What Next?

For those who do not know, our national church recently passed a resolution allowing churches to choose to call pastors who are gay or lesbian and in a relationship. Before, you could be gay or lesbian, just not in a relationship. Now you can do both. They also passed a resolution allowing churches that wish to do unions. Oddly, there doesn't seem to be much of a fuss about that. All the fuss is about gay and lesbian pastors.

What's disturbing to me is the reaction of those who have "lost" the debate. This debate has been going on for years, thirty or more, though it only became a major issue in the past ten. But for thirty years, a group of folks in my denomiation thought the old policy excluding actively gay pastors was against scripture. What did they do about it? They did what Christ would have done. They were kind. They spoke the truth of their convictions, but did so in a loving and gracious manner. Most importantly, though, they stayed. Despite feeling marginalized, disliked and sometimes despised, they suffered the slings and arrows and stayed. They turned the other cheek, continued speaking the truth as they saw it in love, and they stayed.

Some who have recently "lost" the debate- who oppose the new policy and like the old one- are forming their own group. They are considering leaving our denomination. Not all, but some. They think the denomination has turned it's back on the bible and on them, and some have already left. Others will undoubtedly be following.

It's stunning.

On one side is a group that conducted themselves in a Christ-like manner for thirty years, and now the folks on the other side can't even do it for thirty days. The irony is inescapable- those who object to the new policy because of scripture fail to understand one of the most basic parts of Jesus message. Which is that Jesus calls us to die for him, not pack up our toys and go find people who agree with us. If they truly loved their neighbor as themselves, they would stay. Graciously, humbly, kindly, they would stay, and they would struggle to help a church that they think has lost it's way find it again. But they keep leaving.

It saddens me to see them go, but it's nothing new. It's the same thing that keeps many people away from church: we talk about love, but we really only love those who agree with us. That's easy. Loving those who disagree with you, that's hard. But it's what Jesus calls us to do.

I like the current policy. I disagree with those who are leaving. According to them, that makes me a heretic. I can live with that. I can even live with them while knowing they think that. I just wish they could live with me too.

Trolled by the AJC

I got an interesting call from the AJC today. The reporter called to ask if we were planning to leave the ELCA over the recent vote to allow churches that wished to call gay pastors. Here's the conversation:

Reporter: "Hi, my name is (I don't remember her name), and I'm an AJC religion reporter doing a story on Lutheran churches, and I was wondering if your church was planning on leaving the ELCA because of the recent policy changes regarding homosexuality."

Me: "No, we really don't.'

Reporter: "Oh. Well, do you know any churches that are?"

Me: "You mean in Atlanta?"

Reporter: "Or anywhere in Georgia."

Me: "No, I really don't. Most that I know of are in the west."

Reporter: "OK, thanks. Bye."

End of conversation.

Obviously, this reporter was fishing for churches that are leaving. I'm not sure why. Maybe there aren't many, so they're harder to find. Maybe she's digging for controversy, and since I don't have a problem with it and my church doesn't either there's nothing to talk about. I dunno. But it can be interesting dealing with the media when they're after something specific because they don't care what you say if it's not what they're looking for. Which is a bummer, because I would have loved to tell her that we'll gladly welcome anyone. But she wasn't interested. Oh well.

Overcoming the Odds

This is my friend's son. I remember when he was adopted, and he was supposedly never going to talk or walk. Now look at him. With God, all things are possible!

">