From the very beginning of time itself, Ceiling Cat knew all about my friend Fluffy. Ceiling Cat knew Fluffy would be very good at preaching, teaching, and caring for all of Ceiling Cat’s other kitties. And of course, Ceiling Cat knew, Fluffy would fall in love and marry her partner Rita. Ceiling Cat was  glad  they would be very happy together.

    Fluffy grew up, went to all sorts of kitty schools, and heard Ceiling Cat’s call for her to be a pastor. But after Fluffy finished kitty seminary, she was in for a rude surprise.  She couldn’t be ordained because all sorts of fundy kitties thought she was bad. “Bad, bad, kitty,” they told her. “Ceiling Cat would never let someone who loves other girl kitties be a pastor.” “But,” Fluffy pleaded, “I had the best grades of all the kitties in seminary, I can preach rings around you, I want to work in very small kitty churches, and I even love d*gs, and Tea- Baggers.” “Pshaw,” the fundies answered. (Fundies seem to like strange words like pshaw) “You’re evil through and through. Off to kitty hell with you!”

    Years passed, Fluffy still couldn’t become a pastor. But one day, a miracle happened. Ceiling Cat’s Spirit got tired of waiting. The Spirit started to change the minds of kitties who once were fundy cats. Fluffy was ordained as a MinisterCat of Mews and Sacraments in the PresbyKitty Church (USA). She serves Ceiling Cat's people in very small churches, preaches very well indeed, and helps many, many kitties to see how much Ceiling Cat loves them. She is a wonderful pastor.

    Fluffy’s story isn’t unique. Lot’s of hoomans who God calls to be pastors cannot be ordained because God made them to love differently than other hoomans. Many of them are excellent preachers, and teachers. Many know what it is to be outcast and so they will serve the small churches the world says are also outcast. Some of them are our very best candidates.  This travesty is still happening today; especially in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

    But maybe things are changing. Every time the issue comes up for a vote the hoomans who know God loves everyone, and who know God calls gays and lesbians to be pastors, get a little closer to winning. Every year more and more Presbyteries hear God’s call and change their votes from no to yes and say all who are called by God should be able to serve God and God’s people.

    God’s Spirit will not be denied forever. This year, may be the year, when love will rise above hate and homophobia for hoomans, just like it did for kitties. More Presbyteries are changing their votes to yes.  At this moment the vote is 28 yes to 25 no. But there are still 120 Presbyteries yet to vote.  Please pray for the Presbyterian Church (USA). Pray that God will break through the walls of hate and bigotry. Pray to God to bring us more light. 

    And while you pray, keep track of the votes at http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=t-MAxyQn6VWgFOr836FqGGA&output=html  and learn more about the fresh breeze the Spirit is sending through God’s churches at http://www.amendment10a.org/.

    This could be the year! Come Holy Spirit! Let There Be More Light!