a funeral home.
409
00:21:55,366 --> 00:21:56,426
- It was in kind of an interesting,
410
00:21:56,450 --> 00:21:58,116
it was a beautiful space to be in.
411
00:21:58,140 --> 00:22:03,140
It beat the metal building
they were in before. (laughs)
412
00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,486
- We did take a little bit
413
00:22:08,510 --> 00:22:11,296
of heat in the religious community
414
00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:15,456
regarding our validity and
regarding what our purpose was.
415
00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:17,376
And that was a little uncomfortable
416
00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:18,210
during that time.
417
00:22:18,234 --> 00:22:19,896
So we had to answer a lot of questions.
418
00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,306
And then of course,
meeting in a funeral home
419
00:22:22,330 --> 00:22:23,536
and some other things, you can see
420
00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,936
that that would not necessarily
represent permanence.
421
00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,226
And so we had to answer
a lot of questions,
422
00:22:30,250 --> 00:22:31,866
and people were very questioning
423
00:22:31,890 --> 00:22:33,646
when they would come in to worship,
424
00:22:33,670 --> 00:22:34,627
but that was a good thing,
425
00:22:34,651 --> 00:22:36,856
because they could begin
to question their faith
426
00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,196
and begin to question maybe the church
427
00:22:39,220 --> 00:22:40,030
of their childhood
428
00:22:40,054 --> 00:22:43,984
and say, "How do I really
feel about the dogma"
429
00:22:44,008 --> 00:22:47,203
"or the ordinances of the
church that I grew up in?"
430
00:22:47,227 --> 00:22:49,903
"And how do I feel about that"
431
00:22:49,927 --> 00:22:52,703
"as it relates to social justice issues"
432
00:22:52,727 --> 00:22:54,826
"and God's love?"
433
00:22:54,850 --> 00:22:56,986
And so it was really a good time
434
00:22:57,010 --> 00:22:58,950
for people to explore that.
435
00:22:59,865 --> 00:23:03,371
- And strengthen them to
glorify God in this life
436
00:23:03,395 --> 00:23:05,395
and in the life to come.
437
00:23:09,330 --> 00:23:13,115
♪ Our souls inspire ♪
438
00:23:13,139 --> 00:23:18,139
♪ And lighten with celestial fire ♪
439
00:23:19,696 --> 00:23:24,696
♪ Thou the anointing Spirit art ♪
440
00:23:27,034 --> 00:23:32,034
♪ Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart ♪
441
00:23:36,509 --> 00:23:41,509
♪ Thy blessed unction from above ♪
442
00:23:43,862 --> 00:23:48,862
♪ Is comfort, life, and fire of love ♪
443
00:23:50,928 --> 00:23:55,928
♪ Enable with perpetual light ♪
444
00:23:58,631 --> 00:24:02,964
♪ The dullness of our blinded sight ♪
445
00:24:08,722 --> 00:24:13,722
♪ Anoint and cheer our soiled face ♪
446
00:24:15,946 --> 00:24:18,786
♪ With the abundance ♪
447
00:24:18,810 --> 00:24:21,511
- May we praise in Christ's church,
448
00:24:21,535 --> 00:24:23,563
Father Rick Hollingsworth.
449
00:24:24,509 --> 00:24:27,842
(congregation applauds)
450
00:24:32,023 --> 00:24:34,597
- It was more about
validity of our orders.
451
00:24:34,621 --> 00:24:38,496
Did we have valid orders
from the Catholic tradition
452
00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:40,266
or the Anglican tradition?
453
00:24:40,290 --> 00:24:43,523
Being in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
it was questioned
454
00:24:43,547 --> 00:24:46,769
that we were breaking the commandments
455
00:24:46,793 --> 00:24:50,866
as were outlined by the
belief system of Leviticus
456
00:24:50,890 --> 00:24:53,646
or Paul to the early church of some
457
00:24:53,670 --> 00:24:55,506
of the sexual orientations issues.
458
00:24:55,530 --> 00:24:57,970
- Different churches
move at different speeds
459
00:24:58,890 --> 00:25:00,456
in dealing with these issues.
460
00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:02,413
And the same thing was true with slavery.
461
00:25:02,437 --> 00:25:04,676
The same thing has been true with women.
462
00:25:04,700 --> 00:25:07,484
The same thing is true with homosexuality.
463
00:25:07,508 --> 00:25:11,576
Those are three huge issues
464
00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:14,776
that not only the churches
have had to deal with
465
00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,606
but with cultures have had to deal with.
466
00:25:17,630 --> 00:25:18,923
It's coming quickly.
467
00:25:20,790 --> 00:25:22,826
And I think one of the primary reason is
468
00:25:22,850 --> 00:25:25,023
is gays came out of the closet.
469
00:25:27,250 --> 00:25:29,776
Straights had to deal with gays,
470
00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:30,793
and they found out, "Well, wait a minute."
471
00:25:30,817 --> 00:25:32,133
"They're just like me."
472
00:25:32,157 --> 00:25:34,276
"My best friend is."
473
00:25:34,300 --> 00:25:35,441
That's a whole different equation
474
00:25:35,465 --> 00:25:40,086
than when it's just some
kind of intellectual thought.
475
00:25:40,110 --> 00:25:42,440
Then you don't, it's much more persuasive
476
00:25:42,464 --> 00:25:45,086
when you deal with it at a feeling level,
477
00:25:45,110 --> 00:25:47,876
and that I think has
been the huge difference.
478
00:25:47,900 --> 00:25:49,286
It's been the deal-breaker.
479
00:25:49,310 --> 00:25:51,656
- We also took some heat in that area,
480
00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:53,756
because we were living a lie
481
00:25:53,780 --> 00:25:55,446
or we were an abomination,
482
00:25:55,470 --> 00:25:59,576
because we allowed people
to be openly gay or lesbian
483
00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:01,758
at that time, and we welcomed that
484
00:26:01,782 --> 00:26:05,116
and encouraged people to be who they were.
485
00:26:05,140 --> 00:26:06,676
We didn't have just gay and lesbian,
486
00:26:06,700 --> 00:26:09,549
nor do we have gay and
lesbian people primarily
487
00:26:09,573 --> 00:26:11,336
who attend here now.
488
00:26:11,360 --> 00:26:13,876
We've been a church that has tried
489
00:26:13,900 --> 00:26:16,036
to stay away from being
a one-issue church,
490
00:26:16,060 --> 00:26:18,856
because the church should
not be a one-issue church.
491
00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,106
We have many issues in our society
492
00:26:21,130 --> 00:26:22,886
that need our attention.
493
00:26:22,910 --> 00:26:24,706
And many of our parishioners had come
494
00:26:24,730 --> 00:26:29,256
from a place of hurt and pain
495
00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,386
from their religious experience before.
