This Chaplain Loves You. Representing a Church of Welcome and Affirmation at Pride Fest, Denver, 2019.

I keep thinking about conversations I had with the beautiful people who stopped by the booth Calvary Baptist Church of Denver hosted at Pride Fest, Denver, 2019. The conversations were brief, but full. I took a shift midday Saturday with my daughter (who identifies as non-binary femme she/they and bisexual), representing CBC, a welcoming and affirming congregation, affiliated with AWAB, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. I am a congregant at CBC. I was ordained at CBC. Although I serve in ministry as a chaplain at a hospital, I also serve in ministerial roles on occasion at CBC. I wore one rainbow pin and stole, remembering with care, as best I could, that as a straight ally, I am in a space that doesn’t belong to me. I thought a lot about how difficult things have been recently, particularly for the LGBTQIA community.

One person reluctantly approached, understandably so. They told me they had just received a flyer a few minutes ago, by another “pastor” who was standing outside the gates of Pride Fest. (Hm. Outside the gates…) “It said I was going to hell for who I am,” they commented. I explained to them that that is not the message of the Gospel. I apologized to them for the hurt caused by a theology of shame. “We are all created in God’s image. You are Beloved, you are loved, just as you are,” I said. As I handed them some information, the responsive words, “Thank you” came out in a shaky whisper.

A couple of people were surprised we are a Baptist church, so I explained if churches claim the name, “Baptist” as it truly means, they would all be welcoming and affirming, not welcoming followed by, “but…”. Unfortunately, the phrase “religious freedom” which is a large part of the Baptist identity, is being used as an excuse to discriminate. I spoke of the broader message of Christ as one of liberation, a freedom from systems of oppression. Religious freedom as it is intended, means we are willing to stand by those whose freedoms are being suppressed, because as it is widely stated, none of us are free until all of us are free.

Some people inquired about the typical bible verses used to condemn them. I explained that the bible ought not be used as a tool to belittle others, and how that is offensive to the message of Christ. The Wisdom of the Sacred Text portrays, Wholly and Holy, a Love for all of humanity. Love, and the message of Jesus, is a lens through which we struggle and ultimately reconcile with difficult verses, sometimes used out of context, but moreover in fear, to hate and exclude. Sometimes this hate occurs blatantly. Other times, more insidiously, it is promoted under the guise of love and welcome, only to reveal itself as pretending to be loving, whether intentional or not. One person approached and said, “I used to go to church. Thanks for being a place that reminds me of a verse I memorized when I was little from 1 John 4, ‘Let us love one another for Love is from God.’” “Yes!” I responded enthusiastically while sharing about CBC’s community. They felt they had been too hurt by the Church to ever consider returning. Understandable. I told them I respected that.

One approached telling me they were atheist, and said, “I just want to shake your hand. Thanks for being this kind of church.” More people who identified as religious, and non-religious stopped by, all of whom offered words of gratitude. “I wish all churches were like this” one observed. I responded once to another atheist with, “Thanks for being one who questions, doubts, and values rationality. I have a similar spirit…” After all, “Open to All” means all- culturally and/or religiously…and more. One person told me she was a grandma to a transgender grandson. She said his mother wouldn’t come, so she brought him instead. She was so excited to know our church existed. I told her that her grandson was lucky to have her in his life. She said, “I’m lucky to have him.” There were so many inquiring hearts and minds, some from different religious backgrounds, others just curious about who we are as a church, some seeking advice on how to talk to relatives who are not willing to accept them, some simply adding pens to their pen collection from various booths, some just wanting to pet my Greyhound, Daisy adorned with a rainbow pride snood (created by my daughter) and buttons. Every single one of them welcome.

There were times of laughter and joy, and moments of deep despair. This year’s Denver Pride was a beautiful celebration of the expanse of gender identity and the vibrant colors of humanity. TBTG! At times I am convinced the Church will die, and in some ways, deservedly so. Yet I hope, in the recognition of such a need for community, that churches will find ways to change and be changed; that we may truly live into the call to repent, in the spirit of metanoia as it is written. May churches authentically welcome all, do the work of reconciliation, claiming through the Spirit of Christ’s radical inclusion, that yes, one can live into an identity of being Christian congruent with LGBTQIA identity. “Open to All; Closed to None.”

Check out CBC @ http://calvarydenver.org. “Calvary welcomes and affirms all people as children of God from every cultural and religious background, sexual orientation, family composition, physical and mental ability, economic means, race, age and gender.“