From a sermon delivered on June 7, 2026 at Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta, Ga. Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” Matthew stood up and followed him. Later when Jesus
My heart broke all over again as I participated in a Bible study recently and one of the participants — an openly gay middle-aged adult still struggling to gain basic family acceptance — shared their hurt, frustration and disappointment at never feeling quite free of
Seemingly in spite of all the advances LGBTQ+ people have made in the United States, the society we live in can still seem very dangerous and scary for us. After all, we’ve made so much progress since that night at the Stonewall Inn. In the
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.” [Jesus] said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43) A few years ago, I was included in a meeting with a group of clergy who had received a large
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same
Is literally everything forgivable? Lent in the Christian faith invites us into a period of deep reflection. It is time to look inward, to examine the landscape of our own hearts, and to consider the paths of repentance and renewal. As we walk this journey,
Love the ‘sinner,’ period If there are two phrases often lobbed at LGBTQ+ people that really get my blood boiling, they’re that old chestnut “Love the sinner, hate the sin” and any version of “Loving you doesn’t mean I have to like or accept you.”
The dawn of a new year presents LGBTQ+ people with so much more than just a new page on the calendar: We have a profound opportunity to turn the page on religious narratives that have been wielded against us as tools of exclusion rather than
Remarks prepared for the Transgender Day of Remembrance service at First Christian Church of Decatur, Ga. Friends, community, allies: We gather today with heavy hearts, but also with spirits bound by love and resolve. Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a day
Winter is coming God, forgive them, for they know not what they do. These are words uttered in agony, a plea for grace amidst the most profound betrayal. I have started asking the question of “who” Jesus was talking to a lot these days. Was