496
00:26:32,410 --> 00:26:33,600
And so there had to be
497
00:26:34,860 --> 00:26:37,756
and still continues to
be a time of healing
498
00:26:37,780 --> 00:26:40,946
where they can be in a safe
space to talk about that.
499
00:26:40,970 --> 00:26:43,156
- For the life of me, I wonder sometimes
500
00:26:43,180 --> 00:26:46,666
why lots of people, women
and gays in particular
501
00:26:46,690 --> 00:26:49,183
even go to church, why
they would even want to,
502
00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:53,306
given the way churches have treated 'em.
503
00:26:53,330 --> 00:26:55,686
I mean, I'm a white male.
504
00:26:55,710 --> 00:27:00,206
I'm used to being in the
winning group. (laughs)
505
00:27:00,230 --> 00:27:02,456
I think, "I wouldn't come."
506
00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,653
So it really always astounds me.
507
00:27:06,750 --> 00:27:08,936
I was always amazed at
the community of hope,
508
00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:13,055
at these people, their hunger.
509
00:27:13,079 --> 00:27:15,646
I mean, that would be the
word I would use for religion
510
00:27:15,670 --> 00:27:17,846
after it had abused 'em.
511
00:27:17,870 --> 00:27:20,005
I think these historical trends
512
00:27:20,029 --> 00:27:22,516
that have been put in place
513
00:27:22,540 --> 00:27:25,376
since the enlightenment are inevitable.
514
00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:26,706
They're not gonna go backward.
515
00:27:26,730 --> 00:27:30,016
- We had families that have been isolated
516
00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:31,486
because of this issue.
517
00:27:31,510 --> 00:27:33,746
We've had children that have been isolated
518
00:27:33,770 --> 00:27:34,936
because of this issue.
519
00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:38,826
We've had people that have
really been harmed by church
520
00:27:38,850 --> 00:27:40,006
in a lot of ways.
521
00:27:40,030 --> 00:27:41,696
So we had to create an environment
522
00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,146
that we did not react to that
523
00:27:44,170 --> 00:27:46,146
and do the very same thing
524
00:27:46,170 --> 00:27:49,066
that had happened to many of us.
525
00:27:49,090 --> 00:27:50,876
There were times when people would call
526
00:27:50,900 --> 00:27:52,763
and say, "Is this the queer priest?"
527
00:27:53,701 --> 00:27:55,716
"You're nothing but a faggot,"
528
00:27:55,740 --> 00:27:59,809
and some different things in the time.
529
00:27:59,833 --> 00:28:01,826
"You know what you're doing is not right."
530
00:28:01,850 --> 00:28:03,393
Those type things.
531
00:28:03,417 --> 00:28:04,556
"I know where you live."
532
00:28:04,580 --> 00:28:06,992
I received a KKK call
533
00:28:07,016 --> 00:28:10,616
at one point in time that
we know where you worship
534
00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:11,846
and those things.
535
00:28:11,870 --> 00:28:13,906
So but those were few,
536
00:28:13,930 --> 00:28:16,053
but they were still there.
537
00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:19,956
I did at one point request
538
00:28:19,980 --> 00:28:22,132
that the ushers be ever-vigilant
539
00:28:22,156 --> 00:28:26,440
at our doors just in
case something went awry.
540
00:28:27,814 --> 00:28:30,731
(soft piano music)
541
00:28:36,830 --> 00:28:37,640
- Where we are now has built
542
00:28:37,664 --> 00:28:38,936
on the previous places we were.
543
00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,596
So it's been a building
process as we've gone along.
544
00:28:41,620 --> 00:28:43,386
So I don't think we
would be where we are now
545
00:28:43,410 --> 00:28:47,146
without those early days of
being in the metal building
546
00:28:47,170 --> 00:28:49,016
and learning some things there,
547
00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:50,486
and then moving from
there to the funeral home
548
00:28:50,510 --> 00:28:52,306
and then learning more things there
549
00:28:52,330 --> 00:28:53,646
in a way to relate to people.
550
00:28:53,670 --> 00:28:55,576
- We were looking at facilities
551
00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:57,596
to move from the funeral home
552
00:28:57,620 --> 00:28:58,430
to a building.
553
00:28:58,454 --> 00:29:01,296
We really felt that we needed something
554
00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:04,289
to enlarge our mission,
something of more permanence.
555
00:29:04,313 --> 00:29:06,732
And so we begin to look at that
556
00:29:06,756 --> 00:29:09,396
and our theme at that time was,
557
00:29:09,420 --> 00:29:11,276
do we need a building for our mission,
558
00:29:11,300 --> 00:29:13,226
or do we have a mission for a building?
559
00:29:13,250 --> 00:29:15,594
- Bishop Rick and I looked
at every building in town
560
00:29:15,618 --> 00:29:18,336
that was available to be a church,
561
00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:20,625
whether it was a
storefront, it was a church.
562
00:29:20,649 --> 00:29:22,646
We laugh about the one
that we almost bought
563
00:29:22,670 --> 00:29:23,647
that had no running water
564
00:29:23,671 --> 00:29:25,706
that was connected to the
car dealership next door
565
00:29:25,730 --> 00:29:28,206
with the garden hose for the water supply.
566
00:29:28,230 --> 00:29:30,396
There were all sorts
of weird little things,
567
00:29:30,420 --> 00:29:32,989
and it was just one of those God things.
568
00:29:33,013 --> 00:29:35,226
- And those are very important things,
569
00:29:35,250 --> 00:29:39,246
because it's one thing
to have a great facility
570
00:29:39,270 --> 00:29:41,047
and a wonderful structure,
571
00:29:41,071 --> 00:29:45,336
but it's another thing to really look
572
00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:46,543
at what is the purpose of that.
573
00:29:46,567 --> 00:29:49,496
And our purpose is to
reach out beyond ourselves.
574
00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:51,186
- We had a parish meeting
575
00:29:51,210 --> 00:29:56,096
to vote on whether we wanted
to buy a building or rent,
576
00:29:56,120 --> 00:30:00,823
and we voted that we could
spend $150,000 on a building.
577
00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:06,716
When we came to look at this building,
578
00:30:06,740 --> 00:30:09,326
we met with the elder from
the Presbyterian Church
579
00:30:09,350 --> 00:30:10,317
that was showing the building,
580
00:30:10,341 --> 00:30:12,846
and we loved it.
581
00:30:12,870 --> 00:30:15,246
And we said, "What's the cost?"
582
00:30:15,270 --> 00:30:17,736
And he said, "$150,000."
583
00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:21,296
So I said, "Let me go get my checkbook."
