(RNS) Mary Anne Hewett, Greg McCaw and Chasity Scott are the members of Micah’s Rule. RNS photo courtesy Micah’s Rule.
This image available for Web publication. For questions, contact Sally Morrow.
WILMINGTON, N.C. (RNS) The bios of the musicians who make up the band Micah’s Rule read like many Christian artists.
Grew up singing in the church. Preacher’s son. Then became a preacher. In many bands. Degrees in music and ministry. Recorded some albums. Toured with Christian music legends. Even struggled with their faith along the way.
What their bios don’t mention outright might make them one of the rarest recent talents to record in Nashville, Tenn. The three musicians of Micah’s Rule are an openly gay man, transgender woman and a lesbian.
But Greg McCaw, Chasity Scott and Mary Anne Hewett don’t want their sexuality to define them. They want their music to be the centerpiece of their life and ministry.
“There are many people who are gay in the music industry in Nashville, but they’re so far in the closet,” McCaw said.
“It’s just our back story, plain and simple, but we’re not using that as a marketing tool for our music, positively or negatively. We want to be a musical group like any other, but we realize our back story will get out.”
After returning from their recording session in Nashville with famous producer Mark Moseley, Micah’s Rule is ready for their turn in the spotlight, having released their first CD with a party in Wilmington, N.C., their home base.
Though the trio performs a lot of gospel music together in their parish, Wilmington’s St. Jude Metropolitan Community Church, their CD is a mix of Southern gospel, classic country, blues and a medley of 1960s peace songs — all with a Christian message.
Their band name refers to the passage their church adopted — Micah 6:8 — “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Their songs reflect their life struggles as well as their praise of God.
In “Walk the Road,” they sing: “Sometimes you just have to be the one to set your own self free … what matters isn’t what you’re told. But how you walk the road.”
Scott wrote the slide guitar ballad “Can You Hear Me?” as a prayer for her father: “I want him to see, Jesus in me, like I see Jesus in him. Can you hear me? Father, can you hear me?”
There are less serious songs on the CD like the medley of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” The O’Jays “Love Train” and Bob Marley’s “One Love.” There’s also a reprisal of “Thank You For Being a Friend,” the theme song to the TV show “The Golden Girls.”
Even before its release, the CD was already in demand at St. Jude’s. Church member Marcia Morgan believes their music has attracted more people to the church. Another St. Jude’s member Sherry Tucker Henderson bought copies for everyone in her family for Christmas.
“I listen to it day and night,” she said as she was driving to Florida on a trip. Henderson packed 35 more Micah’s Rule CDs to take to churches there. “It’s a message I think everyone needs to hear.”
And all of this has happened in just one year. The three sang together for the first time at Hewett’s brother’s funeral, and knew they’d discovered something special, the way their voices blended.
In January 2012, they began rehearsing and writing together. Scott has a doctorate in music education from Harvard, Hewett has been singing all of her life, and McCaw was the bass singer for many popular Christian musicians including Sandi Patty, Bill and Gloria Gaither and the Gatlin Brothers for 22 years. He also served as a Church of God pastor for more than 25 years in five states.
“When we got together, we got to talking about our own philosophy on religion to see if we melded that way as well,” Scott said. “The way Mary Anne and I write, it’s more of a storytelling with our faith being the force that drives us forward.”
That combination of tight, honest songwriting and harmony caught Moseley’s ear.
“Well, I thought they sounded really good live, they’d probably sound just as good in the studio. They have a really good blend,” he said from his Sound Control Studio, where he’s recorded albums for Dolly Parton, George Jones, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless and Willie Nelson. “If they focus on what they do and who they are, I think they’ll be really successful.”
McCaw met Moseley through some of his previous Nashville contacts.
“There’s a lot of country music and gospel people who won’t accept them for who they are,” Moseley said. “That’s never been an issue for me because I record based on talent, not on what you believe.”
Micah’s Rule wants their music to speak to everyone, that “in life, it’s how you walk your road, not listening to people who say you’re not worthy of God’s love,” Hewett said.
“And we’ve all had that experience,” McCaw added.
(Amanda Greene is the editor of Wilmington Faith & Values.)
28 Comments
Gimmee that gay, transgender, Christian music | God is Sometimes Great
[...] Micah’s Rule, a band from Wilmington, North Carolina, has added “Gay/Transgender Christian Music” to that list. Micah’s Rule is made up of an openly gay man, a lesbian, and a [...]
Scanning the headlines « servehiminthewaiting
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Doc Anthony
It’s difficult to take a biblical stand and speak up, when you see stories like this. These are stories of real people, real people of faith wanting to make a difference with their singing gifts. They’ve been through a lot, and want to be heard, as we all want to be heard.
And yet, what they’re singing, is NOT in line with Scripture, the word of God. The God they sing about, is NOT the unstoppable, unlimited, “nothing is too hard for Me” God of Jer. 32:17. The Jesus they sing about is NOT the same unstoppable, unlimited Jesus who cleansed, washed, healed and delivered the ancient Corinthians (some of whom were into homosexual sin) in 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
Their God is not the One who has “God has made a way of escape” from ANY temptation in 1 Cor. 10:13. In their world, homosexuality ultimately has the final say, not God, not Jesus, not Scripture. And Christians have to stand up, gently, maybe painfully, and say, and sing, “NO, the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of all comfort, offers us better than that.”
MJ
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9-10
Andrew Glasgow
Has it occurred to you that maybe God isn’t the hateful jerk that you seem to want him to be?
Jesusgirl04
I totally agree with you. Sometimes I have to really stop myself and re-orient myself Scripturally. It’s difficult sometimes, when you read or hear about people who are struggling with the same things you are, the lines get blurred and you just have to go back to the Biblical world-view.
