Growing up in a small town conservative church I was taught that being gay was a sin. It was a choice and God didn’t approve. Period.
It wasn’t until I was a young adult in the beginning of my career did I ever really pause to consider what I learned and how much did not add up. God is love. God made us all so uniquely different in so many different ways and those differences makes us beautiful, special.
A co-worker of mine also happened to be a childhood friend. We’d leave the office together, eat lunch and catch up. It was many years of being her friend before I realized she was gay. Once I figured it out, it changed nothing. But watching her ultimately get married to a wonderful women and later having two children, she changed me. She doesn’t know it but she did. Knowing her, I knew, without a doubt, it was not a choice but the beautiful way God made her. She’s an intelligent, well educated, funny, amazing women who happens to be gay.
I knew then that God loves gay people and straight people and all people equally. And if I’m wrong, so I’m wrong but I will live life with love. Yet I did not go out of my way to advocate, speak out, to say anything. I just knew I’d support rights of all people equally but silently.
My journey was not over, a few months ago, as my oldest son and I were driving to a church event, he casually told me. “Mom, I’m gay. Are you ok with that?”
Without skipping a beat I told him how much I loved him and heck yeah I’m ok with that. We’ve had lots of conversations since, he even asked for a gay flag to hang in his room. He hasn’t told many people but he’s in middle school. Too young for romantic relationships but he just knows.
A few weeks after my son came out I got an email from church asking for volunteers to a committee focused on inclusion within our church and community. I knew the time to do nothing is over.
All people deserve to marry who makes them happy and have the career that fulfills them, including leading our church. I may have grown up in a church that proclaimed women can’t lead the church straight or gay but I’ll strive for the kind of Christian faith that values love above all else. Isn’t that the message of Jesus? We are all sinners, all fallen short, all need him for salvation. The greatest commandment is love.
I’m so blessed to live in a time when we are all asking ourselves do we really include all? Do we really value the beauty of diversity? Yet there is a lot yet to do as the events of 2020 so directly told us.
I’m grateful for my journey but I know I have a long way to go. God bless you on your journey.
My Journey 