Hot Topics: Sex, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Eddie Long, and the Black Church

Hot Topics is hosted by Pastor Dennis A. Meredith & Tabernacle Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA.
www.tbcatlanta.squarespace.com


Today's Hot Topics: 'Sex, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Eddie Long, and the Black Church'


Episode 1: 'Clergy as Child Predators'

Episode 2: 'Hiding in the Closet'
Episode 3: 'Homosexuality is a Disorder?'
Episode 4: 'Eddie Long's Boys'
Episode 5: 'The Megachurch'
Episode 6: 'Questions from the Audience'


-Uncovering truths about human sexuality in a religious and academic context.-

____________________________________________
credits:
Executive Producer: Pastor Dennis A. Meredith
Producers: Captain Crazy Productions INC, Taylor Made Productions LLC, TBC Office Staff
Music: Pastor Dennis A. Meredith with Micah Meredith and the Anointed Voices of TBC
Sponsored by: Faith And Community Alliance
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Guest Speakers:

Dr. Jennifer Fennell


PsyD.-- Clinical Pyscholigist, Pathway Center of Psychotherapy, Norcross, GA
Dr. Fennell has 10 years experience in clinical psychology. she is specially trained in diagnosing Post traumatic stress disorder and treating trauma related mental health illnesses. Dr. Fennell has received trauma training at the Atlanta VAMC, and various locations in Hattiesburg, MS, including the Shafer Center for Crisis. Her credentials relating to the forum, as a Georgia licensed psychologist, include a dissertation on PTSD as well as specific training with sexual assault victims, combat veterans, and national disaster survivors. Other areas of specialized training include EMDR and sex addiction treatment. She is currently in private practice in Norcross, GA at the Pathway Center for Psychotherapy. Please feel free to visit her website for more information at www.renewedserenity.com

Dr. Professor Randall C. Bailey


Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Hebrew Bible Interdenominational Theological Center Atlanta, GA
BA, Brandeis University, AM in Social Service Administration, University of Chicago
MDiv, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, PhD in Old Testament, Emory University
Dr. Bailey is an ordained Baptist Minister and ideological critic whose publications concentrate on the intersections of race, gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality and power in the biblical text. He is the author of one book and editor/co-editor of 6 volumes dealing with biblical interpretation from racial/ethnic perspectives.

Professor David Cann


Over 15 years pastoral experience, also 12 years teaching as a Professor of Religion, Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church currently an Adjunct Professor at the ITC.
B.A., 1978 Oberlin College;
M.Div., 1983, Interdenominational Theological Center;
M.A., 1992, Loyola University;
Ph.D., 1996, Chicago Theological Seminary

Tabernacle Baptist Church Promo

Check out what the Love & Acceptance message is all about.


Tabernacle Baptist Church: Love & Acceptance from Captain Crazy Productions, INC on Vimeo.


Once the new TBCatlanta website is up, you can go there to view all the full testimonials and interviews we shot last winter!!

Pastor Dennis A. Meredith's Statement about Current News Issues

Pastor Dennis A. Meredith: A Response to the Accusations about Eddie Long from Captain Crazy Productions, INC on Vimeo. 

This video is a response to the current news about Bishop Eddie Long:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39297257/

Hello,  This is Pastor Dennis Meredith from Tabernacle Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA.   I am writing concerning my anger and disappointment with Bishop Long (and other pastors like him) regarding sexual misconduct with young men.

I am an openly gay-bisexual pastor. I came out to my congregation in 2007. I have a membership of around 2000; and 85% are same gender loving. I know what it is like to be afraid to admit your human sexuality to your congregation. However, fear does not excuse you from taking responsibility for your actions -- especially in this case where young, innocent children are violated.

I am appalled at the hypocrisy brought to this situation. Bishop Long has demonized and dehumanized the gay community. He has led marches against same sex marriage; and has a program in his church to exit the gay lifestyle. At the same time, he uses his power and influence to convince young and impressionable boys to have sex with him – as if this was God’s will.

It further saddens me, that not one word in his statement yesterday was in reference to the pain and psychic scars caused in the lives of these boys and their families – who continue to live in fear of what may happen to them. The real heroes in this case are the boys who had the courage to stop Bishop Long from continuing to violate young boys in the name of God. Bishop Long’s actions seem arrogant, hypocritical, and cowardice. Bishop Long has an opportunity today, to tell the truth, and liberate our church and society, who continue to hold oppressive dispositions that lead to secrecy, shame, and then crime!

I have lived this life for 57 years. I personally know that there are several pastors in this city and across this country who are just like Bishop Long --  and it's time to stop homophobic, hypocritical preaching from African American pulpits -- using the pulpit as a smoke screen for indiscretion and to legitimize violations and crimes against young children.  

God’s Love is Inclusive

Words from Sister Meredith

First Lady of Tabernacle Baptist Church

The progress of the African American community has been built on our tenacity to hold on to TRUTH.  We did not believe we were inferior, so we joined arms with Dr. King to dispel the lies of our oppressors.  In the words of the great Dr. King, “truth crushed to earth will rise again … and no lie will live forever.”  My prayer upon hearing of the tragedy of these young African American boys has been that God’s hand is pulling back a dark veil that has caused so many to become victims of “self-hate” and the destruction that follows.  Are we more concerned about knowing the truth or upholding a lie? Are we content to prove a lie so that the status quo of hate and oppression remains the norm in church and society?  The response of the church has not been investigation and outrage over the lives of more than 30 boys and others who have suffered as the result of sexual misconduct -- Misconduct that found its life because our church and society refused to accept a GAY/BISEXUAL man or woman of God.  Secrecy and self-hate breeds misconduct and self-destruction.  My appeal to the church is to return to the truth.  The Truth: God’s love is inclusive: inclusive to “heal the hurt and emotional scars of the boys and their families” that have been victimized; and inclusive to “forgive and make whole a leader” whose secret and shame has lead to this horrible crime.  The truth will liberate our church and society from hate and bigotry against those who are different: colored, gay, poor, disabled … no matter what the difference … the church must begin to wake up to truth and walk in truth.  As we are silent,  and will not disclose the truth, we are as guilty as the molester, the murderer … and we perpetuate a society that will continue to commit inhumane crimes … instead of creating a church and society of peace.