584
00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:24,183
And so I went to the car and
actually wrote a deposit check
585
00:30:24,207 --> 00:30:26,506
to him then, because we knew
586
00:30:26,530 --> 00:30:29,216
there were some other congregations
looking at the building.
587
00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:30,906
That was a real turning point
588
00:30:30,930 --> 00:30:35,073
in the congregation, being able
to move to our own building.
589
00:31:09,459 --> 00:31:10,816
- We had purchased this building,
590
00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:12,856
and I think it's well known
591
00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:14,786
that it needed some work.
592
00:31:14,810 --> 00:31:15,816
And so it was kind of exciting,
593
00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:16,768
'cause we were all pulling together
594
00:31:16,792 --> 00:31:19,856
and trying to get the
building in usable shape,
595
00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:22,686
and I remember when the
sanctuary used to be green.
596
00:31:22,710 --> 00:31:25,006
It's been painted kinda this cream color.
597
00:31:25,030 --> 00:31:27,151
The carpet kind of a green color,
598
00:31:27,175 --> 00:31:28,416
and there were some other changes.
599
00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:29,277
But it was kind of exciting,
600
00:31:29,301 --> 00:31:30,700
'cause it was something new.
601
00:31:35,100 --> 00:31:37,946
- [Man] Well, this is where it all starts.
602
00:31:37,970 --> 00:31:42,970
It is now the home of the
Parish Church of St. Jerome's
603
00:31:46,192 --> 00:31:50,980
where today we will celebrate
our very first Eucharist
604
00:31:51,980 --> 00:31:53,113
in our new home.
605
00:31:54,530 --> 00:31:55,623
Here she is.
606
00:31:57,959 --> 00:32:02,263
We couldn't have asked for a
more beautiful place than this,
607
00:32:06,504 --> 00:32:07,504
and it's ours.
608
00:32:10,311 --> 00:32:11,917
- Well, I'm gonna do it.
609
00:32:11,941 --> 00:32:13,355
Let's give you all a hand.
610
00:32:13,379 --> 00:32:15,962
(all clapping)
611
00:32:20,003 --> 00:32:22,618
(joyful organ music)
612
00:32:22,642 --> 00:32:27,101
♪ All thy works with joy surround thee ♪
613
00:32:27,125 --> 00:32:31,608
♪ Earth and heaven reflect thy rays ♪
614
00:32:31,632 --> 00:32:35,820
♪ Stars and angels sing around thee ♪
615
00:32:35,844 --> 00:32:40,394
♪ Center of unbroken praise ♪
616
00:32:40,418 --> 00:32:44,626
♪ Field and forest, vale and mountain ♪
617
00:32:44,650 --> 00:32:49,013
♪ flowery meadow, flashing sea ♪
618
00:32:49,037 --> 00:32:53,293
♪ Chanting bird and flowing fountain ♪
619
00:32:53,317 --> 00:32:57,067
♪ Call us to rejoice in thee ♪
620
00:33:03,380 --> 00:33:07,316
- In the beginning when the
congregation was looking
621
00:33:07,340 --> 00:33:08,966
at this building, there
were some key people
622
00:33:08,990 --> 00:33:10,824
that said, "We need to do this."
623
00:33:10,848 --> 00:33:13,036
"Let's do this."
624
00:33:13,060 --> 00:33:15,906
But there's a mortgage that's required.
625
00:33:15,930 --> 00:33:18,596
- Church property in Tulsa
is a little bit difficult
626
00:33:18,620 --> 00:33:22,926
to come by if you're not a
part of a large denomination
627
00:33:22,950 --> 00:33:26,386
that will back up a loan or will assist
628
00:33:26,410 --> 00:33:29,986
with financial sponsoring
for those things.
629
00:33:30,010 --> 00:33:34,676
And so when we did find this
wonderful church building
630
00:33:34,700 --> 00:33:37,187
that we're in now, Dr. Coffey
631
00:33:37,211 --> 00:33:40,956
and Andrew Kinslow provided us the money,
632
00:33:40,980 --> 00:33:44,036
so that we could go ahead
and purchase the building.
633
00:33:44,060 --> 00:33:47,536
And then they were our
loan officers as it were.
634
00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:50,226
Dr. Coffey was also one
of our senior wardens,
635
00:33:50,250 --> 00:33:52,676
was a very strong and very
involved in the community,
636
00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:54,876
not only was a pediatric physician,
637
00:33:54,900 --> 00:33:57,636
not only with the health of children
638
00:33:57,660 --> 00:34:02,156
but also in working with
the HIV/AIDS community
639
00:34:02,180 --> 00:34:06,056
and making sure that moneys
were there for Tulsa Cares.
640
00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:09,416
He was quite the foundational cornerstone
641
00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:11,083
of what we are doing now.
642
00:34:15,740 --> 00:34:18,436
- Robert grew up attending
church on Easter and Christmas
643
00:34:18,460 --> 00:34:19,796
and going to Sunday school sometimes
644
00:34:19,820 --> 00:34:20,630
and that kind of thing
645
00:34:20,654 --> 00:34:22,566
but never really being involved in church.
646
00:34:22,590 --> 00:34:24,256
He had moved to Tulsa at the point
647
00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,526
where we were buying the building,
648
00:34:27,550 --> 00:34:30,626
and he and I had arranged
for a second mortgage
649
00:34:30,650 --> 00:34:32,446
on our house to be able to do some work
650
00:34:32,470 --> 00:34:33,926
on the pool and the yard.
651
00:34:33,950 --> 00:34:35,739
And so we basically bought the building,
652
00:34:35,763 --> 00:34:38,316
carried the mortgage for the church.
653
00:34:38,340 --> 00:34:41,333
Then the church paid us back
over a certain period of time.
654
00:34:42,750 --> 00:34:45,316
- Robert was very behind the scenes.
655
00:34:45,340 --> 00:34:46,800
You didn't realize he was a huge part
656
00:34:46,824 --> 00:34:47,889
of the starting of the church.
657
00:34:47,913 --> 00:34:49,936
I think he really got
involved with the church
658
00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:51,806
'cause it was Andy's passion.
659
00:34:51,830 --> 00:34:53,126
And Robert loved Andy so much
660
00:34:53,150 --> 00:34:55,716
that he became more
involved with the church.
661
00:34:55,740 --> 00:34:58,946
- I was introduced to St.
Jerome's by my brother
662
00:34:58,970 --> 00:35:02,676
who was one of the first
parishioners of St. Jerome's.
663
00:35:02,700 --> 00:35:05,666
And I started coming occasionally with him
664
00:35:05,690 --> 00:35:07,406
on special holidays.
665
00:35:07,430 --> 00:35:11,976
And then when my mother
became legally blind,
666
00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,036
they decided she could not drive any more.
