Affirming of being Affirming

I and two other members of Central spent yesterday and today participating in a group consultation process that is part of a study being conducted by Brite Divinity School on mainline Protestant churches in North Texas and Oklahoma that have been "Open and Affirming" (ONA), or their denominational equivalent, for more than 5 years. It turns out there are only 10 such churches in North Texas. Nine of those churches, plus one church from Tulsa, OK, participated in this process.

It has been a very interesting two days. There was a rich sharing of stories and challenges and ideas with others who are walking a very similar path. And most expressed that one of the most significant things we carried away was the sense that we are not alone. Whether we adopted the label "Open and Affirming," or "More Light" or "Reconciling in Christ," across denominational lines we are more alike than different. And we share a common sense of mission to share God's love and the hospitality of Christ to all.

There was also a sense that our understanding of what it means to be ONA is evolving. For most churches just starting the process, or who have recently adopted that designation, it involves almost exclusively the affirmation of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered) people -- in practice if not in theory. But all the churches in this group expressed that as time has passed, and they have been challenged to live into that identity and commitment to be an "ONA church," their understanding of what that means has become much broader, and more inclusive.

Throughout history, those from our faith tradition have struggled with their relationship to a group, or groups, that were seen as "other" or "stranger" or "outcast." Story after story in the Bible -- in both the Hebrew and the New Testaments -- witness to that struggle. Most recently, think about the changes in the church in the past century or so regarding women and African Americans. For the most part, mainline Protestant churches have moved beyond that, and have welcomed and affirmed the worth of people of both genders and all races within the church. They are "strangers" no more. While we still face challenges to live fully into that commitment, at least the institutional understanding and framework is there. But many churches that have addressed and sought to move beyond gender and race still struggle to affirm LBGT people. That group are still seem as "strangers" and "outcasts."

Churches that have committed to being ONA need to see the LGBT struggle as being in the same continuum as the struggles that have gone before. You could say this is the latest "wedge group," dividing -- or threatening to divide -- Christians. Because if we see being ONA as just being about LBGT equality, then while we pat ourselves on the back for moving past this obstacle to unity in Christ, we too may fail to welcome, respect or affirm the next group of "strangers" who come to our door.

We may also not recognize the responsibility that comes with being ONA to advocate and work to protect the rights of all people, not just within the church, but outside our doors. If we are truly, "open and affirming," it is not enough to accept and respect LGBT people -- or those of any other group -- within our sanctuary. In order to really live into our commitment, we need to reflect our ONA stance in all the ways we interact with the world. We need to acknowledge and respect the unique challenges and gifts that all groups, and all individuals, indeed all of God's creation, contribute to the tapestry that is our world. That is what it will take so that, as it says in the UCC motto, we "may all be one."