Religions across America are coming to terms (or not) with the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that affirmed marriage equality as the civil law of the land. While some worry about the implications of the ruling for religious leaders, the text of the decision references the reality that the U.S. Constitution, upon which the ruling relies for authority, specifically protects religious practices and beliefs from government intrusion.

Welcoming Faiths

Some faiths have already made independent decisions to actively welcome the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community into their flock, to different degrees.

Following the example of Martin Luther some 500 years past, a group expressed its dissatisfaction with church leaders’ adherence to dogma over human concerns such as the church’s policy of rejecting and shunning LGBTQ clergy. The group of some 50 church members and clergy assembled at the offices of the bishop of the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. In the spirit of the reformation leader who famously nailed his points of objection to the door of the Catholic Church, the group pinned statements asking the church to “Stop the Harm” in judging and excluding LGBTQ clergy.

The protest is in support of Rev. Benjamin Hutchinson, an African Methodist Episcopal pastor. His congregation, which he led for three years, knew that he was gay, and had never complained. It was when he married his long-term same-sex partner in July that the church began an enquiry.

Rev. Hutchinson was defrocked in punishment. The UMC claims to welcome LGBTQ community as members of the faith, but not as clergy. Pastors in the faith are forbidden from presiding over same-sex nuptials.

Despite the ban, however, ministers in the region have officiated over same-sex weddings. One pastor oversaw the same-sex marriage of his daughter in 2014. His action was the subject of a church complaint, but no disciplinary action. In 2013 a different UMC pastor presided over his son’s same-sex wedding, and was stripped of his official clergy sanction and credentials as a result. He was reinstated to the church in October of 2014.

Lutheran Bishop Finds Courage to Come Out

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America edges toward full acceptance of gay clergy, as a bishop in the faith came out recently at the church’s youth conference in Detroit. Head of the denomination’s Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana region, the bishop admits that he had been “cowardly” in his recent vote against allowing same-sex clergy in the ELCA.

“I was afraid I would have to defend my decision to vote ‘yes'” in favor of accepting gay clergy, he explained. “It was safer to hide behind a ‘no’ vote.”

The bishop has now voted “yes” with his actions and statements, submitting a letter to church leadership explaining his decision to be honest about his sexuality after years of shielding that part of himself from view. The bishop explains that he previously came out to his wife, to whom he intends to remain married.

The bishop said that he hopes his announcement of his gender preference will prove to be an inspiration to youth who are struggling with many issues, including:

• Sexuality
• Self-esteem
• Rejection
• Loathing

Increasing Inclusion

The ELCA has previously elected an openly gay man as bishop, the Rev. Guy Irwin, in 2013. The organization is essentially neutral on gay marriage, explaining in a statement released in 2009 that “pastors are to engage in conversation, discernment and partnership with the congregations that have called them prior to solemnizing or presiding over a same-gender marriage. On the other hand, no pastor is obligated to solemnize the marriage of any couple, same-gender or different-gender, whom the pastor cannot in good conscience marry.”

While some organized religions persist in their longstanding policies of discrimination, many more churches are recognizing the value of inclusion. As more peoples’ hearts open to people who at first seem different from social “norms,” progress continues, gradually.