I don’t welcome gay people into my church.
I don’t welcome trans-sexual people into my church, either.
And I don’t welcome black people into my church.
I don’t welcome children or elderly people into my church. Or single people, or married people, or divorced people. Or disabled people. Or women.
Why should I?
To say “I welcome gay people” is to discriminate in my welcome: what conceivable difference should there be between welcoming a gay person and a person who isn’t gay? (or trans-sexual, or black, or divorced, or straight, white & married?)
So I welcome people into my church – because Jesus welcomes people into his church, and mine is just the hand they happen to shake.
Amen!
Amen too.
Two possible reasons for welcoming (for example) gay people, or black people:
- Their gayness, or blackness, is affirmed
- The specific oppression they have suffered is recognised.
Oh get a grip! What a load of sententious, self-rightousness twaddle. How utterly patronising to those of us who identify as gay that you would welocme us “regardless” of our sexuality. Do carry on welcoming people into “your” Church; it is not one I shall be visiting anytime soon – no doubt, after this expression, I wouldn’t be welcome.
I think you’ve misunderstood what I’m saying – I really don’t care what your sexuality is (or age, sex, colour or anything else). The welcome isn’t “regardless” of any of those things – the welcome just is.
(I take it, by the way, that your comment was in response to the post, rather than to the previous comment)
Steve, thanks for your gracious response. I was probably just irritated and should have moderated myself (as well as my spelling and syntax) before posting. My frustration was at both your initial posting but possibly more apropos Chris’ comment. There is probably no doubt as to your undoubted welcome to anyone. However, I DO wish you to have regard to my sexuality – the fact that it may be IRRESPECTIVE to the welcome I might receive IS the point. But please have REGARD to who I am! I am not defined solely by my sexuality, but it is me. So we may be at one in welcome and acceptance, but our expression has put us apart. Words are tools and powerful ones – and need respect. Obviously whatever Church you may minister to, it is not YOUR church but that of a community who may gather in common and disparate worship in a particular place – but perhaps when I first read your posting, I had not taken the nuance of your italics (a glass of wine too many?) so perhaps I should go and pray a decade of the rosary for reconciliation! PAX.