Further thoughts on Lutheran church actions

There is a story that Jesus told about a guy who sowed seeds, trying to grow a crop. "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold." (Luke 8:4ff)

Several years ago several of us formed an advocacy group which we called Goodsoil. We worked to sow the seed of Good News, Justice and Hope for the church and, in particular, for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons (GLBT).

Over the years of life and ministry I have determined that justice and hope for all people is a hallmark of what we stand for as Christian people. I also believe this to be an important principle for persons of many religions. Some day I will tell some stories of my experiences with racism and the quest for racial justice.

I say that to take note that in my experience the injustice to GLBT people is about as bad as it can be for any marginalized people in the world. While it is true that Christian people have played a part in many injustices meted out to women, persons of color, children, the poor and many more, the attitudes and actions of Christian and other religious people toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender folk tops it all. Many Christian people take their position on their interpretation of the Bible.

A Letter to the Editor in today's Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis expressed dismay that the ELCA took a position to allow gay and lesbian persons in committed relationships to be pastors and rostered lay leaders in the church. The writer then said, "I guess the Bibles it uses don't have the account of Sodom and Gomorrah in it."

Herein lies the problem with how some people have interpreted the Bible. Have you ever read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah? Check it out in Genesis 19. It is a story of a man named Lot who welcomed two angels (a word for persons bringing good news; also seen as male strangers in the community) into his home. A group of men in the city did not like these visitors and gang raped them despite the protests of Lot.

This passage is used as a Biblical word against "homosexual" people. Well, the men in those cities were hardly gay. These were violent and abusive in the worst way. They committed the sin of inhospitality. Jesus declared the sin of these men to be inhospitality and said nothing about sexuality.

The Biblical writers knew nothing about sexual orientation. We have only learned about persons having an orientation to persons of the same gender in the last 50 years or so. Biblical stories and writings about same-gender behavior is always about violence and abuse and says nothing about a man living in a loving, life-long, monogamous, faithful relationship with another man, or a woman living lovingly and faithfully with a woman.

Partly because of people misunderstanding the Bible, partly because we have not been able to learn and discuss issues of sexuality and sexual behavior in society, people have determined that gay and lesbian persons are the worst of the worst. GLBT people have been ostracized, barred from housing, fired from employment, beaten and killed.

This is what I mean by saying that injustice to GLBT people is about as bad as it can be for any marginalized people in the world.

Now, in the ministry and experience I have had in the last 25+ years, I have come to know GLBT people who have been in faithful relationships for years and have been wonderful role models for children and for us all. Of course, the same is true of many heterosexual persons I have had the privilege of serving and working with.

The Goodsoil movement in the Lutheran church has its base in a wonderful body known as Lutherans Concerned North America. It got its start 35 years ago. Lutherans Concerned has worked faithfully and with determination in the Lutheran church, seeking change and new life for GLBT people.

The actions of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly last week, where I was privileged to serve as a Voting Member, was the culmination of efforts of countless people, gay and straight, through these years. In one of my remarks on the assembly floor I said that we now have an opportunity for all people, especially gay and lesbian youth and adults, to see pastors and other rostered leaders in same gender relationships as role models for what life can be for a people who have been so abused and disregarded. We have seen those relationships among heterosexual pastors. Now we can see it for gay and lesbian pastors and leaders.

I know that there are persons in the ELCA and in other Christian churches who are terribly upset that the ELCA has taken this action. Some may leave our church, but many will not leave. I invite them to stay and be in conversation about the experience that GLBT people have had for years at the hands and voices of religious people.

It is a new day in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We will be well. We will be strong. We will be a faithful witness to the Good News we have learned in Christ.

-30-