The traditional understanding of the Bible is hostile to homosexuality. Passages in the Old Testament, like the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) and Leviticus 18:22 come to mind. And although Jesus didn’t address the topic directly, St. Paul condemned the practice in his letter to the Romans.
For centuries, lesbian and gay Christians had to keep their sexuality secret to avoid being persecuted within their own worshipping communities. But times are changing.
Modern scholarship has led many theologians to reinterpret ancient Scripture. According to the CNN Belief Blog, “Taken on its own terms, read in the original languages, placed back into its historical context, the Bible is ho-hum on homosexuality, unless – as with heterosexuality – injustice and abuse are involved.”
The attitude within individual congregations concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people can vary widely. Finding an accepting church can be a worrisome experience, causing many LGBT people to stop attending church altogether after negative experiences.
To help alleviate this problem, an organization was established in 1983 to work for full inclusion of LGBT Lutherans in all the aspects of the Lutheran Church life in America. Last year its name was changed to Reconciling Works, and there are many aspects to its ministry. One is Reconciling in Christ (RIC), which has officially recognized more than 500 Lutheran congregations, colleges, seminaries and other agencies that publicly welcome LGBT believers.
Last September, the congregation of Gilroy’s Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (1735 Hecker Pass Highway) began studying the issue of certifying itself as a RIC congregation. Through the course of several discussions, they came to this understanding:
For centuries, churches have been more often on the side of excluding people of non-mainstream sexual orientation and gender identities. Some have thought that a person’s sexual orientation was a matter of choice. Some have thought that only people who follow “nature’s order” are worthy of God. Some have cited selected Bible verses as proof of God’s disfavor of people who are different from most of us. The “us versus them” thinking has hurt many faithful, baptized Christians who find themselves left out.
According to the Rev. Ron Koch, Good Shepherd’s Pastor, “We have learned through scientific studies that sexual orientation and gender identity are not lifestyle choices that people make, but that people just come that way. We have come to learn that almost everyone knows someone who is gay, and that knowing such a person makes all the difference. People of different sexual orientation and gender identity are saints and sinners, like all of us.”
After much prayer and discussion, at a specially called congregational meeting on Jan. 13, the following statement of welcome was adopted unanimously. It was sent to Reconciling Works, and on Feb. 24, Good Shepherd will receive a certificate and be listed among the RIC congregations, one of about 50 in the Bay Area.
“Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Gilroy is an inclusive Christian community. St. Paul, in Galatians 3, reminds us that baptism makes us children of God, and therefore ‘There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.’ Therefore, we welcome people of all sexual orientations and gender identities fully into the life of our congregation.”
Commenting on this important event, Pastor Koch said: “Our congregation has always been a compassionate, welcoming community. But now we are making it known, and that’s ‘Good News.’” Call (408) 842-2713 for more information.
