Just out., December 07, 2001, Page 15, Image 15

Um ¡i i ; ivi s in e w s
t is raining as the car crosses the Willam­
ette River for a Sunday morning meeting
with leaders of Potters House Ministries
Life Center. Through the windshield
wipers on a residential street in Southeast
Potter's House Ministries reconnects worshipers with religion
Portland, the first impression is that of a strange­
by Kelly Reilly
ly beautiful building that looks part house, part
church, morphing into something new.
It’s difficult to think about a personal evolu­
can accept God’s
tion without glancing at one’s religion or spiri­
message.”
tual beliefs. But for sexual minorities, remaining
Potter’s House
devout can feel like an exercise in futility as far
is something of an
as mainstream churches go.
“unministry,” leav­
The recent emergence of those that minister
ing large pockets
to faith beyond cultural stereotypes has helped
of room for person­
remove some of the stigma encountered when
al issues and a
entering a traditional place of worship. Although
“custom approach”
solid gains have been made in acceptance of gay,
to opening the
lesbian and hi people, trans inclusion has lagged.
hearts of people to
Potter’s House is helping change this.
the word of God.
This seems sensi­
The church’s lower level entrance is a wide
door opening into a large room used for nonservice
ble for an organiza­
gatherings. Adjacent to that is an office of sorts,
tion that performs
outreach to the
where Potter’s House leaders are waiting to talk.
“We are a Bible church. W e teach what is in
sexual minorities
here,” lay pastor Eric Brown says as he gestures
community.
with the simple black hook in his hands.
Potter’s House
A period of silence passes. “W e get every­
got its start in the
thing we need right here,” Brown adds.
1980s. The church,
Lay pastors Cynthia Butts (top left), Sharon Messerschmidt (top right)
which had between
Although it is not connected with the numer­
and Eric Brown (center) enjoy Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 10 at Potter’s
ous Potter’s House Ministries found typically in
40 and 50 members
House Ministries Life Center
during the early
the Deep South, a Bible church practices a cer­
tain literal tradition of interpreting Scripture.
1990s, since has shrunk to about 12 members, per­
For example, Potter’s House held its annual
haps because of the growing acceptance of gay
Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 10 for Northwest
men and lesbians in some mainstream churches.
Gender Alliance, Portland’s largest trans organi­
- V ou iust can t expect people to be ready to
JL hear God’s word when they walk in here,”
zation. The church brought the bird, and about
“W e do a Sunday service and then other pro­
grams during the week,” Butts says. Those activ­
30 group members brought everything else.
lay pastor Cynthia Butts says. “There is so much
anger in so many people that they need time
“It’s a great time,” alliance president Tracy
ities include dances, Bible studies and outreach
W helan says. “W e’ve been doing this for a
to come to terms with their lives before they
to sexual minorities.
A n O pening to G od
I
YES!
long time. It’s a great chance for people to get
together. You know the holidays are so hard
for some.”
r T 'h e church itself is a small but inviting
JL room. It has a spiritual glow about it, with
simple stained glass windows, lots of musical
instruments and a spate of chairs around a sim­
ple black metal rostrum. It is a warm place of
worship.
Potter’s House takes its name from the book
of Jeremiah: “This is the word that came to
Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘G o down to the pot­
ter’s house and there I will give you my mes­
sage.’ So I went down to the potter’s house, and
I saw him working at the w heel.... Like clay in
the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand,
O house of Israel.”
The ministry certainly follows this metaphor
in its approach. After listening to the stories of
coming out, of burdens lifted, of challenges met,
it becomes clear that Potter’s House is more
about restarting an individual’s relationship to
God than about God’s relationship to the indi­
vidual. It seems to be more about establishing
the link to God and then letting things take
their course.
“A person has to become open before they
can move forward,” Butts says. “A lot of people
are so angry when they come in, they are at the
end of their rope, and they need time and lis­
tening help to work through it.” J H
P o tter ’ s H o use M inistries L ife C enter is located
at 3830 S.E. 62nd Ave. For more information call
503-775-5024.
K elly R eilly is a professional journalist living in Port­
land. H er e-mail address is kelly_reilly@hotmail.com.
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