Jorge Lockward, Huffington Post: The Blog
So, here I am, Tampa, 2012, as the General Conference of the United Methodist Church gears up yet again gearing up to debate my life and “decide” if who I am is compatible with Christianity.
It started 47 years ago in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where I was born and raised in an evangelical family. I could not wait for 6 p.m. on Sundays when we would go to my favorite service, Holy Communion and sing our hearts out.
Everything was picture perfect. I was expected to follow in my father’s steps. Prominent Biblical scholar, amazing preacher, distinguished diplomat, educator and politician. My first sermons were delivered with much trembling and received with surprising gratitude and affirmation. I was encouraged in this path and later became a deacon in my congregation.
In the middle of it all, I had my first crush. Pretty natural for a 14 yr old except it was on a classmate… in an all-boys school.
What followed was a private hell of desperate prayers…
