Glad to be here as a contributor to a blog of which I’ve been an avid reader for over a year. I am British-Canadian, and living in Liverpool, England. It’s hard to describe what I do for a living, since it’s a mixture of things, but most of them involve writing, research, editing and design.
Some of you may know me already from my own blog, which is rarely updated these days, or from various bits and pieces I’ve published around the Internet. British readers may have read my recent article about the ex-gay movement in the UK in Third Way magazine. I’ve not seen a copy yet, but apparently half the world has. I’ll publish the article in installments here in time.
I am an openly practising Anglican, having finally admitted it’s who I am after years struggling internally with unwanted feelings of attraction to the Church of England. I grew up evangelical and Pentecostal, went to Bible College and had a brief career as an associate pastor in my homeland of BC. It was during that testing two-year period in ministry that I began to question my fundamentalism, and it was on returning to the UK in 2003 that I finally said goodbye to all that.
I have never, strictly speaking, been “ex-gay”. Like so many others, I spent my teenage years praying that the attractions would go away, but thankfully was never roped into reparative therapy. In 2005 I came out as a gay man, a step I thought I would never have the courage to take.
I look forward to putting in my 2-cents-worth, and sharing with you a bit of what I’m researching here in the UK.
Welcome, Dave! I’ve been reading your stuff for awhile, esp. the Grace Pages. Your article on coming out of Fundamentalism rang true with me and I’ve passed it along to many others who’ve found it helpful. It was cool to watch your coming out take place via your blog. I was an evangelical/charismatic pastor for a long time, so I resonate with your journey.
Glad you’re here. 🙂
Peace,
Rick
Welcome Dave. If you ever have a chance read: Confessions of a Queer Priest, about a college professor of mine (and one of the founders of American public radio) and an ordained Anglican priest. It’s an interesting read.
Hi, Dave! I know you from xn. Happy to see you here and putting your writing talent to work.
Dave! Great to see you here at XGW! I know from your blogs and conversations that you will contribute insight and wisdom. I thank you in advance.
Welcome Dave. I look forward to seeing more of your perspective in this forum.
Dave,
Welcome. I look forward to your perspective.
“I have never, strictly speaking, been “ex-gay”. Like so many others, I spent my teenage years praying that the attractions would go away, but thankfully was never roped into reparative therapy.”
Ditto for me Dave. I think the general public doesn’t realize most of us have already tried to stop having same sex attractions, that’s how we know its not a choice, not a phase, or something we can simply “change back the way we used to be”.
I hope we can all get this across more to most people who probably assume “complete change is completely possible”.
Welcome to the fray Dave!
I go by David so that should help with any name confusion. Our paths are similar in many ways, I look forward to your perspective.
David Roberts
Woo HOO, Welcome Brother David,
We have a voice shouting fromt the other side of the pond!
Hugs from Studio City, Los Angeles, California
Thanks for a wonderful welcome, everyone.