PRIDE!

June is celebrated as Pride month with a wide array of parades and activities, all of which may create moments of inter- and intra-personal conflict for those unfamiliar with the history of Pride. I can understand why. Our own lived experiences tend to shape our views of the world and sometimes make it uncomfortable  for us to open ourselves to the different life experiences of others. Indeed, even the scriptures can be used to justify arguments for and against persons in and supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community. I’m going to refrain from listing any examples here because that’s not the point of this devotional. The point is that if you struggle to know how to respond to Pride Parades and other activities, you are not alone. I am choosing to write on this topic not because I want anyone reading this devotional to abandon their beliefs in favor of someone else’s, but because, as members of the body of the greater Presbyterian Church U.S.A., it is important that we know the church’s stance and use that as our faith map to guide us while we navigate those inter- and intra-personal conversations.

At the 223rd General Assembly in St. Louis in June 2018, the Presbyterian Church voted unanimously to pass three Overtures:

• Overture 11-04, On Clarifying the Position of the PC(USA) Regarding Appropriate Boundaries of Religious Liberty: Acknowledges the misuse of the term “religious freedom” in denying basic human rights, and reaffirms that faith and religious liberty cannot be used to discriminate against anyone simply because of who they are. Read
• Overture 11-12, On Affirming and Celebrating the Full Dignity and Humanity of People of All Gender Identities: Acknowledges the church’s past mistake in being unwelcoming to transgender and non-binary individuals, encourages the welcoming and acceptance of all gender identities, and affirms their right to live free from discrimination in any arena; this overture also specifically mentioned the rights of transgender students. Read
• Overture 11-13, On Celebrating the Gifts of People of Diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities in the Life of the Church: Apologizes for the church’s previous unwelcoming stance on LGBTQ parishioners, celebrates LGBTQ church pioneers, and states the church will welcome, lift up, and fight for the human rights of all people created in the eyes of God. Read

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/what-we-believe/sexuality-and-same-gender-relationships/

How do these three Overtures sit with you? Do they make you feel uncomfortable? I sincerely hope not but if they do, remember we only grow as humans when we are stretched outside of our comfort zones. The early believers of Christ had to go through some very uncomfortable stretching, too!  I do hope everyone reading this will be comfortable agreeing on two Important ideas. First, that the voices of those who identify as LGBTQIA+ should be our primary source of truth regarding what they need to feel safe and accepted; and second, that the last line from our hymn, “We are One in the Spirit“ sticks in your heart… ‘and they’ll know we are Christians by our love’.

I’ll leave you with petitions written by Sr. Jane Aseltyne of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, Michigan

For our church, that we may practice what we preach and, with open arms, welcome those who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. May those in positions of power within the church remember that Jesus welcomed all to the table without discrimination, we pray…

For Pope Francis, that he shepherds the Synod on Synodality with an open heart and mind. May he center the experiences of LGBTQIA+ persons and hear the pleadings of those who long for full inclusion in the church, we pray…

For our world, that we may rejoice in the diversity that makes up the human race. That we may find ourselves curious instead of condemning those who are different from us, and that we rejoice in the many ways God’s love flows through each of us, we pray…

For the families and friends who have lost loved ones due to violence and discrimination towards queer persons. May God’s love and peace be a balm to their aching hearts, and may they feel their loved ones close in spirit, we pray…

For those who ever wondered if they were truly made in the image and likeness of God because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. May they know they are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s loving image, we pray…

For those in the LGBTQIA+ community who have felt ostracized because the Word of God has been turned into a weapon and a tool of oppression. May God break through the barriers that have led to harmful interpretations, we pray…

We ask that God hear the sound of our pleading and sustain us in our work in recognizing and affirming the LGBTQIA+ community. May we hold together the desperation we feel and the hope for which we long.

Amen.

—Sr. Jane Aseltyne, IHM, July 23, 2023

https://www.newwaysministry.org/2023/07/23/prayers-of-lament-and-hope-for-lgbtq-people/

Brenda Windischman