Gifted by Otherness: 7 of 6

June 12, 2008

We bring the presence of GLBTQ people into the church.

I realize this post is technically 7 of 7 but I already had the 6 part series in my draft folder and making the required corrections would have meant revising the title and permalink on all the previous posts. I’m lazy. This is easier.

Before there was any talk about welcoming congregations, ordaining gays and lesbians, providing non-gender specific restrooms or affirming gay relationships there were GLBTQ folks taking up pew space. We aren’t the first queers in the church but we’re the first, due largely to the work of the less visible members of “the family” who came before us, to live our lives openly and without apology.

We bring the gift of presence and what we’re doing now is creating the history of GLBTQ Christians in the church. We’re engaging in really difficult conversations in the church to make the conversations a little easier for GLBTQ Christians who will come later. We’re coming out from behind the pulpit and coming out in the pew to smooth the road when others come out. We’re a presence in the church so the church can have the opportunity to put justice and mercy into practice. We’re a presence in the church so Christians in the future won’t be forced to choose whether to leave the church or deny their awakening sexual orientation. We’re a visible presence in the church for every queer youth and for every gay and lesbian who thinks a relationship with God is impossible or contradictory to the reality of their lives.

Our presence in the church today will be the bold and courageous history of GLBTQ Christians tomorrow. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!

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Posted in Gifted by Otherness, Special Series