“Welcoming” without affirming is just spiritual window dressing with a collection plate underneath it. Queer people deserve more than fog machines, soft smiles, and a pastor whispering “Jesus loves everyone” while quietly keeping the closet locked. The questions listed here are the right ones because vague love has done plenty of damage. Say what you believe. Put it in writing. Celebrate people fully, or stop marketing safety you have no intention of providing.
The LoveBut churches… we welcome and love all gods children…. til you get in the door and the subtle “buts….” start appearing.
I attended a few back when I was still trying to find Christian based fellowship. /shudder.
When walked out of the last one the pastor asked if I’d found a safe place and would I return - and I said not here, you’re liars! I left and didn’t bother to explain because he knew. I was wearing my Pride ally shirt as I was attending pride fest later. So he knew.
That was the last church i set foot in and haven’t looked back with regret one single second.
If there is a god, I hope he’s righteously pissed off at what humans have done in his name.
My Unitarian Universalist church is a fully affirming congregation.
We welcome everyone and invite everyone to experience the full life and ministry of the church.
We have LGBTQIA+ members as leaders and ministers. We actively connect to the LGBTQIA+ community (such as a booth at the local Gay Pride weekend in June), have officiated weddings, take active roles in social justice issues, etc. Our LGBTQIA+ members sit in the congregation on Sundays, sing in the choir, prepare meals for our less fortunate neighbors, teach the children, demonstrate with signs on a regular basis, and are fully accepted.
And you find a way to speak from your heart and your lived experience.
To realize its community I needed and need and connections around service and evolving with love. It didn’t and doesn’t need to be within church. So liberating
“Welcoming” without affirming is just spiritual window dressing with a collection plate underneath it. Queer people deserve more than fog machines, soft smiles, and a pastor whispering “Jesus loves everyone” while quietly keeping the closet locked. The questions listed here are the right ones because vague love has done plenty of damage. Say what you believe. Put it in writing. Celebrate people fully, or stop marketing safety you have no intention of providing.
The LoveBut churches… we welcome and love all gods children…. til you get in the door and the subtle “buts….” start appearing.
I attended a few back when I was still trying to find Christian based fellowship. /shudder.
When walked out of the last one the pastor asked if I’d found a safe place and would I return - and I said not here, you’re liars! I left and didn’t bother to explain because he knew. I was wearing my Pride ally shirt as I was attending pride fest later. So he knew.
That was the last church i set foot in and haven’t looked back with regret one single second.
If there is a god, I hope he’s righteously pissed off at what humans have done in his name.
My Unitarian Universalist church is a fully affirming congregation.
We welcome everyone and invite everyone to experience the full life and ministry of the church.
We have LGBTQIA+ members as leaders and ministers. We actively connect to the LGBTQIA+ community (such as a booth at the local Gay Pride weekend in June), have officiated weddings, take active roles in social justice issues, etc. Our LGBTQIA+ members sit in the congregation on Sundays, sing in the choir, prepare meals for our less fortunate neighbors, teach the children, demonstrate with signs on a regular basis, and are fully accepted.
.
Such a needed message. Every word.
And you find a way to speak from your heart and your lived experience.
To realize its community I needed and need and connections around service and evolving with love. It didn’t and doesn’t need to be within church. So liberating