A few years ago, friends were looking for a church.  They are passionate musicians and active volunteers in the community.  I thought that Roseville Lutheran was a perfect place for their family.  They asked me a question: is RLC accepting of LGBTQ families?  My friend wanted to be sure that her brother, his husband, and their two boys would feel comfortable coming to worship in this church. I said that the people at our church are wonderful, of course we would welcome their family. She pressed me: how can I be so sure? 

I didn’t have an answer, so I asked back: what do you look for in a welcoming church for your brother?  One signal was an LGBTQ flag displayed on the building or on the entry doors. For a casual Sunday morning visitor -this was the easiest way to know a church is welcoming. Another signal was representation: is there a gay pastor in the pulpit, are there gay people in positions of leadership either on staff or as laity, are openly gay families, couples, and individuals present in the pews? Is the church designated as a Reconciling in Christ church and made an explicit commitment to including the LGBTQ community?

So while I felt in my heart that our church was welcoming, I couldn’t point to any clear indicators that we as a congregation welcome and affirm the LGBTQ people.  I decided to lead the Inclusion Task Force to help our church understand the troubled relationship LGBTQ people have historically had with the church and to find ways to welcome and affirm LGBTQ neighbors into our congregation, particularly for our youth. 

Opportunities

As part of this work, you are going to see opportunities to listen to speakers and take part in small group discussion. Dr. James Boyce is going to speak about inclusion and theology during the 10:10 adult on Sunday Oct 31st.  After speaking there will be an open Q&A for people to ask questions. Even if you are fully supportive of LGBT inclusion, please take part in these opportunities, there is important history and theology to learn that helps all of us appreciate how difficult it might be for an LGBTQ person to walk into a church. 

My friend is still looking for a community that fits her family; I hope that one day she can feel that our church is that community.

– Trupti Storlie, RLC Inclusion Task Force

Learn More

Click here for more resources and stories to learn more about becoming an inclusive community.