"Truth" draws a crowd

Joel Lehman

Pat Spaulding reads from her chapter in The Cost of Truth at a book signing at Barnes & Noble Saturday. at a book signing at Barnes & Noble Saturday.

The Cost of Truth, a book featuring contributions from Mennonite and Brethren authors reflecting on sexual orientation and leadership, was featured in a book signing at the Harrisonburg Barnes & Noble bookstore Saturday.

With over 60 in attendance, former EMU faculty members Pat Spaulding and Kathleen Temple spoke about their contributions in the book. Dr. Ian McGillivray, author of Sexual Orientation and School Policy, which focuses on Gay and Straight Alliances in public schools, also presented his book at the event.

Third in a series edited by Roberta Showalter Kreider, the latest book carries the full title The Cost of Truth: Faith Stories of Mennonites and Brethren Leaders and Those Who Might Have Been. It contains reflections and personal experiences about orientation issues from 32 Mennonite and Brethren authors, six being either current or former faculty members of EMU.

Kreider, wife of former Mennonite minister Harold Kreider, decided to focus the book specifically on the Mennonite and Brethren communities. She said, "These denominations do not have a good track record of listening to people's stories before pronouncing judgment upon them."

Ken Roth, current Biology professor at EMU, is one of the 32 contributors. In his chapter entitled "An Exciting Journey," Roth reflects on how he has come to his perspective on the issue, and how his openness has, at times, created contention towards him. Reflecting on the first time he was exposed to the idea of homosexuality, Roth writes:

"I know that many people, including my parents, believe that the Bible tells us that homosexual activity is sinful. I used to feel the same way, until I began to discover that some of my Christian friends were gay. This prompted me to study the Bible more to try to resolve this conflict. The result of my study has been more confusion. I am not really sure what the Bible is saying."

Later in the chapter Roth reflects on how his position has changed his working environment. Because of his openness to sharing how he feels, he now senses that he must "watch his step" at EMU in order to keep his job. Roth still feels that "it is a matter of guilt. I can't sit back and not speak about what I see as an injustice."

Temple, former Bible and Religion instructor, reflected in detail about her experiences with Virginia Mennonite Conference and her resignation from EMU. Temple focused her chapter on how her "contrary advocacy" has caused major changes in her life. She explains how she revoked her own ordination in order to "avoid the stigma of having my ordination revoked through a disciplinary action."

Later in the chapter she writes how these struggles have affected her: "The last few years have left me battered and bruised."

Kreider's first two books, From Wounded Hearts and Together in Love, attempted to tell the faith stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. She was inspired to create the series because she "didn't feel it was fair that people could be judged without others hearing their stories." Though not originally planned, the idea for this third book was inspired by a phone call from a friend.

Though Kreider wasn't present at the signing at Barnes & Noble, she will speak on Saturday, March 12, at a book signing at Broad Street Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg.