July 31, 2007 by Pastor Dan.

The focus on the “cause” of homosexuality has created an industry of cure. The Ex-Gay movement is still here because it seems like a wonderful solution to an icky problem.

But, as long as heterosexual people are determined to follow a preconceived mental outline, they will force its logic to a conclusion that supports their determination. This an be outlined quite plainly:

1. There is something terribly wrong with homosexuality.
2. When something is wrong, there must be a reason or cause that normal sexuality “went wrong.”
3. If it can be found what went wrong, then a way to fix it can be found.

In response to this logic, organizations that operate “ex-gay” ministries have created a formula, a service, an entire industry that is geared to working with people who are unhappy with being homosexual, or are motivated to change. Most often, however, the unhappiness and motivation are the result of family and societal pressures to be heterosexual, “appear” to be heterosexual, or at least behave heterosexually in a heterosexual world. The emphasis on the “fix” in these ministries is an emphasis which firmly believes that sexual behavior can be successfully re-directed. In some cases, leaders will quietly admit that an inner change of sexual orientation may not or does not happen.

Typically, however, young people who come to these “ex-gay” therapy operations do not come because they are unhappy or motivated to change, but because their parents or families are unhappy or highly motivated to change them.

It is often said that a sweater is what a child puts on when the child’s mother is cold! The pressure on young people to conform comes not only from peers but from parents. As more and more people come out to their peers and families, peer pressure to be heterosexual is literally disappearing. But parental pressure is another thing.

Wayne Besen, in his preface to Anything But Straight (p. xii.) tells the story of coming out to his own parents. His mother bought a motivational tape for him titled “Gay and Unhappy” which, he said, tried to create a problem in his relationship with his parents as a cause for what made him gay, only that didn’t really exist.

The problem was, I always had a very close relationship with my parents—at least until I came out. I listened to the tape twice and realize that there was absolutely nothing in it that applied to my life. It was trying to establish a cause and effect relationship that did not exist. It actually seemed like the tape was trying to create a wedge between my parents and me by having me manufacture a traumatic event from my past that did not actually occur.

Besen describes the scene at the breakfast table the next morning, after listening to the tape twice and trying for the third time.

So, how did it go with the tape last night?” my father keenly asked while my mother’s eyes glowed with anticipation. “Dad, it was great. All I’ve got to do to become straight, according to the tape, is figure out when you and Mom became lousy, distant parents.”  That was the last subliminal ex-gay tape they bought me.

The opposing point of view is highly threatening to this preconceived scenario or outline, because it undermines the cause.

1. Homosexuality exists in all kinds of people from all backgrounds, with all experiences, in every kind of expression imaginable.
2. There is no evidence that homosexuality is “caused” by some genetic or hormonal flaw, by trauma, seduction, poor parenting or deep psychological or relational problems, or as a result of bad moral and ethical choices.
3. If there is no certain “cause” of any kind, there is no particular cure either.

In fact, if the whole question of “cause” is laid to rest, then the issues of “cure” and “change” simply evaporate.

—Pastor Dan Hooper, Los Angeles

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July 30, 2007 by Pastor Dan.

Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. ~ Thomas Edison

Those who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed. ~Lloyd Jones

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. ~ John 14:12–14

People often wring their hands and do little or nothing because they think nothing can be done. And that turns out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. This past spring, in spite of our strong encouragement otherwise, a nearby church in Los Angeles made the sad decision to close and disband, even though a vital mission is now abandoned.

In contrast, I admire a little church we know in Chicago on Logan Square.  Several years ago, it was advised by their synod bishop to give up and close their doors. After much soul-searching, they decided instead to sell the church-owned parsonage to get the money to hire a pastor, and get moving. They are now being served by a talented young pastor, who will lead them in a renewed sense of mission.

What moves a community forward is vision. When the people lose their vision they cannot move effectively, and may come to a complete halt.

I still remember when I was a teenager, and my Dad was teaching me to drive. I had my learner’s permit, but had not gotten behind the wheel when, one day on a country road near Lompoc, my Dad pulled the car over to the roadside and said, “Now Son, you drive.” (My mother, in the backseat, almost had a panic attack!) This was my first time to actually steer the car —a 1959 Dodge with a fancy hood ornament on the front—and use the brakes, the signals, the mirrors, etc. Fortunately, there were no other cars nearby, because I was steering rather badly, even at a very low speed.