667
00:35:14,060 --> 00:35:16,986
So she started coming to
church with my brother,
668
00:35:17,010 --> 00:35:19,586
and I started coming a little more often,
669
00:35:19,610 --> 00:35:22,666
so that I could be with
my mother and Charles.
670
00:35:22,690 --> 00:35:26,576
Then my brother Charles
joined Alcoholics Anonymous,
671
00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:29,156
because he needed a god in his life.
672
00:35:29,180 --> 00:35:32,736
And for a long time, that
served as a god in his life.
673
00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:36,303
And then he realized he maybe
needed a little bit more,
674
00:35:37,310 --> 00:35:40,916
and I think he met Rick and Robert Coffey
675
00:35:40,940 --> 00:35:43,166
and became a member of this church
676
00:35:43,190 --> 00:35:45,083
and found his god.
677
00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:47,946
- It was a time for healing for Charles
678
00:35:47,970 --> 00:35:49,153
to come back to the church
679
00:35:49,177 --> 00:35:52,606
and to come back to the
love he could experience
680
00:35:52,630 --> 00:35:55,466
in the sacraments and his type of worship,
681
00:35:55,490 --> 00:35:57,366
and he was very comfortable with that.
682
00:35:57,390 --> 00:35:59,196
Charles had very definite opinions
683
00:35:59,220 --> 00:36:02,016
on how things should be
painted and done in the church.
684
00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:03,836
And so he served on our vestry.
685
00:36:03,860 --> 00:36:07,136
And not only did he assist
the church financially,
686
00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:09,436
but he also assisted
the church in opinions
687
00:36:09,460 --> 00:36:10,646
of what things should be painted
688
00:36:10,670 --> 00:36:13,083
and how things should be replaced.
689
00:36:15,030 --> 00:36:15,987
Charles was the one
690
00:36:16,011 --> 00:36:18,186
who would paint his
toenails different colors
691
00:36:18,210 --> 00:36:20,316
for the feet washing on Maundy Thursday
692
00:36:20,340 --> 00:36:21,897
to see if I would react.
693
00:36:21,921 --> 00:36:24,536
He would break all the Lent rules
694
00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:26,656
and eat chocolate all during Lent
695
00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:28,946
or would bring Easter bunnies in
696
00:36:28,970 --> 00:36:31,477
for after-service snacks during Lent.
697
00:36:31,501 --> 00:36:33,583
That banter was delightful.
698
00:36:35,630 --> 00:36:37,685
- The upkeep of the
structure of the building,
699
00:36:37,709 --> 00:36:39,184
there is a lot of repairs
700
00:36:39,208 --> 00:36:43,476
that go into maintaining
a structure such as this,
701
00:36:43,500 --> 00:36:48,500
and we needed funding to
maintain the structure.
702
00:36:50,090 --> 00:36:51,826
- I don't think I've ever had a time
703
00:36:51,850 --> 00:36:54,866
where I thought, "Wow,
we're not going to make it,"
704
00:36:54,890 --> 00:36:59,890
but I'm a very big budget
versus actual girl.
705
00:37:00,026 --> 00:37:05,026
And we consistently approved a budget
706
00:37:05,100 --> 00:37:10,100
that was short 20, 30, $40,000 every year.
707
00:37:10,630 --> 00:37:15,630
And so that requires a
church to step out in faith
708
00:37:15,865 --> 00:37:19,636
that you have pledges
that say total 80,000,
709
00:37:19,660 --> 00:37:22,437
and you've bot a budget of 120,000.
710
00:37:22,461 --> 00:37:26,176
And year after year, the
congregation approved that budget.
711
00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:29,426
We have always in my time
had to do Mardi Gras,
712
00:37:29,450 --> 00:37:32,656
our annual fundraiser in the spring,
713
00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:36,320
and those dollars along with people
714
00:37:36,344 --> 00:37:40,446
that just reach into
their pocket and give.
715
00:37:40,470 --> 00:37:43,306
We've had people give thousands of dollars
716
00:37:43,330 --> 00:37:44,506
to repair roofs.
717
00:37:44,530 --> 00:37:47,181
We've had people give thousands of dollars
718
00:37:47,205 --> 00:37:49,196
just at the end of the year
719
00:37:49,220 --> 00:37:50,833
to finish out the year.
720
00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:55,326
- I don't think we could have made it.
721
00:37:55,350 --> 00:37:59,666
The structure as old as it
is needs a lot of upkeep,
722
00:37:59,690 --> 00:38:02,896
and that funding provided the avenue
723
00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:04,763
to do the repairs that are needed.
724
00:38:09,237 --> 00:38:10,266
- No one in the congregation knew
725
00:38:10,290 --> 00:38:12,816
that we were carrying the
mortgage of the building.
726
00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:13,906
That was one of the things about Robert.
727
00:38:13,930 --> 00:38:17,166
He never wanted a lot of
attention for anything.
728
00:38:17,190 --> 00:38:20,716
And so everything was
behind the scenes on that.
729
00:38:20,740 --> 00:38:22,316
But getting the building
paid off was something
730
00:38:22,340 --> 00:38:24,306
that was very, very important to him.
731
00:38:24,330 --> 00:38:25,616
He didn't like credit card debt.
732
00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:27,606
He didn't like debt of any kind.
733
00:38:27,630 --> 00:38:29,666
And I think that was because he could say
734
00:38:29,690 --> 00:38:32,120
that you could use that
money for something else.
735
00:38:40,391 --> 00:38:43,308
(soft piano music)
736
00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:45,496
- [Bishop Rick] In sure and certain hope
737
00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:47,726
of the resurrection to eternal life
738
00:39:47,750 --> 00:39:50,236
through our Lord Jesus Christ
739
00:39:50,260 --> 00:39:53,410
we commend to Almighty
God our brother Robert
740
00:39:54,310 --> 00:39:57,683
and we commit his ashes to
their final resting place.
741
00:40:00,070 --> 00:40:03,713
- His loss is one of those where,
742
00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:07,246
I hate to put it this way,
743
00:40:07,270 --> 00:40:10,586
but it's one of those moments
where your faith is tested.
744
00:40:10,610 --> 00:40:13,636
Even though I didn't know
him as well as I wanted to,
745
00:40:13,660 --> 00:40:15,103
it still hit home.
746
00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:19,969
The realization that you're
about to lose someone
747
00:40:19,993 --> 00:40:22,870
that you care about and that you respect.
748
00:40:25,020 --> 00:40:28,363
So it was a tough and
still is a tough moment,
749
00:40:29,730 --> 00:40:31,193
and we miss him.
750
00:40:33,230 --> 00:40:34,816
We hope that he's proud of us
751
00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:38,263
and what we've done since his departure.