Whenwillwestandup
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
MJ
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9-10
David Levandusky
They are worthy of God’s love. And so are all their critics as well. The road they are walking is really what they are promoting and that road is the promoting of the homosexual lifestyle – with christian music backing it up. Jesus said by their fruits you shall know them. And the fruit they are producing is reinforcing people or introducing people into homosexuality as a valid lifestyle. So contrary to Scripture. Yes they are worthy of God’s love but so is the adulterer, murderer, thief, slanderer, and any other sinful person regardless of the sin in their life – including the religious hypocrits. Jesus loves them all but does not condone the sin in their life. Thats what he died for to deliver them from sin not to forgive them and keep them in living in it. Tit 2:11, 12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; …” Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, not to keep practicing it. To love mercy and do justice as the book of Micah says would be to live out Titus 2:11 and 12. From our Biblical Christian perspective we can say to the Micah band, We love you with the love of Jesus and desire that you bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.Matt. ch. 3
MJ
Amen!
dude
but what about where in the bible it says being transformed by the renewing of your mind. Or putting off the old man. Forgiveness through faith..we all know these things, but when you are not trying to be in the will of God, but as 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. like my dude above said. We in the church can love, but we have to mindful of the people we allow to represent us in position. It makes us all seem like hypocrites.
dude
We do not have to change our beliefs to suit the world. Just like they won’t change how they feel to us.
Miri
To those who disapprove: You have condemned this group on one thing, and that is your assumption that these three children of God are having sex you believe the Lord has forbidden. But the article says nothing about their personal lives, and being LGBT is not about sex, it’s about who you are attracted to, *whether or not you ever act on that attraction*. For all we know, these three are living celibately. But even if they have partners, God still loves them *just as they are*.
Yet you condemn them for mere feelings.
Rena
IF, as you suggest they are living celibate lives, then why the need to expose their sexuallity at all? Why make it an issue? No, they are proud of the fact that they live a preverse and sinful lifestyle, and they along with those who support them, are trying to push their agenda on the true Bible believers. The acceptance that they receive in this life will be replace with judgement in the next unless they repent.
MJ
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9-10
Jesusgirl04
I haven’t read anything condemning in these posts. They ARE quoting Scripture which is NOT the same thing as a personal belief. The bottom line is that God himself does not approve of sin in any form. He doesn’t just turn a blind eye… wink-wink… well.. I’ll let that one slide… That would make Him no god at all. No one, from what I’ve read in these posts, are using their own feelings to judge something about what God has forbidden.. It’s in Scripture. We don’t have to have “feelings” about it. It’s in black and white, or sometimes red. It’s a behavior that is condemned in both Old and New Testaments. It’s also lumped in with other sins such as anger, lying, stealing, etc. God calls it an abomination, a turning from “natural desires” to “unnatural desires”. I work with and are friendly with several gays. I like them very much. Do I agree with their chosen lifestyle? No. I don’t. Much as I love my children but don’t agree with some of the decisions that they make. As for making judgements… yes.. we ARE called to make judgements about those who would put themselves out there as an example of Christ. We are called to seek that which is righteous and holy, something we can’t do unless we judge those things to be righteous vs unrighteous and holy vs unholy. No one likes to be called out because of their sin and Christians are increasingly being marginalized and branded as intolerant, judgmental and hypocritical when we DO call out sin. When you have people who are putting themselves out there, yet are living counter to Scripture, then we should be running the other way.
Gimme that gay, transgender, Christian music
[...] Micah’s Rule, a band from Wilmington, North Carolina, has added “Gay/Transgender Christian Music” to that list. Micah’s Rule is made up of an openly gay man, a lesbian, and a [...]
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A Gay Man, a Lesbian and a Transgender Are Part of ‘Micah’s Rule’ — a Christian Band That Sings Gospel and Country Music |
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Whenwillwestandup
It is not that anyone is condemning anyone. The bible has stated clearly what is true. We have to live by it. We cannot forsake the will and plan of God because the world is doing it’s thing. We have to live in this world true enough, but the world is going to be the world. We the church have to lift a standard and look to God for what is HOLY and ACCEPTABLE. Not our own understanding.
T.J.
more subtle confusion from the devil. These are real peopel with real lives and they want to live a life of faith,. But when we open God’s word if our lives do not line up with it, we are deceived. satan is the slickest con of all and that is why we must constantly JUDGE OURSELVES in light of the Holy Word of God. Transgendered….homosexuality…fornicator.. adulterer…..the church is awash in such sexual sins. The enemy of our soul uses these fleshly sins and the shedding of innocent blood (abortion, murder, etc). to make great inroads into mankind. Oh that we could seek to please the LORD instead of our lusts. I have been divorced for 5 years and have not even had a date ( or a kiss or sex) so I know the struggle of the flesh.
This band will just confuse believers even more as everyone does what is “right in his own sight”. We need to lift up the WORD OF GOD AS THE STANDARD!!
‘Luckily, this is not difficult’
[...] “There’s a lot of country music and gospel people who won’t accept them for who they are.” [...]
Steve Dines
If we just take the music alone, “Imagine” by John Lennon is, for me, one of the most Godless songs ever written. And doesn’t the Lord Himself talk about the road being wide put the path being narrow?
Don Gouger
Be encouraged, Micah’s Rule, “In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer! I have overcome the world!”
For the love of God (and our neighbor) can we please stop using these 3 phrases? | word of a woman
[...] Micah’s Rule - a vocal trio originating from Wilmington, NC. Made up of Alto: Mary Anne Hewett, Baritone: Greg McCaw, and Contralto: Chasity Scott, and singing the very best in inspirational, gospel, southern gospel, black gospel, country, and rock stylings with powerful voices and intricate harmonies. Great article on them here. [...]
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