It was then that he taught me one of life’s greatest lessons. “Look up,” he said. “Don’t watch the hood of the car. Keep your eyes trained way down the road.” Obviously, I was too nervous, and was trying too hard to concentrate on every little spot on the pavement just seconds before we drove over them. To drive effectively and safely, I had to look several hundred feet ahead of the car. This is what I mean by vision for a community: looking well down the road, and setting its course for the long distance, but the immediate bumps ahead.

Our church community has some bumps in the road almost all the time. But at the same time we are learning to train our eyes on the distance, to see the road the same way our Lord sees the road ahead. After all, Christ is leading us in our mission, and he is way out ahead of us. So we have to look far ahead on the road in order to follow him and steer our community. To be a Christian requires both close-up and distance vision.

Our community needs to use both forms of vision. In the foreground, we have routine, everyday issues, just to keep our doors open. These matters require prayer and reflection, even if they are routine, “close-up” matters.

But at the same time we must look down the road— not focusing on the “hood ornament”—in order to steer our congregation to follow where Christ is leading.

— Pastor Dan Hooper

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July 27, 2007 by Pastor Dan.

linch pin –noun

1. a pin inserted through the end of an axletree to keep the wheel on.

2. something that holds the various elements of a complicated structure together. Example: “The monarchy was the linchpin of the nation’s traditions and society.” Also, lynchpin.

[Origin: 1350–1400; unexplained alter. of ME lynspin, equiv. to lyns, OE lynis axle-pin (c. G Lünse) + pin pin]

This word came to me as I look at the homophobia in cdhurch and society. Week after week I marvel at the constant hatred and bigotry which bubble out of the right wingnuts of our society. There is such determination, authority, and financial backing for homophobia and its political right-wing agenda. Why?

A linchpin is the pin through the end of an axle to keep the wheel from slipping off. So the linchpin which keeps the wheels of the Religious Right turning, rather than slipping off and falling flat, is whatever it takes to complete their agenda.

And it seems to me that the linchpin of the socio-political agenda to deprive lesbian/gay, bisexual and transgender people of their rights, their voice, their dignity and safety is the whole “ex-gay” apparatus.

Most of us who have looked at these issues for more than a moment can see right through the “ex-gay” thing. It is contrived, ill-conceived, hiding behind a mask of voodoo science. But it is a linch-pin. As long as the well-funded religious right goes on insisting that gay and lesbian people have a choice — that their sexuality is not innate but chosen — and as long as they wave the thread-bare flag of “change” (i.e., get therapy, repent, quit the “lifestyle”), they can convince the rest of society that LGBT people do not deserve “special rights,” protection from hate crimes, or even civility and respect.

Wayne Besen has written extensively about the myths and lies of the “ex-gay” phenomenon. His book Anything But Straight [Harrington Park Press, 2003] is a must-read. Besen is the executive behind TWO: Truth Wins Out, and runs a list serve and posted daily news commentary here on the subject of the lies and myths which perpetuate homophobic bigotry, crime and political manipulation. Anything But Straight will leave you laughing, crying and gasping at how the willful right-wing political plan to deceive the American people with absolute lies and myths can keep on going when it should have fallen flat — all because of a linch-pin holding things together.

—Pastor Dan Hooper, Los Angeles

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July 25, 2007 by Pastor Dan.

We always have. We’ve not agreed completely about which day to worship on, or whether Jesus had two natures or one, or whether the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son or from the Father only; on whether one should baptize a child and if so at what age. . .  Some of these disagreements are unnecessary.  After all, we can and should worship and praise God every day of the week. Why should Christians split up into different parties over the day for worship?

Even more fundamentally, we see disagreement within the Scripture itself.  The most obvious is where Jesus said to the people, “You have heard it said . . . but I say unto you.” The ideas to which he referred were themselves written in Holy Scripture–in the Old Testament–but Jesus gave these passages new interpretations.

The question which arises is, did Jesus mean to correct a wrong interpretation with a right one (his interpretation)? Or did he encourage his hearers to think more deeply about the commonly-held views by suggesting there are alternative ways to view the same holy texts?  Did he give a once-for-all, definitive new interpretation which all Christians are to accept, or was he telling his followers that we have permission to look at texts carefully and reflectively in order to find new meanings?