How would you describe our film?

It is sometimes hard to consider that a documentary revolving around a church's message can be anything else but a "Docuganda," but that's the one thing we are working diligently to avoid. We are not trying to prove that this particular way of thinking is the right way, but instead let our audience make the decisions for themselves by observing the human nature of those who live under this Love & Acceptance doctrine. If the documentary has to fit in a particular genre, it would closest fit the definition of a "Visual Anthropological Documentary"; a documentary that focuses on capturing visual evidence of how the Church's message affects our subject's day to day lives.

There is no stated right or wrong in the film, just the observation of people's actions and their physical and verbal opinions to the lives they live. Since Pastor Meredith is very active in the production of this documentary, we could also potentially consider it to be his own "Personal Essay Documentary" about his conquest to live his life the way he believes he should and how he gives back to the community that supports him by attempting to spread new knowledge and ways of thinking to a mass audience.

No matter what this film ends up being labeled as, we have embarked on a cinematic journey without knowing where it will lead us or what we will find along the way...

Here's a short clip of Pastor singing during the Tabernacle Baptist Church's Memorial Day service. Observing the joy he gets out of preaching and performing for his congregation is the driving force of this documentary's creation.

This DAM Film Blog Post from Captain Crazy Productions on Vimeo.


Please support our journey by subscribing to this blog and staying in touch with our progress. ^_^


-imoto, director of This DAM Film.

Inspired By A Message..

I had a really good meeting with some of the trangender members of TBC yesterday. Today I was reflecting on the first meeting I had with Dee Dee . She was one of the trangender individuals I met with yesterday. I always appreciate talking with Dee Dee, she's a very caring and sensitive person who is always thinking about ministry for hurting people....

The meeting I had with her about three years ago was a real eye opener to the lives of trangender people. I had absolutely no idea what they went through just to be themselves. When she finished telling me of the tragedy and pain she had suffered in her life I was in tears. I could not imagine how someone could survive such injustice and rejection. But she did survive it and she did it because she turned her pain into an opportunity to rescue and save other transgender individuals from having to go through the same suffering that she had to endure. She asked me if Tabernacle would partner with LaGender Inc. (a nonprofit organization she started) and open our doors of love and acceptance to the trangender community, so they would have a place to worship God without being treated with discrimination, alienation, and prejudice. I was honored. It was humbling to know that our church was a place for someone who never had a pastor and never really been in a church, yet she found TBC a place of solace and comfort.

I would like to be honest and tell you that not everyone in our church welcomed the transgender ministry. It was surprising to me that even the same gendered individuals of the congregation were struggling with the new ministry. But after the dust settled and the transgender people assimilated throughout the congregation, everything was just fine. We are one big happy family worshiping and praising God together.

I am getting ready to go to a barbecue at my son Micah's house. I am so proud of him. He and His partner Michael have just purchased a new home and he has invited the family to come over. One of my beloved members, Deshon, who is a trangender will be joining us. I call Deshon my daughter. She is supposed to bring the kabobs and a banana pudding. I am a little concerned about the banana pudding cause no one can make banana pudding like my ex-wife. Speaking of the ex-wife, I have got to go now and pick her up from the airport. That's my BEST FRIEND.

Until Next Time,

Pastor Meredith

Pastor's 1st Blog.

I am really thankful for having the opportunity to do this documentary. When I began teaching the love and acceptance doctrine I had no idea of where or what this teaching would lead to. I just believed it was necessary to bring to the GLBT community a healthy, holistic, loving and healing message to a population of hurting people that have for so long been demonized and demoralized.

I often wonder if Christian people know how vicious and hurtful they can be to people all in the name of Jesus. I have heard so many painful stories of gay people who have been victimized by pastors and other church leaders. This to me is such a tragedy and a poor reflection on Christianity.

I am very sensitive to this issue and I have suffered a lot of personal loss just because I choose to love and accept and teach others to do the same. I have been told I was going to Hell and my whole church was going with me. People have literally walked away from the church because they refuse to love and accept people of the GLBT community. These people were my friends. I ate at their homes, laughed and fellowship with them, but when I began teaching love and acceptance our loving friendships abruptly ended. Stuff like this hurts... But I believe I have to follow the assignment God has given me to do. Every time someone thanks me for words of affirmation or thanks me because they are transcending their issues of self-hate, I know the struggle is well worth it.

Speaking of struggle doing this documentary has not been easy. I have had to deal with rejection and two faced preachers who smile in your face and talk about you behind your back. This documentary has made me be more vulnerable by forcing me to be more open and honest with my own personal life. I will speak more about that in my next blog.

(Here's a picture of my Grandson and I with the old bike! Teach them while they're young haha.)

Its time for me to get on my Harley Davidson street glide and let the wind blow in my face. ahhh! The feel of that power between your legs and the sound of those pipes roaring down the road is like nothing else in the world matters.

Until next time,

Pastor Meredith

Also, please subscribe to this blog and help us spread the message of Love and Acceptance through this documentary. Thank you all so much.