The following spoke to me, especially, since, as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, and a female in a patriarchal society that doesn't value women, I have felt "not-a-part-of", unloveable, untouchable, like I was poison, not "human" even. It expresses
a great deal about what my Christianity means for me.

*Thanks to The United Methodist Church for the following excerpt:

God’s extravagant love is evident during Commission meeting.

"God took the risk to be in you and me," proclaimed Leontine T. C. Kelly, retired United Methodist bishop, and through her sermon at opening worship she set the tone for the Sept. 24-27, 1998, meeting of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women in Millbrae, CA.

In keeping with the meeting theme "Making the Church Whole: God’s Extravagant Love," Kelly challenged the Commission to consider what we have to fear and then be willing to risk in the face of those fears. She asked, "How many will be included by your deliberation? No one can comfortably be left out."

Friday’s journey to Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco continued to challenge the Commission to take risks and to recognize those who may be left out. From the moment Commission members left the bus to enter Glide’s building, they were met with the faces of persons who had been left out–along the street in San Francisco’s rugged Tenderloin district, within the halls of Glide, and in Freedom Hall.

The Commission meeting theme of God’s extravagant love also came to life through presentations by Cecil Williams, pastor of Glide since 1964 and chief executive officer of Glide Foundation, and Janice Mirikitani, executive director and president of the foundation. As Williams pointed out, "Unconditional love says that you risk everything. If we are the people of God, we must act that way. Praxis is critical for the church into the 21^st century. To be the people of God, we put no conditions on our love. The people of God love each other so much that we act like the people of God."

"We give people hope here," emphasized Williams, "with that hope comes joy."

As Mirikitani referred to the breadth of Glide Foundation programs, she continued to emphasize hope Glide offers and shared her own story of self-discovery and recovery as part of the Glide family. A Japanese-American graduate student, Mirikitani arrived at Glide not knowing who she was and not accepting God because of her experience of incest and abuse.

"Cecil’s presence shook me up," she recalled. Admiring the passion of his support for the poor and marginalized, "I could not help but get involved."

In fact, together with him Mirikitani has contributed to Glide’s transformation and its powerful force in San Francisco. She oversees the 45 programs and $6 million budget of the Glide Foundation. Through her leadership the foundation served a million and a half meals last year, and tens of thousands of persons received services ranging from HIV testing, health care, counseling, crisis intervention, literacy and computer training, job training and placement, and children, youth, and family educational programs.

In Freedom Hall a panel of Glide members told their stories of being left out, even excommunicated, by other churches and society and being found and loved unconditionally at Glide–stories of former drug abusers, survivors of incest and abuse, prostitutes, criminals, along with gay, lesbian, heterosexual, and transgendered persons. With the voices they have found through the Glide family, these persons now volunteer with and some are employed by the Glide Foundation.

Another panel of Glide Foundation staff persons shared their stories of service through programs for persons with HIV and AIDS, substance abusers, women who have suffered domestic violence, children, and other persons in crisis. Representatives from Glide’s extended family groups offered an overview of Bible study, diversity groups, and caring ministries.

Banners and phrases painted as borders on the tops of walls proclaimed throughout the Glide building: Our way is justice. Our way is compassion. Our way is spirituality. Our way is passion. Our time is now.

At Sunday morning worship, which Glide calls celebration, Commission members experienced the joy of a sanctuary overflowing with persons and Christ’s spirit of unconditional love and acceptance reflected in the Glide spirit.