Proclaiming the Blessing You See

It is important that we members of the Church of the Redeemer recognize that our belief in the blessing, belonging, and full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the church puts us in the minority of the Christian faith throughout history. This is difficult for us to accept sometimes: Episcopalians get really uncomfortable when we realize we are not part of the mainstream. But we are not part of the mainstream of Christianity when it comes to our recognition of the work of healing and blessing that God is doing, with, and through LGBTQ+ persons.

It’s important we recognize this because it highlights just how essential our voices are in this time and place. By and large when Christians speak up about LGBTQ+ love, it is in condemnation, it is to shame and marginalize. When speaking in Jesus’ name, Christians mostly seek to negate and deny the blessing of that love – our churches almost exclusively working to perpetuate either the so-called “healing” or outright ostracization of people who were made in God’s image.

But you are a blessing. Whatever your sexual orientation or gender, you are a blessing. However, you identify, you are a blessing. You are essential. You matter tremendously to God and to the people around you. Your expression of love is even now teaching this world a deeper understanding of what love truly is. You form the world and the Church into who it is to be. When you are seen, truly seen, the Spirit is revealed. We see God.