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
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
You can be gay, but not do gay. (Bishop Carlton Pearson, “Come Sunday”) I remember a church in which I was active during my early teen years running a kind of “deeper life/holiness” week titled “Christ is the Answer!” But I never really understood what
What’s it like to develop an entire identity around the sexual sin you desire? (Twitter user “Dave”) I’ve often thought about what it means to be human and to step into the person I’ve been created to be. However, we often don’t think about what
Spoiler: Your average affirming church might be resting on its laurels With every passing moment, it becomes increasingly less revolutionary for a progressive Christian congregation to label itself as some combination of open, affirming or welcoming. Denominational schisms notwithstanding, more and more Christians are saying
Welcome home! We are delighted you are here. In your worship bulletin is our Welcome Statement. Listen carefully, faithfully as I read it aloud. First Christian Church of Decatur (Disciples of Christ) is an open and affirming congregation. We welcome everyone into full participation in
Hundreds of bishops and priests proclaim ‘Love Wins!’ [Gay people] want the church to hold their life in such value that they are given the blessing of God and not denied it. We must face up to this wish. (Bishop Georg Bätzing, president German Bishops’
Have you ever asked why one group that’s been a victim of discrimination doesn’t automatically see how another group is suffering? Have you wondered why people in one group could actually participate in the oppression of another or at least ignore the desires for similar
… So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the