Disagreements are part of the fabric and fiber of discernment.  We are called to look at scriptures deeply, not merely to find the “right” answers, as if they are hidden from us at first glance.  We are called to think, reflect, pray, and converse with other believers, in order to deepen our understanding of ourselves, of life, and of God.  Even the things about which most Christians would agree still require each and every one of us to think deeply about and wrestle with the significance of the Bible for our own lives.  It is only in this way that we become disciples.

But there is one “right way” to interpret the whole Bible. While we may disagree, in the short term or in the long term, about the applicability or usefulness of parts of Scripture, when the Bible is received as a whole there is one right way to interpret it: it leads us to faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.  On this there is no disagreement, nor should there be.  “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.”

John’s summary of the Gospel is also a summary of the applicability of the whole Bible to life.  The purpose of the Bible is to lead to the faith in God’s promises which lead to life.  There is no need to insert a long list of qualifiers, “yes, buts,” conditions or exclusions to our interpretation of Scripture.  As long as we have the core truth about Jesus Christ at the center, and hold it as an indispensable truth for our lives, we can disagree, discern, wrestle, and yet remain committed to one another as fellow believers.

—Pastor Dan Hooper, Los Angeles

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July 20, 2007 by Pastor Dan.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” – Jesus (Matthew 25:31–36)

This passage has longed intrigued me. I preached a long sermon on it when I was pretty green, right out of seminary. (Hopefully, those people forgave me long ago for my length and self-righteousness, each of which can be insufferable.)

But the parable is such an open-and-shut case, in a heavenly trial, of the “good guys” and the “bad guys.” There isn’t much wiggle room, because Jesus tells us, as the Letter of James (1:27) also says, that right religion is really true compassion, not rituals and costumes.

The “Judgment Day” is such a fun metaphor for all people—especially for those who are not really religious. The details in the Bible are sketchy and besides they are obvious metaphors, so we’re free to imagine how things might really unfold. Anyway, it crossed my mind, What if the Judgment doesn’t start with individuals, but with nations, states, or even Christian congregations first.

And a Christian congregation comes up, and with their famous, smiling minister at the front of the line they happily report their good deeds:

“We had a huge congregation, we tithed, we built a cathedral to the skies in your name;

“We had the latest and greatest praise music; we put Bibles in every pew;

“We had potlucks, soup suppers, coffee klatches, Jello salads; we made and sold thousands of low-fat-low-sugar-low-carb-big-heart-”Jesus is the greatest” health and fitness bars.

“We had programs for all ages, an outstanding choir and the biggest pipe organ in six counties; we had stewardship and evangelism programs, marriage enrichment, teen challenge, golden goodies and grief groups;

“We started our own radio outreach and television ministry; we sent thousands of dollars for benevolence to support Christian colleges, seminaries, and foreign missionaries; we prayed from the heart and praised Jesus every Lord’s Day, twice a day, and on Wednesdays, and we taught everybody to say “Amen” loudly.

And the king will answer them, saying,  “Did you feed the hungry? Did you take in the homeless? Did you do anything to show mercy and compassion to outsiders?”

“But Lord, our doors were open! Everybody was welcome! And we were on TV!!”

And the Judge will say, “Next!!”

— Dan Hooper, Los Angeles

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July 19, 2007 by Pastor Dan.

I am homeless, but I want a home of my own. I see the mansions on the hill— big, magical, luxurious, beautiful. I want to live there. But, I know I cannot, without something that, obviously, I am without … money. In effect, to have a mansion on the hill, or even an apartment at the bottom of it, I still need money! I don’t really need good credit, or creative financing. I wouldn’t have to borrow at all, if I just had money!

Maybe I could rent a mansion, but I would need to have the first and last months’ rent, plus the security deposit. I have nothing—so that’s out. But one way or another, to live in that mansion I would need cold, hard, cash money.

In fact, the lack of it is why I am homeless. Out here I am lost. It is unsafe, it’s filthy. The nights are frightening; the days are long and hot. I cannot protect myself or defend myself or save my own skin. I am always hungry, and I’m afraid I will become sick, living this way.

So, to get money, I would have to work —work very hard—and I’d have to save and hold on to every dollar I can, until I could afford to buy my way up to the mansion on the hill. It takes lots and lots of money, so I would probably spend my whole life on the streets, without shelter or safety or hygiene or self-care, just to save up the money to have that mansion before I die.