752
00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:44,116
- Well, it's a difficult time
when you lose a primary leader
753
00:40:44,140 --> 00:40:46,823
in your parish and to refocus that.
754
00:40:48,620 --> 00:40:51,026
So it was a huge loss
not only for the parish
755
00:40:51,050 --> 00:40:53,896
but a huge loss for me as a friend.
756
00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:56,420
- Charles was actually
seven years older than I,
757
00:40:56,444 --> 00:40:58,466
but everybody thought we were twins,
758
00:40:58,490 --> 00:41:01,796
because we were so much alike,
759
00:41:01,820 --> 00:41:04,006
which that always irritated me
760
00:41:04,030 --> 00:41:05,526
since he was seven years older.
761
00:41:05,550 --> 00:41:08,586
We were always best
friends, I mean, always.
762
00:41:08,610 --> 00:41:11,986
When I was born, I was his doll baby
763
00:41:12,010 --> 00:41:15,486
that he rode around on his bicycle basket.
764
00:41:15,510 --> 00:41:16,496
We have pictures of it.
765
00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:17,746
It's embarrassing.
766
00:41:17,770 --> 00:41:20,686
But I've never known life without Charles.
767
00:41:20,710 --> 00:41:23,866
So everybody said we
were like Siamese twins
768
00:41:23,890 --> 00:41:25,536
only joined at the brain,
769
00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:28,326
only you had to have a brain to be joined,
770
00:41:28,350 --> 00:41:31,163
because we were so much
alike in every way.
771
00:41:32,391 --> 00:41:34,666
I miss him a lot.
772
00:41:34,690 --> 00:41:38,166
- When you have things
that happen in the parish
773
00:41:38,190 --> 00:41:39,726
such as those losses,
774
00:41:39,750 --> 00:41:42,886
then you have to reorganize yourself.
775
00:41:42,910 --> 00:41:45,981
And anyone who's lost a very
close friend knows that.
776
00:41:46,005 --> 00:41:49,986
Some interesting studies say
it takes five to seven years
777
00:41:50,010 --> 00:41:54,576
to really overcome a
significant loss in one's life,
778
00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:55,986
and I don't know that you ever overcome,
779
00:41:56,010 --> 00:42:00,226
but you readjust your life to
living without that person.
780
00:42:00,250 --> 00:42:03,973
- We have just finished
up a huge Mardi Gras.
781
00:42:05,505 --> 00:42:09,563
Preparations for weeks, huge night.
782
00:42:10,660 --> 00:42:12,836
I think we've raised over 40,000.
783
00:42:12,860 --> 00:42:15,513
It takes everyone to do that.
784
00:42:16,490 --> 00:42:19,736
And unfortunately, just weeks later,
785
00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:21,603
Dr. Robert Coffey passes away,
786
00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:27,223
and the church has to rally again.
787
00:42:30,170 --> 00:42:31,170
Shoot.
788
00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:37,536
Because where else are you
gonna have his service?
789
00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:39,053
You have to have it here.
790
00:42:40,050 --> 00:42:41,853
You can't go down the street.
791
00:42:45,240 --> 00:42:47,453
Dr. Coffey's service has to be here.
792
00:42:48,870 --> 00:42:50,593
So we have to rally again.
793
00:42:51,720 --> 00:42:54,886
We're expecting 400 people
794
00:42:54,910 --> 00:42:57,716
in a nave that holds 100.
795
00:42:57,740 --> 00:43:00,033
Not very good numbers, right?
796
00:43:02,430 --> 00:43:07,003
So we're running cables everywhere,
797
00:43:09,660 --> 00:43:11,106
so we can broadcast.
798
00:43:11,130 --> 00:43:14,626
We're bringing in chairs into the balcony.
799
00:43:14,650 --> 00:43:16,406
We're moving the choir,
800
00:43:16,430 --> 00:43:18,883
so that people can sit in our seats.
801
00:43:20,490 --> 00:43:24,256
We're setting up the event
center for a reception.
802
00:43:24,280 --> 00:43:25,963
We're printing,
803
00:43:27,480 --> 00:43:29,486
we're printing and printing and printing,
804
00:43:29,510 --> 00:43:32,836
so that we have programs to hand out.
805
00:43:32,860 --> 00:43:36,193
We're coordinating the
ashes being delivered.
806
00:43:38,130 --> 00:43:40,536
It takes all of us
807
00:43:40,560 --> 00:43:42,636
and everybody rallies.
808
00:43:42,660 --> 00:43:43,637
Everybody rallies.
809
00:43:43,661 --> 00:43:46,596
And we've just rallied with Mardi Gras.
810
00:43:46,620 --> 00:43:50,156
When one of your founding
fathers passes away,
811
00:43:50,180 --> 00:43:51,830
this is where you do the service.
812
00:43:52,690 --> 00:43:56,236
- His service or the
Celebration of the Eucharist
813
00:43:56,260 --> 00:43:59,556
on that day was a very large service.
814
00:43:59,580 --> 00:44:01,826
So it was probably the largest Mass
815
00:44:01,850 --> 00:44:03,826
that we have had at St. Jerome's.
816
00:44:03,850 --> 00:44:04,826
The balconies were full.
817
00:44:04,850 --> 00:44:05,687
The aisles were full.
818
00:44:05,711 --> 00:44:07,326
The undercroft was full.
819
00:44:07,350 --> 00:44:08,596
We had cameras set up
820
00:44:08,620 --> 00:44:09,786
and all of those things.
821
00:44:09,810 --> 00:44:12,386
But I think what was wonderful
822
00:44:12,410 --> 00:44:15,656
is if you looked out across the nave,
823
00:44:15,680 --> 00:44:18,650
and you looked at it's really
what church should have been,
824
00:44:18,674 --> 00:44:23,674
all colors, all faiths, all traditions,
825
00:44:24,380 --> 00:44:26,836
and all of 'em came together
826
00:44:26,860 --> 00:44:30,666
to say goodbye to a sainted person.
827
00:44:30,690 --> 00:44:33,996
- To this day, I still get
people commenting to me
828
00:44:34,020 --> 00:44:37,676
that they've never been to a
funeral that felt so personal,
829
00:44:37,700 --> 00:44:39,366
and I think a lot of that has to do
830
00:44:39,390 --> 00:44:41,136
with the church family here.
831
00:44:41,160 --> 00:44:42,676
It was a very formal service.
832
00:44:42,700 --> 00:44:45,966
It was a traditional
Anglican rite service,
833
00:44:45,990 --> 00:44:48,086
but it was personalized to him.
834
00:44:48,110 --> 00:44:49,367
And so everyone that was here
835
00:44:49,391 --> 00:44:52,573
was able to understand who Robert was.
