Crucifix and Equality

An apologizing evangelical walks in his first Pride Parade, and experiences an overwhelming outpouring of love and acceptance from those in attendance. While he has been a long-time stalwart support of full inclusion and equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer (LGBTQ) communities in the faith space, he had also been consistently warned by religious leaders to avoid being photographed or publicly associated with gay causes out of fear that it may damage his religious reputation.

Coming Out From Under the Umbrella Organization

Due to differences of theology, the pastor recently had to move his small church from the headquarters that they shared with a larger organization. Throughout his ministerial career, he had been welcoming and supportive of his LGBTQ parishioners, but his superiors in the church had required a low profile of him and others of like mind. He and others had performed same-sex marriages, but never were recorded on film supporting the gay community in any way out of fear of exposure that could impact their reputations.

When he was invited to join the Pride Parade in Portland this year, after his small church venture had to leave the bigger group it had shared space with, the pastor was nervous. He had always been supportive of the LGBTQ communities in as many ways as he was able, but he had always been limited by his official role, representing an organization that was reticent about equality for all in the church.

A Sign to Carry

As he arrived to begin the march, he received a sign to carry. On it was a message of apology, from him and others like him, to any and all who had been hurt, judged and critically rejected by religious leaders and churches. He welcomed the chance to walk with the sign, held proudly over his red pastoral stole that represented the season of the Pentecost, but he was not sure how he would be welcomed.

Any doubts about the gratitude that he would find for his statement of apology were soon wiped away. People along the parade route smiled and waved, mouthed thank you for his statement and even cried together as the spirit of love and acceptance flowed between them.

Responsibility for Apologies

The pastor wondered whether the apology he carried was truly his responsibility, as he had been open and accepting to the LGBTQ community in his service, as far as he was able within the limits of his parent church. Even if he had not been hurtful, judgmental or discriminatory in his ministry, he concluded, the apology that he carried did come sincerely and directly from him after all, in his role representing the voice of religion that had shunned and hurt so many good people because of their gender preference and identity.

His experience was transformative, as he gave and accepted the love of forgiveness along the length of the parade route. He recalls, “what I learned . . . is that if we truly welcome and include, we will be changed. We will be transformed. Because that’s what happens when people are vulnerable enough to step out in faith, show up and share with one another.”

Steps For Faithful Allies

He recommends that faith communities involve themselves in LGBTQ communities by:

• Having conversations together
• Taking photographs with each other
• Asking for forgiveness for hurts of the past
• Building bridges between communities
• Starting the healing processes

The pastor looks back on his experience, and finds himself to be deeply grateful for the help of larger, more established groups like the First Christian Church, which has offered a home to his little start-up ministry. In the process, he has seen the value and fruits of inclusion, of acceptance, and of love and equality in action.