Called and Queer Exploring the Lived Experiences of Queer Clergy in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Called and Queer Exploring the lived experiences of queer clergy in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa Megan Robertson Student Number: 3716504 A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy in the Department of Religion and Theology, University of the Western Cape November, 2019 Supervisor: Prof Sarojini Nadar Co-supervisor: Dr Johnathan Jodamus http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ ABSTRACT In South Africa anti-queer attitudes are propped up by religious moral claims and by strong assertions that queer sexualities are un-African and a secular Western import. This study contributes to the growing body of literature which challenge these claims, and at the same time interrupts scholarly trends in the field of religion and sexuality which either characterises institutional religion as singularly oppressive or homogenises queer Christians as inherently subversive. In this thesis, I explored the lived experiences of six queer clergy (one of whom was discontinued) in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA), in order to understand the complex relationship between institutional power and the ordinary lived realities of clergy. The study focuses particularly on the MCSA as it is statistically the largest mainline Protestant denomination in South Africa and holds significant positions of power and influence on national, interdenominational and political platforms, not least of all because it has fostered an institutional identity as the ‘church of Mandela.’ Further, situated within a continental and national context where anti-queer attitudes are politicised through cultural and religious discourses, I have argued that the MCSA also serves as a case study which represents the ways in which institutionalised religion continues to be co-constitutive of social systems and hierarchies. Through a queer sociological ethnographic methodology the study produced narratives and experiences which are performative, fluid, intersectional and embodied. The study provides insight into the ways in which transformation in religious institutions can be queered through an analysis of how queer clergy negotiate a politics of belonging. Further, this study broadens queer rights research and activism by focusing not only on the issue of same-sex marriage but on various experiences of the domestic and erotic. It is hoped, that the ordinariness of the clergy experiences documented in this study will inspire further research that contains more informed and nuanced understandings of the politics of the institutional Church, the body, identity and queer rights debates. Key Terms: Queer clergy, Methodist, Institutional culture, sexuality, gender, Christianity ii http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ DECLARATION I declare that Called and Queer: Exploring the lived experiences of queer clergy in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa is my own work, that it has not been submitted before for any degree or examination in any other university, and that all the sources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged as complete references. Megan Robertson 18 November 2019 Signed: iii http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work is based on research supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa under the auspices of the Desmond Tutu Chair in Religion and Social Justice [Grant Number: 118854]. The opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the research are those of the author alone; the NRF accepts no liability in this regard. The financial assistance of the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, in collaboration with the South African Humanities Deans Association (SAHUDA) towards this research is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the author and are not necessarily to be attributed to the NIHSS and SAHUDA. This research also received the financial support of the Canon Collins Educational and Legal Assistance Trust. I would like to thank Inclusive and Affirming Ministries whose staff have been tremendously encouraging of the aims and purposes of this research. A big thank you as well to scholars who gave their encouragement and critical inputs especially Prof. Rob Pattman, Dr. Fatima Seedat, Prof. Asonzeh Ukah and Prof. Caroline Starkey. To all my peers who participated in our postgraduate cohort – thank you for putting your time, energy and ability into critiquing, shaping and moulding my work. I also want to extend a special thank you to the six participants in this study who not only participated in this research but who shared, and continue to share their intimate stories and experiences with me. To the three people who have become my academic trinity. Dr. Lee Scharnick-Udemans, my new aptness for including words such as “lacuna” and “vacuous” in my writing is material evidence of the ways in which you are constantly pushing me towards excellence. Thank you for simultaneously pushing me to work as hard as I could and to take breaks when I needed to - you embody the work ethic I strive for. Dr. Johnathan Jodamus, thank you for your honesty, your consistent assurance that I was progressing as I should, your willingness to encourage by revealing your own vulnerabilities and for embodying masculinity in a way I could trust throughout my work. To Prof. Sarojini Nadar, you are proof that sometimes it is okay to meet your heroines. You are the ultimate embodiment of human and academic generosity, strength, kindness, and graciousness. My admiration for who you are on paper and in person is indescribable and I am a better researcher and a better person for being supervised by you. I would like to acknowledge the amazing support, constant encouragement and contributions of all family and friends. A special thanks must go to Lynn-Joy Isaacs without whom I would not have maintained my sanity, my health or my sense of humour. Thank you to my grandmother, Clarice Gordon and my late grandfather, Arthur Gordon who have been sources of strength, encouragement, hope and affirmation throughout my life. My parents, who have been my ultimate source of comfort, my constant support and have always demonstrated an unwavering belief in me – I can never thank you enough. Last, to my husband, who made the brave decision of marrying me mid-thesis, thank you for your patience, kindness, understanding, friendship, and encouragement. Your persistent encouragement for me to pursue this qualification gave me the push I needed to begin and your loyalty and commitment allowed me to finish. iv http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ THIS THESIS IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ARTHUR GORDON From now on presents will be wrapped less perfectly. Our shoes will probably never be quite as clean as you would have liked. No one will be wearing a vest, a shirt, and a jersey under the sweltering heat of summer and the drum beats will never sound quite the same. v http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 1. Religion and sexuality in South Africa ........................................................................... 1 2. From the ‘Church of Mandela’ to the ‘Church of Ecclesia’: Background to the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and the “same-sex debate” ........................................ 4 3. Church as a social institution and clergy positionalities ............................................... 10 4. Using “queer” to talk about my participants and my research ...................................... 12 5. Grappling with binaries through queer lived religion ................................................... 13 6. Methodological framing................................................................................................ 15 7. Research questions ........................................................................................................ 16 8. Chapter outline .............................................................................................................. 17 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................ 19 1. Broad trends within scholarship on queer sexuality and Christianity........................... 19 1.1. Opposition ............................................................................................................. 19 1.2. Negotiation ............................................................................................................ 22 1.3. Transformation ...................................................................................................... 24 2. Queer Clergy ................................................................................................................. 29 2.1. Centring queer clergy voices: Descriptive narrative scholarship on queer clergy 29 2.2. Theorising clerical and denominational identity: Critical narrative scholarship on queer clergy ...................................................................................................................... 30 3. The Methodist Church of Southern Africa ................................................................... 33 3.1. The same-sex debate .............................................................................................. 33 3.2. Methodist ecclesiology and women ministers ....................................................... 36 4. Conclusion ...................................................................................................................

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