836
00:44:55,780 --> 00:44:59,253
- [Bishop Rick] Earth to
earth, ashes to ashes,
837
00:45:02,291 --> 00:45:04,101
and dust to dust.
838
00:45:04,125 --> 00:45:06,542
(soft music)
839
00:45:07,820 --> 00:45:11,616
- Charles was a Pilar of this church
840
00:45:11,640 --> 00:45:14,366
as was Robert Coffey and Andy.
841
00:45:14,390 --> 00:45:18,126
I really think they had a
large impact on this church
842
00:45:18,150 --> 00:45:19,276
in every way.
843
00:45:19,300 --> 00:45:22,846
Financially assisting in signing notes
844
00:45:22,870 --> 00:45:24,546
and all of that.
845
00:45:24,570 --> 00:45:27,266
Robert Coffey was a head of the vestry
846
00:45:27,290 --> 00:45:29,258
the year I went on the vestry,
847
00:45:29,282 --> 00:45:32,256
and I loved serving with Robert.
848
00:45:32,280 --> 00:45:34,543
He was a great person and a great leader
849
00:45:34,567 --> 00:45:39,233
and a really devout St. Jerome's person.
850
00:46:03,530 --> 00:46:05,026
- We lost Robert,
851
00:46:05,050 --> 00:46:09,506
and that was devastating
for our whole community.
852
00:46:09,530 --> 00:46:11,666
And one of the things that
was very important to him
853
00:46:11,690 --> 00:46:12,976
was that we pay off the church,
854
00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:16,216
because he had been like senior warden.
855
00:46:16,240 --> 00:46:18,276
He had been on the vestry
856
00:46:18,300 --> 00:46:20,006
a number of different times.
857
00:46:20,030 --> 00:46:22,726
And one of the things that
was always important to him
858
00:46:22,750 --> 00:46:25,636
was that we pay this building off.
859
00:46:25,660 --> 00:46:27,386
Eventually we did.
860
00:46:27,410 --> 00:46:30,026
That was after we lost Robert.
861
00:46:30,050 --> 00:46:31,541
- When he died, that was
one of the things that
862
00:46:31,565 --> 00:46:34,716
there were two places that
people could contribute money.
863
00:46:34,740 --> 00:46:38,896
One was St. Jerome for the
mortgage reduction fund.
864
00:46:38,920 --> 00:46:40,166
And so any money that came in
865
00:46:40,190 --> 00:46:43,386
went directly to pay
for mortgage reduction.
866
00:46:43,410 --> 00:46:47,336
And then about a year after that,
867
00:46:47,360 --> 00:46:50,306
I did a matching of dollar for dollar
868
00:46:50,330 --> 00:46:52,176
if someone wanted to make a contribution
869
00:46:52,200 --> 00:46:53,316
to pay off the mortgage.
870
00:46:53,340 --> 00:46:57,036
In Robert's memory, we did a matching
871
00:46:57,060 --> 00:46:59,786
and paid off the mortgage
the year after he died
872
00:46:59,810 --> 00:47:02,956
and then had the mortgage
burning shortly after that.
873
00:47:02,980 --> 00:47:04,676
- We actually burned it in the church
874
00:47:04,700 --> 00:47:06,896
and right there in front.
875
00:47:06,920 --> 00:47:08,336
It was really cool.
876
00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:10,026
To me, I think that's
one of the high points
877
00:47:10,050 --> 00:47:12,512
of my experience here.
878
00:47:12,536 --> 00:47:15,686
- We realize his vision,
879
00:47:15,710 --> 00:47:17,776
and through his vision
880
00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:20,223
and what he wanted for
our faith community,
881
00:47:21,100 --> 00:47:24,486
we're able to come together
882
00:47:24,510 --> 00:47:27,586
and be able to pay off this building
883
00:47:27,610 --> 00:47:30,876
and become one of the few churches
884
00:47:30,900 --> 00:47:31,916
in our denomination
885
00:47:31,940 --> 00:47:34,646
that not only has a place to worship
886
00:47:34,670 --> 00:47:36,817
but also has a building that's paid off.
887
00:47:46,910 --> 00:47:49,453
- The tie to history is clear.
888
00:47:52,207 --> 00:47:54,746
"The moral arc," as
Martin Luther King said
889
00:47:54,770 --> 00:47:58,706
of history, "is long, but
it's in the bent of justice."
890
00:47:58,730 --> 00:47:59,896
I believe that.
891
00:47:59,920 --> 00:48:01,396
If I'm a theologian,
892
00:48:01,420 --> 00:48:03,456
that's my theological belief.
893
00:48:03,480 --> 00:48:04,480
I believe that.
894
00:48:05,800 --> 00:48:07,246
But it's a rough battle.
895
00:48:07,270 --> 00:48:08,784
It's not easy.
896
00:48:08,808 --> 00:48:12,141
(uplifting organ music)
897
00:48:22,614 --> 00:48:27,614
♪ Soar we now where Christ hath led ♪
898
00:48:28,499 --> 00:48:33,499
♪ Hallelujah ♪
899
00:48:34,830 --> 00:48:39,830
♪ Following our exalted Head ♪
900
00:48:40,744 --> 00:48:43,161
♪ Hallelujah ♪
901
00:48:46,520 --> 00:48:48,436
- After my mother passed away,
902
00:48:48,460 --> 00:48:51,366
I decided to join the church.
903
00:48:51,390 --> 00:48:54,376
I felt like I needed a god in my life,
904
00:48:54,400 --> 00:48:57,986
and somehow coming to
church made me feel closer
905
00:48:58,010 --> 00:49:00,846
to my mother and of course to my brother
906
00:49:00,870 --> 00:49:03,186
who was coming every Sunday.
907
00:49:03,210 --> 00:49:04,426
I was raised Catholic.
908
00:49:04,450 --> 00:49:08,276
I went to a Catholic school
through the eighth grade,
909
00:49:08,300 --> 00:49:11,986
and then I married my first husband
910
00:49:12,010 --> 00:49:13,146
in the Catholic Church,
911
00:49:13,170 --> 00:49:17,416
and then I divorced my first husband.
912
00:49:17,440 --> 00:49:20,616
And I was all of a sudden excommunicated
913
00:49:20,640 --> 00:49:21,849
from the Catholic Church.
914
00:49:21,873 --> 00:49:25,036
- I tell people that we are
an Anglican Catholic Church.
915
00:49:25,060 --> 00:49:29,226
And so Anglicans and Catholics
feel very comfortable here.
916
00:49:29,250 --> 00:49:30,526
I tell 'em we're not Roman.
917
00:49:30,550 --> 00:49:32,986
So there's no pope and there's no guilt.
