Hey folks, it's me Michael Bach and this is Monday Morning Musings.
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Happy Monday.
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Which is traditionally on Mondays.
Hence the name Monday Morning Musings.
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I want to talk about an article I saw in the Globe and Mail late last week.
And I'll post a link down below.
And it is the story of an Ontario Baptist Minister who was fired from her job for coming out as trans.
As the story goes, Reverend Junia Joplin - and I apologize if I am saying your name wrong -
she originally presented as male when she took the job in 2014 at Lorne Park Baptist Church.
And she came out as trans in a livestream sermon in January - June, excuse me, of 2020.
So last year.
And you can read through the story, how they went about this process of getting rid of her and, I have many problems with this.
I mean, aside from the court case, in my opinion this is an open and shut case.
She was discriminated against because of her gender identity which is covered with the Canadian Human Rights Act,
it's covered under the Ontario Human Rights Act, it's covered under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
This is an open and shut case.
Arguably, Reverend Joplin was trans when she took the job.
She was just presenting as male.
But she identifies as female and has made that switch.
It's also interesting to note that, in her work life in the church,
she created a space where other LGBTQ2+ people were welcomed with the congregation's permission.
So they had to know that that was part of it.
Aside from the legal argument, there is literally nothing in the Bible that speaks about gender identity.
Not a word.
And yet, the congregation put her through some, what sound like pretty horrible interviews asking very personal questions.
And, in the end, they were asked if she should keep her job,
be put on 18 month con- which it was a permanent role - put on an 18 month contract, or fired.
And whether or not the decision was on religious grounds.
And apparently 111 people participated in the interviews.
Yeah, 111 voters opted to end her employment.
Of those, 50 said it was fully, or in part, owing to religious beliefs.
Now, this has lawyer stink all over it.
That they are trying to skirt the Human Rights Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by saying that it's on religious grounds.
Well, if that's the case, then in doctrine you should have to show where gender identity goes against your religious beliefs.
And there is *nothing* in the Bible - the instruction manual of Christianity - that says that gender identity is against God's will.
I'm not a religious man. ]
People who know me know I'm a Buddhist, but I was raised Presbyterian.
And I heard something said once that really spoke to me.
And that is that God doesn't make mistakes.
If there is a God in heaven, they don't make mistakes.
Reverend Joplin is exactly who she is meant to be.
And, if the Parishioners of the Lorne Park Baptist Church and the Baptist Church of Canada have the love of God in their hearts,
then they will accept her *exactly* as who she is.
She's suing them for 200, 000 dollars.
Frankly, I think that is a very small amount.
I think she should be suing them for ten times that.
Because what they've done is ruined her career.
But also, taken a piece of her.
Emotionally, mentally.
And that is not a Christian value.
Something to think about.
Check out the article in the Globe and Mail, it's a good read.
And I think it will be very informative for people who are looking to learn more about LBGTQ2+ inclusion.
That's it for me.
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So, check it out.
That's it.
Have a fantastic week.
I'll see you next week for another episode of Monday Morning Musings.
Bye.
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