A Christian Response to Rick Perry's Hateful Campaign Ad

Upon first watching Rick Perry's "Faith" ad tonight, I literally felt sick to my stomach.  Gov. Perry not only proclaimed a hateful message just to get some political attention, but he used the Christian faith to do it.  As a gay ally I felt like I was being attacked as well.  Check out the ad:


After my nausea and anger subsided, I watched the video a few more times, and I began to feel profoundly sad.  I felt profoundly sad for my gay sisters and brothers who face messages just like Perry's everyday, I felt profoundly sad for Rick Perry but most of all I felt profoundly sad that this campaign ad that was actually meant to appeal to Christians.  How astray are we that such a hateful message is associated with Christianity?  How is it possible that so many Christians will actually appreciate Gov. Perry's ad?  Most importantly, why are us moderate and progressive Christians so publicly quiet on matters of faith?  The only reason people associate extreme social conservatism with Christianity is because the rest of us don't speak up.
Now, check out this rebuttal spoof ad:


Our "magic spirit guide or whatever" has absolutely not "blessed us with special a-hole privileges."  It is so profoundly sad, yet completely understandable, that this is what many folks, especially young people, think of us Christians.  This is one reason why the Reconciling in Christ movement is so important.  The LGBTQ community has been made to feel so unwelcome by Christians for so long, that congregations need to expressly state they're open to not just tolerating but celebrating God's created humanity in its full diversity.  While RIC is a movement of Lutheran congregations and other communities, many other denominations have similar organizations as well.  I encourage you to be a prophetic witness, speak out against injustice and figure out how you and your faith community can welcome and publicly affirm the lives of LGBTQ believers.  The more we do so, the less we'll frankly seem like "a-holes" and perhaps more folks will be able to hear Christ's good news.

God's peace,
Dustin

LGBTQ Forum @ LTSP

Tonight the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia held a very well attended LGBTQ forum. The conversation was part of LTSP's on-going commitment as a Reconciling in Christ seminary to be a welcoming and affirming community... and what an amazing event!  After sitting down to a hearty meal of pizza, salad and some delicious cupcakes, roughly forty students, faculty, alumni and their families gathered to discuss how far the seminary has come since becoming an RIC institution in April 2010.  Some students discussed how they felt supported by the community when coming out or navigating tricky candidacy processes.  Other students aired concerns and cited areas that still need improvement.  Straight students asked important questions about being the best possible allies.

The group discussed wider church issues as well.  I learned a great deal about what brothers and sisters in Christ face when working with less than supportive synods, when trying to find first calls and in getting appropriate Board of Pensions benefits for their spouses or partners.  I learned that despite the decisions made at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA still has a whole lot of work to do... the popular notion that "thank God this is over and we can get back to ministry" isn't appropriate or even accurate.  I left the forum absolutely filled with the Spirit!  The best part of being a Reconciling In Christ community is that all members, no matter their sexual orientation, can know that they live, work, learn and play in a place that supports and affirms who they are.