Lutherans Concnerned

Went to a Lutherans Concerned meeting tonight. Locally, the organization has been fairly non-functional, but we're trying to rally the support for the upcoming season of synod assemblies and, eventually, churchwide assembly. Mostly, it looks like a lot of work for the next few months.

But the gathering of people was very much encouraging. Some specific tasks were outlined and people were stepping up to take them on.

Most heartening was to hear stories. Some were, of course, very sad. The story of the teenager who blew his brains out because he was homosexual, went to the church for counsel and was rejected. The ending to this story was that a pastor was turned to being more open because he realized that he did not want to be part of a church that drove kids to suicide. Another story was of a woman who felt rejected by the church and was on the verge of suicide until she saw a Reconciling Lutheran congregation run an ad on cable tv. She claims to this day that this church saved her life. There were happier stories, of how a gay or lesbian pastor influenced someone's life, or how a gay member had a positive impact on a congregation. These were stories told just in passing---we weren't about the business of telling stories tonight, but they just happen spontaneously. It appears to me that there is so much already happening in the church with GLBT folk in the middle of it, positive things, life-saving things---It appears to me that God is already moving. The church needs to catch up to God.

If you're Lutheran or in any way closely affiliated with Lutherans, one way you can help the effort is to go to the Lutherans Concerned page and click on the Reconciling Lutherans link. This is a page where you can make a public statement of welcome to GLBT, even if your congregation is not Reconciling. That's a national effort and we need names from all 50 states. Spread the word as you see fit.

(And for those who don't support the effort---I'm sure you can find the other side's efforts easily enough. I say get involved and follow your conscience. I'm sure that whatever happens this summer won't be the last of the conversation. I do hope our---note first person plural---conscience is guided by some real study and prayer and the church will catch up with God sooner than later. )

I'm mostly bouyed by the number of heterosexual folk at the meeting tonight. I am thankful, so very thankful for them. As I said before, it'd difficult to be your own advocate, but it's easier to feel energized when you feel the support of advocates.

Work to be done. Work to be done. So much work God has already done.