Let’s be real about gays and the church
By Bishop John Selders
Guest Columnist
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been in some deep reflection about this whole matter of sexuality, religion, gospel music and the Black Church in response to the St. Louis American newspaper’s article on Minister Allen Wicks’ book, Homosexuality and the Music Ministry.
For some of you, I don’t have to rehearse my personal data. I am a native St. Louisian, nurtured and supported by many in the Greater St. Louis region. My natural and spiritual roots come from the rich tradition that a number of us who are from STL share.
As a son, brother, parent, husband, musician, songwriter, pastor and now bishop in the church, I feel ambivalent toward this discussion. The question for me is one of integrity and honesty and how we reckon our faith and expressions with our practice of our faith in our everyday lives.
In my opinion, we are not faithful to our vocation if we don’t bring to these concerns a broad range of perspectives. We all deserve better and the people we serve do, as well. I reject the myth that the Bible is only to be interpreted in one way. The Bible has been used as an instrument of hate for too long in our religious settings. The Bible is not as clear on this and many other subjects as some would have you believe.
Both Bishop Wyatt Greenlee and Dr. Levi King are colleagues and elder brothers of mine in ministry. I love them both. I affirm the right to express one’s own opinion. And I do understand that this subject is a hot one. However, I’m not surprised that we continue to pull the covers over our head and act as if same-gender love (SGL) is something new and on the rise in the church and as if folk who are SGL aren’t represented in every facet of our religious community and tolerated, silently.
The “sin” in this case is that some dare to speak out or live out or step out from the silence. The “sin” is that some have dared to say and mean it that SGL people are in our midst and must be regarded as whole people of God. Some, like Bishop Greenlee, have dared to embrace SGL folk and be unapologetic about it. Amen!!!
The “sin” of insincerity and dishonesty seems to be most acceptable. Are we mature enough at the dawn of the 21st century to begin a conversation on how for “real” SGL folk have built many ministries and churches? SGL folk are in the pulpit, in the choir stand, on their musical instruments, on deacon boards, in the aisles as ushers and in the pews as parishioners.
The question is: Who will dare risk and say, “You are fine just the way you are” in our church settings? Can we accept ourselves as whole and complete? Can we talk? Can we have open, frank, honest and intelligent conversation without damning, vilifying, blaming or retribution?
Bishop John Selders is organizing pastor of Amistad United Church of Christ, Hartford, CT.