But, now I have met someone—maybe he’s a real estate broker or something—who says he can put me in that mansion on the hill today. He says I don’t even need money. I don’t know whether to believe him or not, because he says that all you really need to live in the mansion on the hill is not money, but … the key. Yeah, right! and I’m thinking, you have to have money to get the key. Duh! This broker’s name is Jesus.

It seems like it is too good to be true, because Jesus tells me to follow him, up to this mansion! He says that when we get there, the key will be there for me, and I can walk right in and live in the mansion on the hill. I don’t believe him, because you have to earn the money, whether you buy or rent, before you get the key. Hey, landlords even want a key deposit!—that’s more money! But he says, “No, that’s not true. Believe me,” he says, “I have the key to that mansion on the hill. Follow me. C’mon, right now.”

But who am I? I have trouble believing him. I am a homeless bum, a failure, a loser. It’s not just that I don’t qualify for a mortgage or have the money to buy a mansion. I really don’t deserve to live in that mansion, you know? So I think he’s just “yanking my chain.”

He tells me, “Nah, man. You deserve a better life. You deserve to live in a mansion.” “Are you kidding?” I say. “I don’t deserve that mansion. I just wish I had it.”

“No, you deserve it.”

“Who says, man?” I say.

“I say you deserve it,” he says, “and that makes it so.”

And you know what else he says? (This is too fantastic to think about.) Look, I mean even if I had the key—right?—I don’t own the place. The owner would eventually catch me and throw me out!

This guy is too much, I think! This real estate broker, this Jesus guy, says, “There are a lot of mansions on the hill, not just the one for you. So tell your friends, because the same key opens them all!” And, maybe this guy Jesus is a nut case, because he says, “make as many duplicate keys as you want!”

And while I’m trying not to laugh in his face, then he says, “Believe me, you and all your homeless friends can live on the hill in those mansions because I own them all, and I say it’s okay. C’mon! Follow me! Believe me!!”

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” —Ephesians 2:8–10

— Pastor Dan Hooper

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July 16, 2007 by Pastor Dan.

Recently an inmate wrote to me from the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo.  If get three or four letters a year from inmates, most of which are addressed to the pastor of the church — from men I have never met.

Apparently gay-oriented news publicaitons are either available or can be brought in to the prison.  The letter I received recently indicated that he had seen our congregation’s advertisement that LGBT people are welcome.

This is my response.  I am posting it in the hope that it can be of some help to someone else.

Dear [Gary],
I received your letter yesterday at Hollywood Lutheran Church. I am Rev. Dan Hooper, and have been the Pastor of the church for about three years.  I am happy that you have heard about our congregation. Since you have asked some questions, I will try to answer them.

Homosexuality is one variation of human sexuality. Our human sexuality is part of our human nature as God created us. Some people are homosexual, some are heterosexual, and a few are somewhere in between. But I am sure that God made us the way we are. You do not need to feel guilty about your sexual orientation, even though each of us should be responsible in how we express our sexual orientation.

Our congregation is completely supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. We have had same-sex couples exchange marriage vows in our church, and we honor all couples as true families united I love with the blessing of God. My partner and I have been together for many years, and Hollywood Lutheran Church called me to serve the church knowing that I am gay and in a permanent relationship.

Hollywood Lutheran Church is one of over 350 Lutheran congregations in the United States that have adopted a public “Affirmation of Welcome” addressed to gay and lesbian people. These churches are part of a larger welcoming program called “Reconciling in Christ.” I have included two brochures for you: one is about our congregation, and the other is about the Reconciling in Christ program. This program is run by a larger organization for GLBT people called Lutherans Concerned.

If you come to Hollywood when you are on parole, you do not need to be afraid of being rejected. We have a lot of gay and lesbian people who are members and who participate in all aspects of the church’s life. We also have several gay ex-convicts who participate in our church community and are welcomed like everyone else.

Lutherans Concerned in Los Angeles is exploring whether to start a gay-friendly ministry to the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. Our objective is to help parolees to make the transition back to life in the larger society. I have printed the news story about the plans for this ministry and included that also.

Please feel free to write back if you can. You may want to share more about yourself and why you are in the Men’s Colony and when your next parole hearing will be. In the meantime, I will remember you in my prayers. And I hope we will meet some day.

God bless you,

Pastor Dan Hooper

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