Today, September 5, 2012 marks an anniversary of sorts. Today is the one year anniversary of the day I stood up in a church as an officiator was spewing hatred from the pulpit and slowly and repeatedly kept saying, “Father, please stop speaking.”
Eventually, he stopped. The security guard came to remove me, which was unnecessary since my husband and I were ready to leave. As we departed, it appeared the congregation was a real-time representation of our political consciousness – about half agreed with my position, and half were yelling that they were ‘against’ my position. One Black woman asked me to stay and fight. I paused, and said, “I did not come to church to fight.” Many people followed us out of the service that day. I doubt few were changed as much I have been by that action.
Dr. Success Challenge: What action are you willing to take to find your voice, speak your truth respectfully, and move your spirit forward?
Today I am thankful I leave in a nation that is diverse in thought, free to express that diversity and united in our desire (if not our opinions) to preserve that freedom of diversity and speech.
Peace be with us all today and love show us the way, Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
I should not be surprised that you would have the courage to stand up and ask anyone to stop hating from a podium. I’m always surprised when it’s someone in a spiritual position though. Someone in “authority” (I use that term loosely). Someone in leadership. YOU, Dr. Goeglein, always take your role as a leader very seriously and with great respect to those who might be listening or looking to you for guidance. I have never heard you utter one word of hate. Thanks for being someone we can all listen to, whether we agree or not. For being someone who makes us think and who offers us just a little more insight than we had before you.
Mary Agnes Antonopoulos