We are now flying a "rainbow" flag outside of the entrance to our church. While recognized as a universal sign of welcome to our LGBTQIA+ siblings, it is clearly serving as a welcome to more than just them. Since the LGBTQIA+ community is currently "front and center" as a marginalized group, especially among United Methodists, other persons who find themselves oppressed in some way (i.e. race, national origin, religion, gender, economic or legal status) see a symbol of welcome like this one and know they, too, are welcome here. The colors on this flag may represent many who might question whether they are welcome. Flying them in front of our entrance answers their question: "Yes, you are!"
While our church is a broad-based community of faith, meaning we have persons of all political and possibly even theological spectra represented in our congregation, I submit that this flag is in no way rebuffing the welcome we have extended to them, perpetually. Some who are “right of center” have suggested that by fully welcoming members of the LGBTQIA+ community, we have marginalized their views. I am unconvinced. Unfortunately, this is the argument being used by the Wesleyan Covenant Association and the makers of the Traditionalist Plan in the United Methodist Church--"If you welcome ‘them,’ then we are leaving." A similar sentiment spurred the Jim Crow laws in the South several decades ago--"We don't want ‘them’ here.” Powers that be in the United Methodist Church have taken to legislating their prejudices, attempting to disallow the kind of inclusion Methodism has been known for almost since its inception, or at least since Mr. Wesley wrote his famous sermon, "On a Catholic Spirit." Rodney King may have been right--"Why can't we all just get along?"
Our rainbow welcome flag is displayed in our evolving "Peace Garden." In the photo, you will see the sign on the right that displays the logo designed by a Pittsburgh artist as a peace offering after the devastating killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill here. To the left, is our Peace Pole, an international symbol of peace, with the prayer for peace, "May Peace Prevail On Earth," rendered on each side in a different language. We chose English, Greek (for the New Testament), Hebrew (for the Hebrew Bible, and to honor our interfaith relationship we have with the local Jewish community, and Arabic (to honor our interfaith relationship with the local Muslim community). The Peace Pole is registered with the International Peace Pole movement, and its presence reminds these partner communities of faith that they, too, are welcome here.
I have clergy colleagues who disparage our commitment to interfaith solidarity and cooperation, suggesting that Christianity is an "exclusive" faith, and that it can't work beside these others because its message supersedes their messages of Torah and Quran. (You might notice the parallelism between this view and the theology that seeks to exclude LGBTQIA+ persons from the church because of an "exclusive" interpretation of scripture.) We resist and rebuke this exclusivism, even as Mr. Wesley, himself, would have. We seek to offer "our hand" in fellowship to all.
Here's why. The scriptures tell us that "God is in Christ, reconciling the world to God-self." This is God's action, not ours. As Christians, we are witnesses in this work, but not the drivers, and not the "reconciliation police." God is reconciling the world as God will, and we should not judge, based on a very narrow theological view, of what it means that this is happening "in Christ." As the scriptures also tell us, "God's ways are not our ways." If God seeks to reconcile the world, which I think means all people, who am I--or you--to close the gates or build walls to keep some out because of who they are or because their journey hasn't taken them to exactly the same places as ours has? I think Gamaliel, Paul's teacher, said it best in the Book of Acts: "If it is of human origin, it will die on its own, if it is of God, nothing will stop it."
By opening our doors to welcome all who wish to come, to work with us cooperatively in the case of our interfaith partners, or to attend our church and hear our message, in the case of worshipers, we're allowing the Holy Spirit to do her work in our midst. We're not giving a theology test as an entrance exam. In the words of Mr. Wesley himself:
O [person] of God, think on these things! If you are already in this way, go on. If you have missed this path before now, bless God who has brought you back! And now run the race that is set before you, in the royal way of universal love. Take heed, lest you be either wavering in your judgment, or faint of heart. But keep an even pace, rooted in the faith once delivered to the saints, and grounded in love, in true catholic love, till you are swallowed up in love for ever and ever! --"On a Catholic Spirit," Sermon #34
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