918
00:49:33,010 --> 00:49:35,936
And I think the thing
they have the hardest time
919
00:49:35,960 --> 00:49:36,877
wrapping their mind around
920
00:49:36,901 --> 00:49:39,688
is that there's a Catholic
Church that's not Roman.
921
00:49:39,712 --> 00:49:41,812
In a world that's just like chaotic
922
00:49:41,836 --> 00:49:44,376
and you don't know what you can count on
923
00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:46,181
and you don't know
what's gonna happen next,
924
00:49:46,205 --> 00:49:51,205
I can come here and I feel a
sense of peace and comfort.
925
00:49:51,800 --> 00:49:53,706
It's very soothing for me.
926
00:49:53,730 --> 00:49:56,886
- It got us out of this
having to play gay person,
927
00:49:56,910 --> 00:49:58,256
having to play straight person,
928
00:49:58,280 --> 00:49:59,806
having to play a Christian person.
929
00:49:59,830 --> 00:50:02,026
That's exactly what St. Jerome did.
930
00:50:02,050 --> 00:50:03,526
It just fused it all together
931
00:50:03,550 --> 00:50:06,106
to where we could just be ourselves.
932
00:50:06,130 --> 00:50:08,456
- For a community of our size to be around
933
00:50:08,480 --> 00:50:10,715
for 20 years is remarkable.
934
00:50:10,739 --> 00:50:14,216
There have been lots of churches in Tulsa
935
00:50:14,240 --> 00:50:15,656
that have sprung up,
936
00:50:15,680 --> 00:50:19,736
and after four or five
years, they're gone.
937
00:50:19,760 --> 00:50:21,886
And this one has remained.
938
00:50:21,910 --> 00:50:25,606
And actually we are now a recognized part
939
00:50:25,630 --> 00:50:26,577
of the community.
940
00:50:26,601 --> 00:50:29,789
- We actually began our
food pantry with just cans
941
00:50:29,813 --> 00:50:33,096
in a closet, and we
began to hand those out.
942
00:50:33,120 --> 00:50:35,246
And we saw that the need was greater.
943
00:50:35,270 --> 00:50:39,136
And so we developed the
Garden Grocery Food Pantry,
944
00:50:39,160 --> 00:50:42,096
and we began to purchase food.
945
00:50:42,120 --> 00:50:45,416
And we allowed people,
we're an emergency food bank
946
00:50:45,440 --> 00:50:47,986
and that we're supposed to assist people
947
00:50:48,010 --> 00:50:50,986
who are in between maybe jobs,
948
00:50:51,010 --> 00:50:54,516
people who are in between
filing for disability,
949
00:50:54,540 --> 00:50:58,566
social security to help with food items.
950
00:50:58,590 --> 00:51:00,673
My joke is always, "If you
don't like butter beans",
951
00:51:00,697 --> 00:51:02,936
"you don't have to take the butter beans."
952
00:51:02,960 --> 00:51:05,676
You can go and you can shop
for what meets your needs.
953
00:51:05,700 --> 00:51:08,026
- We have a mother that has five children.
954
00:51:08,050 --> 00:51:09,746
Her husband's already died of AIDS,
955
00:51:09,770 --> 00:51:11,696
and she's HIV positive.
956
00:51:11,720 --> 00:51:13,986
Some days she just doesn't
get to talk to anybody.
957
00:51:14,010 --> 00:51:15,700
Everybody calls her with their problems,
958
00:51:15,724 --> 00:51:18,646
and she doesn't have anybody to talk to,
959
00:51:18,670 --> 00:51:20,436
because she doesn't wanna
burden her children.
960
00:51:20,460 --> 00:51:24,276
So she'll come here and
ask us to pray for her,
961
00:51:24,300 --> 00:51:25,539
and we'll just have prayer
962
00:51:25,563 --> 00:51:27,236
and give her a hug.
963
00:51:27,260 --> 00:51:29,946
And we just try to show
'em love and respect
964
00:51:29,970 --> 00:51:33,382
and that's our main thing.
965
00:51:33,406 --> 00:51:35,823
(soft music)
966
00:51:54,795 --> 00:51:56,057
(congregation cheers)
967
00:51:56,081 --> 00:51:59,414
(congregation clapping)
968
00:52:02,840 --> 00:52:06,186
- St. Jerome will always have
a special place in my heart,
969
00:52:06,210 --> 00:52:09,623
not only because of the openness,
970
00:52:10,720 --> 00:52:15,526
the welcoming nature,
the feeling of family
971
00:52:15,550 --> 00:52:17,866
that I feel here, but it's also the place
972
00:52:17,890 --> 00:52:20,926
that I was able to walk down the aisle
973
00:52:20,950 --> 00:52:24,476
with my partner and exchange vows
974
00:52:24,500 --> 00:52:27,946
and hug each other and cry together
975
00:52:27,970 --> 00:52:32,970
and be wed and truly
receive all the sacraments
976
00:52:33,260 --> 00:52:35,646
that the Catholic Church offer.
977
00:52:35,670 --> 00:52:40,670
My partner is technically
new to the faith,
978
00:52:41,130 --> 00:52:44,486
and he's received baptism.
979
00:52:44,510 --> 00:52:46,556
He's been confirmed.
980
00:52:46,580 --> 00:52:51,580
We received marriage, sacrament
of marriage in this church.
981
00:52:53,490 --> 00:52:56,650
This place forever be a beacon
982
00:52:57,550 --> 00:53:01,146
and a place of light to me,
983
00:53:01,170 --> 00:53:03,856
because it's the only place I've felt
984
00:53:03,880 --> 00:53:06,726
that I can truly be part of church,
985
00:53:06,750 --> 00:53:09,786
I can truly be part of worshiping God
986
00:53:09,810 --> 00:53:14,026
and not be worried about what society
987
00:53:14,050 --> 00:53:15,913
or the community thinks about me.
988
00:53:18,400 --> 00:53:20,226
- I think being an organization,
989
00:53:20,250 --> 00:53:22,686
whether it's a church or whatever
990
00:53:22,710 --> 00:53:23,866
has got a life cycle,
991
00:53:23,890 --> 00:53:25,786
and it's sort of gone through its birth
992
00:53:25,810 --> 00:53:29,296
and its growing up years
and its teenage years,
993
00:53:29,320 --> 00:53:33,396
which can be very rocky and
somewhat rebellious, (laughs)
994
00:53:33,420 --> 00:53:37,106
And in some ways maybe we
are in our 20's or some odd.
995
00:53:37,130 --> 00:53:39,356
And so now I think it's a good time
996
00:53:39,380 --> 00:53:42,426
to think about, "Okay,
who do we wanna be now?"
997
00:53:42,450 --> 00:53:44,796
Like after you get out of
high school or college,
998
00:53:44,820 --> 00:53:47,076
it's like, "What direction
do I wanna take my life now?"
