Marching in the Tulsa Pride Parade

Here I'm handing out water in last year's parade

For a variety of reasons, Tulsa hosts their Pride Parade in October rather than June.  Of course, the weather in Oklahoma is much lovelier for a parade in October (on average that is).  

Being outside of heterosexuality has always been somewhat divisive within human culture with some societies being more relaxed and others being harsher.  Being gay still carries the death penalty in about a dozen countries worldwide and while it may not be enforced as vehemently as it was in yesteryear, that may provide little solace to someone living or traveling there.

When the United States legalized same gender marriage in 2015, it was a landmark decision that many in our country applauded while many others reviled.

The United Methodist Church has also been mixed since almost our outset in 1968 (after The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church combined).  Four years after the new beginning, legislation on human sexuality was brought before our highest legislative body, the General Conference.  The original petition didn’t support or deny same gender relationships for marriage, but it did state that God’s grace is available to all.  It also ended the statement with the language, “We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends.  We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.”

After this legislation was passed in committee, it came to the floor of the General Conference for a vote where it was amended to include the sentence, “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.”  The amended version passed with the other above sentences left as written.

When I was coming before our denomination's Board of Ordained Ministry for credentialing as a clergyperson in the 1990’s, I argued in my paperwork that our stance was hypocritical if not schizophrenic.  How could we implore churches not to condemn gay or lesbian persons if our stance was that their relationships were incompatible with Christian teaching?  Doesn’t the amended language do exactly what we tell people not to do?  They passed me in spite of my critique which told me that there was wider agreement for a more open position.

I began to support legislation through the General Conference to delete the incompatible sentence and was happy to finally be on the right side of the vote for its removal in 2024.  This localized positions within the individual congregations.  Our denomination still has conservative churches that choose not to send LGBTQIA+ candidates forward for ministry.  They may also choose not to allow them to marry in their churches.  But many more are adopting an open stance.  Boston Avenue United Methodist Church affirms all people in their calling who are found gifted for ministry.  We meet with couples who desire marriage and do not restrict based on biology or physiology but rather counsel them in love.  

There is still biblical debate over whether same gender relationships are sinful.  I don't believe that they are and have weighed in with a series of videos outlining my own biblical and theological interpretation.  If you’re curious, you can view them here: https://bit.ly/Clobbered – feel free to pass this link (or just forward this piece) to anyone who may find the videos helpful.

My support and love of all God’s people is unwavering.  But because others still see our LGBTQIA+ siblings as incompatible with Christianity, I will be marching this Saturday, October 11th at 4 pm in Tulsa’s Pride Parade.  Fortunately, I won’t have to search for where the parade route begins – it launches from Boston Avenue’s parking lot!

Photo by Caitlin Dryke, Tulsa, Oklahoma, October 13, 2024

Daily Devotion for Lent 2023 - Day 14

"I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

                                         Isaiah 49:6b

Today, I am thankful that I learned to see wider systems in life and in scripture - taught to me at United Methodist seminaries.

It was in my pastoral care class at Candler School of Theology that I was introduced to the text, Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue by Edwin H. Friedman.  His application of Murray Bowen's theory has helped churches and relationships to re-center on their mission when they have become stuck.  A large part of this theory revolves around knowing your identity.

As we see larger systems at work in the world, we can see patterns emerge.  This is also true of scripture.  Within the Bible, we have larger themes at work and we may use these to interpret the rest of the Bible.

One is the theme of holiness.  God's people have been set apart.  Leviticus 20:26 states, 

"You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy, and I have separated you from the other peoples to be mine."

 There are lots of examples of this throughout the Bible.  God's royal priesthood language comes out of this in 1 Peter 2:9,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

This notion of holiness is strong in Wesleyan thought within United Methodism and emerges in the doctrine of sanctifying grace.  The root word literally means holy.  It is the grace by which we are to become more holy in our inward and outward lives.  Wesleyans believe that we are all to work with God toward sanctification.

Another overarching theme is "Light to the Nations."  This is the idea that God is not only calling us to be holy for our own salvation but to share this understanding with all creation.

While John's Gospel has Jesus declaring "I am the light of the world," Matthew 5:14a has Jesus advising, "You are the light of the world."  Both are true - the first reminds us of our source.  The second gives us our mission.

Christianity has a strong focus in being a "Light to the Nations."  We see it in probably the most famous verse, John 3:16 which tells us, 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."

For Wesleyans, we are reminded of John Wesley's famous quote, "The world is my parish."

This idea is rooted in the doctrine of prevenient (or preceding) grace.  God's love is for all people.  They may not realize it yet but we believe God is working on them.  It is our job to share that love in a variety of ways so that they may come to believe.

Sometimes these two themes clash.  For instance, in Jesus' day, healing someone was thought of as work and was frowned upon on the Sabbath.  This was the theme of holiness - we are to dedicate this day to God and refrain from work - even from healing.  Jesus heals on the Sabbath, reminding us that our mission to be a light to the nations sometimes takes precedence.  

The clash people of faith have over same gender relationships may depend on which theme of the Bible they are utilizing.  Those with a strong holiness approach may see celibacy as the only alternative for someone who is gay.  Those with a strong light to the nations approach may see same-gender marriage as appropriate given the knowledge we have gained in psychology and human physiology.  The desire is to shine the light to all people.

Both holiness and light to the nations are present within The United Methodist Church.  The divide we see over LGBTQ issues is not so great when we understand what ties prevenient and sanctifying grace together.  It is the justification we have in Jesus Christ.  

Ah, and now we have come back around to remind us that knowing our identity helps us when we are stuck!

During this Lent, where do you see holiness at work in your life and where do you need to be more Christ-like?

How is God calling you to be a light to the nations?