James Laspisa

GOOD MORNING!

Like many of you, I’m not native to Columbus, but migrated here.. 

Since my arrival from Toledo, I have been searching for a Church that is NOT ONLY “Open and Affirming”, but MORE IMPORTANTLY truly “Christ centered”. 

I first found one that is EXTREMELY accepting, but when you look beyond their welcome to the Gay and Lesbian community, you find them lacking in what it means to truly “follow Jesus”. 

I found another that is quite involved with local missions, but even though they proclaimed to be a welcoming congregation, as an openly Gay man, I never felt REALLY accepted there – more like TOLERATED. 

I KNOW I”M SHOWING MY AGE, but can anyone else remember the story of “Goldilocks and the three bears”?

In it, Goldilocks tries three bowls of porridge – the first bowl is too hot, the second is too cold, but finally the third bowl is neither too hot or too cold, but “JUST RIGHT”

IN MY CASE I was beginning to wonder if I would ever find a church that is neither “too hot” or “too cold”, but JUST RIGHT

I was resigning myself to living with compromise when one lazy. rainy, Saturday afternoon late last fall, my Inner Voice told me to  Google “Open and Affirming” churches ONE MORE TIME.

I found a website called gaychurch.org where you can check for welcoming churches in your area. I saw the “SAME OLD, SAME OLD” from other websites I had visited, but then I saw COLUMBUS MENNONITE CHURCH 

COLUMBUS MENNONITE???

Not knowing that much about Mennonites, I figured that Mennonites were basically “AMISH WITH WIFI” and “ASSUMED” that they would be socially conservative and thus not accepting of people like me.

I’M SURE YOU’VE ALL HEARD THE OLD SAYING ABOUT “ASSUME”

I eagerly checked out the CMC website, ESPECIALLY the statement of LGBTQ inclusiveness

I attended for the first time the first Sunday of Advent

As fate would have it, shortly after beginning to attend, I found myself in a serious health crisis.

I’m sure most of you have heard of my emerging battle with Cancer, as believing in the power of prayer, I have submitted several Prayer Requests via the weekly Tuesday email.

This reaching out has resulted in OVERWHELMING kindness and support. Columbus Mennonite really WALKS the talk”. It’s a place WHERE I CAN GROW in what it means to follow Jesus, WHILE BEING MYSELF.

LIKE GOLDILOCKS, I HAVE FOUND THE BOWL OF PORRIDGE THAT IS JUST RIGHT!!!

THANK YOU!!!

Laura Cavanaugh

Faith has always been deeply integral to my identity. I was raised the child of a pastor and
grandchild of missionaries in a very conservative Presbyterian and cultural worldview. In
seminary as I studied theology and art, I became involved in a variety of expressions of church
to intentionally expand my experience of spirituality, and in further training to become a spiritual
director my experience broadened beyond the ecumenical to the interspiritual. I tend to find my
spiritual mentors among the mystics and monks and my connection to the Sacred through
contemplative spiritual practices.

In the 13 years we have been married, Matt and I have made multiple cross-country moves and
experienced starting over in building community many times, and with varying levels of success.
In the short months we have attended Columbus Mennonite, we have found an overwhelmingly
warm, accepting, and genuine community who—despite barely knowing us—has already been
a generous and very present support to our family, particularly meaningful after a long season of
feeling very much alone.

It is a rare privilege to find in a church community a safe and open container where we can
foster in our child a spirit of curiosity, kindness, and collaboration with the spirit of Love so
evident in this sacred place. I consider it an honor to join in today with this ever-expanding story
CMC is living into. I hope in the weeks and months to come—in what small ways I can—to
share in return what resources, time, and wisdom I can offer as we find our place here among
you.

Thank you for so warmly welcoming us in.