11/07/2024
There is a post going around social media that says, “If you don’t know why your gay friend is scared right now, then you don’t have a gay friend. You know a gay person.”
For those who are LGBTQ+ , this Presidential election was one with potential grave consequences and the anxiety or concern was real. And on November 6th, 2024 they heard loud and clear where things were headed.
Along with that, according to the exit polls from the Washington Post…of those who self identified as “White Born Again or Evangelical Christian”…81% of them said that they voted for Trump. Millions of people voted for him, and within those millions…if they were a white evangelical…the probability of them voting for him…was incredibly likely. The Evangelical church in America, is not a safe space for your gay friend, or your transgender friend…no matter how many times they say that “Everyone Is Welcome.”
Now, there are definitely people who are in the LGBTQ+ community who voted for him too. 13% according to the exit poll. The majority of the community voted for Harris according to the exit poll. So I don’t mean to say that EVERY person who is LGBTQ+ is scared. I hope you see though…the majority are. Really…I hope you’ve talked to a friend.
Today I have such a heaviness on my heart and my soul. It feels heavier today than any other time since starting our church. Like, a cloud that just leaves me a bit at a loss of words in how to do…what we do…as a church in America. Many of us at WVC have come from the white evangelical space…and it continues to be a place where we just don’t see…as one of my friends put it…”the Way of Jesus being shown.” It wreaks of Christian Nationalism. And we lament.
On Sunday, it’s going to be a little different. We’ll gather to spend some time in prayer and meditation, take communion and then we’re sitting down for a chat. Not as a time for me to unleash my thoughts but a place for us to be able to process our thoughts and hopefully find some peace in the midst of this particular season. If you need a place to process, or a place to help settle your soul…we’ll be there with you. 10am. You know where we’ll be. Let’s chat. Jesse.
