Jordan Paul
Just preach the ding dang Gospel.—The Rev’d Dr Kara Slade
Dear Friends,
In one of Fr Robert’s sermons shortly after I started attending Saint Philip’s, he spoke on the difference between being political and being partisan. In summary, the Church has something to say about political issues. It doesn’t have to do so in a partisan way. Put another way, the Church is not the religious wing of a major party.
Today’s reading from St Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians has St Paul, after threatening to come to Corinth again, end with a plea for unity: “So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.”
That St Paul’s letters are such a large portion of Scripture shows the long history and importance of Church leaders raising potentially contentious issues with those under their care. Bishop Reddall recently sent such a letter to congregations in Arizona. Her letter, on LGBTQ+ inclusion and the recent wave of anti-trans legislation across the country, was not just a plea for unity. It was also a clear articulation that our LGBTQ+ siblings are no less made in the image of God than anyone else and that the Diocese is prepared to help congregations live out that fact.
The wave of anti-trans fervor and the recent actions of some members of the Anglican Communion with respect to that fervor show that our support of our LGBTQ+ siblings cannot start and end with simply announcing that they should feel welcome in the Church. As Bishop Reddall wrote: “If inclusion is already part of your personal and congregational identity, I encourage you to enter the work of education and advocacy.” This is where Fr Robert’s sermon comes to mind.
Opposing efforts to limit medical care is political, but not partisan. Opposing efforts to mobilize the power of the state to investigate parents with trans children is political, but not partisan. Opposing efforts to limit the full range of human expression is political, but not partisan.
I came across a tweet the other day about LGBTQ+ Christians: “the people i know with the deepest, most sincere faith are queer. the depth of love it takes to stay in a faith that wounds you, so deeply, over and over, is greater than many could know.” Whenever we welcome a new member into the Church, we collectively promise to “persevere in resisting evil,” “proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ,” and “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”
Our first allegiance is, of course, to God. But, as we live out those promises, we should also keep in mind our duty to those who will come after us and the life we want them to have. We preach the Gospel not just for the promise of what awaits but also for what we can build here and now if we take it seriously. I hope that we all do choose to take it seriously.
In Christ,
—Jordan