“The one thing Jesus calls us to do”–by Shelly Cichowlas, Sunday, April 14, 2013
When I came to Edwards Church 17 or so years ago, it was by choice. I wanted to find a peaceful place that honored sexuality as a gift from God. I had been on the other side, in a feuding denomination where gay and lesbian persons were tolerated but not able to enjoy the full life of ministry if they were “living in sin”. This meant that anybody in a committed relationship, but not married, could not be an ordained minister. I attended an annual conference once where a friend of mine was announcing her closeted relationship in hopes of creating a meaningful dialogue for change. Instead, there were picketers and protesters handing out literature denouncing my friend’s actions and when I refused to take a pamphlet one zealot, she spat on me.
Seventeen years ago, there were not a lot of reconciling congregations (thus denomination’s ONA) in the Framingham area, and we would have had to load our five kids up and head to the cape. So when a colleague told me that a nearby church had called a woman pastor, who was also out as a lesbian, I knew I was done searching. Edwards has been an extended family and the best possible open community for our 6 children (and now 2 grandchildren), too. Best of all, it was the same minister that married my daughter and her wife this past November.
This morning I was reminded of the past that had become a distant memory when I heard the stories of the LGBT Asylum Seekers task force. It was hard to hear about the world that has so far to go to becoming understanding, open, or even tolerant. And instead of just a bit of spit, they endure torture, prison, and persecution. They come to our country leaving everyone and everything they love behind.
Before I left my previous denomination, I was encouraged to stay and fight for change. But it seemed contradictory to me; fight for peace. I will instead stand up for what I believe; the one thing Jesus calls us to do- Love one another.