Abandoning Christianity, drag shows in church, appearing to cheer political violence, dismissing dissent and other ways to set the cause of same-sex marriage backwards, not forwards.
Yes, I’m very glad to have found an affirming church that is also sincere when it comes to “inclusion.”
Oddly enough, the most fundamentalist, intolerant, insular and personally exclusionary church I’ve ever been part of was an “inclusive” one. It wasn’t a conservative church elder that harassed me about an op-ed he disagreed with. It wasn’t a non-affirming church leader who suggested I didn’t care about a particular group because I disagreed with a church decision. And it wasn’t a conservative church that sidelined me for raising concerns as a gay man, it was a progressive one.
Could not agree more. Thank you for writing about this! And we would love to have you join us for The Reformation Project's conference in Atlanta this fall—any chance we'll see you there?
Thank you for the kind words, Matthew! That means a lot coming from you and I deeply appreciate your leadership on this issue. I was actually talking to Zach this morning about my post and showed him your comment.
Ive been thinking about the conference and need to come. There’s a work conference the following weekend but after attending the CenterPeace Retreat, I can’t wait for another opportunity to connect with more LGBT Christians.
It was a big turning point for me when I looked at my "progressive" church and realized that it wasn't a crowd of people that the mainstream had rejected, it was a crowd of people that rejected the mainstream. A Roman Catholic church that forgives me for being gay leaves me feeling much more accepted than going to a church that celebrates my gayness so long as I'm the correct kind of gay. A Roman Catholic church gives me the opportunity to reconcile with and worship with as broad of a spectrum of humanity as can be found in any single organization. A "progressive" church might let me join their little club so long as I don't break their rules.
I mean, I don't go to church much at all anymore, but please continue to share your experiences of going to churches where it's ok to be gay without turning it into a whole big thing--that sounds like actual progress!
Wow. This was so eye opening. Thank you for the vulnerability. We are desperately in need of being able to have good conversations with people we don’t agree with in the world today and even in the church today. This is an area that the church is incredibly immature in. I grew up in an evangelical Church and there was really never any discussion about how to talk with people who believe differently than me, it was about winning them over only. I was just having this huge conversation with the Lord today about how polarizing Christians have become. I am a moderate in most things. I hear my progressive friends railing against my conservative friends, and I hear my conservative friends railing against my progressive friends, and neither of them seem to be able to see that they’re just alike except for the issues that are important to them. It’s so disheartening to me. Even Substack has become polarizing in many ways, depending on who you’re following. I follow people from both sides of the aisle, the political aisle and the church aisle. And the back-and-forth even here is gut wrenching for me. And they don’t want to listen to moderate voices, they want us to pick a side, but I won’t do it. And I think Jesus models that.
Thank you Amy! I find myself in a very similar situation: moderate in most things and frustrated by those on both sides who can’t seem to engage with the other side in good faith. Thanks for reading my post!
I've nothing against drag generally. However there's been a huge push for drag shows the past few years, especially "drag queen story hour" and it seems like the sole purpose is to trigger conservatives.
Agreed. I don’t have an issue with drag shows and have friends who participate in drag, but hosting one at a church just seems designed to provoke people. Places like “DTC” are a caricature of what conservatives’ worst fears about what an affirming church is.
Yes, I’m very glad to have found an affirming church that is also sincere when it comes to “inclusion.”
Oddly enough, the most fundamentalist, intolerant, insular and personally exclusionary church I’ve ever been part of was an “inclusive” one. It wasn’t a conservative church elder that harassed me about an op-ed he disagreed with. It wasn’t a non-affirming church leader who suggested I didn’t care about a particular group because I disagreed with a church decision. And it wasn’t a conservative church that sidelined me for raising concerns as a gay man, it was a progressive one.
Could not agree more. Thank you for writing about this! And we would love to have you join us for The Reformation Project's conference in Atlanta this fall—any chance we'll see you there?
Thank you for the kind words, Matthew! That means a lot coming from you and I deeply appreciate your leadership on this issue. I was actually talking to Zach this morning about my post and showed him your comment.
Ive been thinking about the conference and need to come. There’s a work conference the following weekend but after attending the CenterPeace Retreat, I can’t wait for another opportunity to connect with more LGBT Christians.
Thanks again!
Come!!!! My boyfriend and I will be there!!!
Just registered for the conference!
Woohooooo!!!! 👏
I’m going to talk to my boss about it today! It would be great to meet in person!
It was a big turning point for me when I looked at my "progressive" church and realized that it wasn't a crowd of people that the mainstream had rejected, it was a crowd of people that rejected the mainstream. A Roman Catholic church that forgives me for being gay leaves me feeling much more accepted than going to a church that celebrates my gayness so long as I'm the correct kind of gay. A Roman Catholic church gives me the opportunity to reconcile with and worship with as broad of a spectrum of humanity as can be found in any single organization. A "progressive" church might let me join their little club so long as I don't break their rules.
I mean, I don't go to church much at all anymore, but please continue to share your experiences of going to churches where it's ok to be gay without turning it into a whole big thing--that sounds like actual progress!
Thanks for this.
Wow. This was so eye opening. Thank you for the vulnerability. We are desperately in need of being able to have good conversations with people we don’t agree with in the world today and even in the church today. This is an area that the church is incredibly immature in. I grew up in an evangelical Church and there was really never any discussion about how to talk with people who believe differently than me, it was about winning them over only. I was just having this huge conversation with the Lord today about how polarizing Christians have become. I am a moderate in most things. I hear my progressive friends railing against my conservative friends, and I hear my conservative friends railing against my progressive friends, and neither of them seem to be able to see that they’re just alike except for the issues that are important to them. It’s so disheartening to me. Even Substack has become polarizing in many ways, depending on who you’re following. I follow people from both sides of the aisle, the political aisle and the church aisle. And the back-and-forth even here is gut wrenching for me. And they don’t want to listen to moderate voices, they want us to pick a side, but I won’t do it. And I think Jesus models that.
Thank you Amy! I find myself in a very similar situation: moderate in most things and frustrated by those on both sides who can’t seem to engage with the other side in good faith. Thanks for reading my post!
Yours is the first moderate voice I’ve found on Substack. I’m grateful for the company.
I've nothing against drag generally. However there's been a huge push for drag shows the past few years, especially "drag queen story hour" and it seems like the sole purpose is to trigger conservatives.
Agreed. I don’t have an issue with drag shows and have friends who participate in drag, but hosting one at a church just seems designed to provoke people. Places like “DTC” are a caricature of what conservatives’ worst fears about what an affirming church is.