999
00:53:47,100 --> 00:53:50,293
Maybe that's kinda where
we're at as a church is,
1000
00:53:50,317 --> 00:53:52,613
"Okay, we've come all this far,"
1001
00:53:52,637 --> 00:53:54,993
"and we've grown a lot,
done a lot of things"
1002
00:53:55,017 --> 00:53:56,483
"and kind of experienced things together."
1003
00:53:56,507 --> 00:53:58,656
"So what do we wanna do next?"
1004
00:53:58,680 --> 00:54:01,096
And so that's gonna be
kind of exciting I think.
1005
00:54:01,120 --> 00:54:03,506
- What I've learned is
that there is a role
1006
00:54:03,530 --> 00:54:05,326
in St. Jerome's to continue,
1007
00:54:05,350 --> 00:54:09,318
because you are truly accepted here.
1008
00:54:09,342 --> 00:54:12,747
♪ People's need ♪
1009
00:54:12,771 --> 00:54:15,188
♪ Hallelujah ♪
1010
00:54:16,143 --> 00:54:18,676
- When you come here, you feel at home.
1011
00:54:18,700 --> 00:54:22,806
I mean, everybody, we're
one big family here.
1012
00:54:22,830 --> 00:54:26,280
It's not like any other traditional church
1013
00:54:27,270 --> 00:54:28,346
that I've ever been to,
1014
00:54:28,370 --> 00:54:30,816
and I've been to 'em in Guatemala, Mexico,
1015
00:54:30,840 --> 00:54:34,946
all over the Midwest
and on the West Coast.
1016
00:54:34,970 --> 00:54:36,656
And not one have I ever met
1017
00:54:36,680 --> 00:54:38,956
where the priest has gone out of his way
1018
00:54:38,980 --> 00:54:41,446
to come see you or in hospital,
1019
00:54:41,470 --> 00:54:46,403
or vestry members call you
'cause you are sick or something.
1020
00:54:47,650 --> 00:54:49,886
It's just a unique place.
1021
00:54:49,910 --> 00:54:52,026
- St. Jerome is like an oasis
1022
00:54:52,050 --> 00:54:55,586
or like the best kept secret in Tulsa
1023
00:54:55,610 --> 00:54:56,986
when it comes to worshiping.
1024
00:54:57,010 --> 00:54:58,376
- I think this church has made it through
1025
00:54:58,400 --> 00:55:00,976
all the ups and downs,
because it's like your family.
1026
00:55:01,000 --> 00:55:02,536
Every family has issues,
1027
00:55:02,560 --> 00:55:04,086
and you work through them,
1028
00:55:04,110 --> 00:55:06,606
you come out better on the other side.
1029
00:55:06,630 --> 00:55:08,196
I think it's because of the connectedness
1030
00:55:08,220 --> 00:55:09,486
of all the people that are here
1031
00:55:09,510 --> 00:55:12,746
and how important this
place is to each person
1032
00:55:12,770 --> 00:55:14,076
is the reason we've been
able to make it through
1033
00:55:14,100 --> 00:55:15,736
some of those difficult times.
1034
00:55:15,760 --> 00:55:18,096
- I do not want gays to
go back in the closet.
1035
00:55:18,120 --> 00:55:20,106
I do not want women to become subservient.
1036
00:55:20,130 --> 00:55:21,556
I don't want slavery.
1037
00:55:21,580 --> 00:55:23,466
Those are all biblical values.
1038
00:55:23,490 --> 00:55:24,866
That's why I go nuts with people.
1039
00:55:24,890 --> 00:55:26,846
They say, "Oh, we should
have biblical values."
1040
00:55:26,870 --> 00:55:28,183
Have they read the book?
1041
00:55:29,830 --> 00:55:31,946
I mean, there's wonderful
things in the book,
1042
00:55:31,970 --> 00:55:35,136
but there's also some
bad things in the book.
1043
00:55:35,160 --> 00:55:38,056
And one has to be sophisticated enough
1044
00:55:38,080 --> 00:55:38,910
to deal with that.
1045
00:55:38,934 --> 00:55:42,606
- I think our greatest
accomplishment is holding
1046
00:55:42,630 --> 00:55:47,630
to our mission or all-inclusiveness,
1047
00:55:49,794 --> 00:55:52,013
but I really still believe that
1048
00:55:52,037 --> 00:55:53,976
and our people act that out.
1049
00:55:54,000 --> 00:55:56,246
It's not that we do everything perfect.
1050
00:55:56,270 --> 00:55:57,939
It's not that we don't
have our prejudices,
1051
00:55:57,963 --> 00:55:59,733
because we all have them.
1052
00:56:00,900 --> 00:56:03,366
- No one is considered to
be an outcast at St. Jerome,
1053
00:56:03,390 --> 00:56:05,306
whether you're homeless,
you're transgender,
1054
00:56:05,330 --> 00:56:07,684
you're gay, you're a divorced person,
1055
00:56:07,708 --> 00:56:11,366
you are whatever, you're
welcome at St. Jerome.
1056
00:56:11,390 --> 00:56:14,396
We have a very, varied family,
1057
00:56:14,420 --> 00:56:17,476
and I think that's we're
welcoming to everyone.
1058
00:56:17,500 --> 00:56:18,656
And I think that's one of the things
1059
00:56:18,680 --> 00:56:20,586
that has set us apart in the past
1060
00:56:20,610 --> 00:56:23,386
is that it doesn't matter who you are,
1061
00:56:23,410 --> 00:56:24,396
you're welcome here.
1062
00:56:24,420 --> 00:56:27,526
- I feel very safe here,
1063
00:56:27,550 --> 00:56:30,126
and I feel like this church is my family.
1064
00:56:30,150 --> 00:56:33,126
I sit here on that first row every Sunday
1065
00:56:33,150 --> 00:56:35,986
and I watch everyone come to communion,
1066
00:56:36,010 --> 00:56:38,933
and I think, "We're all God's children."
1067
00:56:38,957 --> 00:56:42,490
"We're all so different,
but yet we're all a family."
1068
00:56:43,810 --> 00:56:47,586
- I watch these people love people.
1069
00:56:47,610 --> 00:56:52,610
I watch them love those
who come through our doors.
1070
00:56:52,650 --> 00:56:57,650
I truly watch them act
out the gospel of Christ,
1071
00:56:57,909 --> 00:57:01,506
and to create an environment of that
1072
00:57:01,530 --> 00:57:04,006
that really is what we do,
1073
00:57:04,030 --> 00:57:05,980
I think is our greatest accomplishment.
1074
00:57:11,054 --> 00:57:13,887
(inspiring music)
1075
00:57:57,940 --> 00:58:00,857
(soft piano music)
82740
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