Forming Relationships to Change Hearts and Minds

A Relection
by
 The Rev. Dr. Caroline Hall
President, Integrity USA

One of the wonderful things about being Episcopalian is the freedom we have to believe something slightly different from the person next to us in the pew. Our liturgy provides such a strong connection that we do not need a confessional statement to keep us together. Of course that’s not comfortable for everyone, and it certainly isn’t convenient. It would be much more convenient for us if General Convention were to decide that every diocese and every parish had to be fully inclusive of LGBT people. That isn’t going to happen, because we respect each other, we respect diversity, and we respect the Holy Spirit leading us through the councils of the church. Where there is disagreement over a controversial innovation, we allow local flexibility.

As a result the LGBT advances we make at the national level are not always reflected locally. One example of this is the November election of the conservative Gregory Brewer as Bishop of Central Florida. He still has to be confirmed by a majority of diocesan bishops and standing committees but unless there is a big surprise, by mid-March Central Florida will have a new bishop whose theology is very similar to his predecessor’s.

In his responses during the process of Bishop selection, Brewer stated,

“Simply
put, there
is
no
Biblical precedent
that
allows
us
to
redefine
marriage
or
to
open
ordination
to practicing gay
people. I agree
with
that portion
of
the
Windsor
Report that
states
that
to
move
forward with
either
gay
marriage
or
the
ordination of
practicing
gay
people
breaches
the bonds
of
affection
within
the
Anglican
Communion, and
I am
committed
to
staying within
the
boundaries
the
Windsor
Report
requests.”

Bishop-elect Brewer is not likely to approve blessings for same-gender relationships in his diocese anytime soon, regardless of what General Convention decides. This is a big disappointment for those of us who had hoped for a new perspective, especially those who are members of, and minister to, the large number of gay people living in Central Florida.

But Bishop-elect Brewer also talks the talk of relationship, “The
task
is
to
find
a
way
to
be
both
Biblically
clear
about
our
ethics
but
also
equally clear
about
demonstrating
(not
merely
professing)
the
call
to walk
in
love,
as Christ loves
us.

Knowing
that
relationships
can
be
trampled
by
politics, we
have
to
work together
to
both
form
policies
that
reflect
both Biblical
clarity
as
well
as
compassion, and
form
relationships
that
do
the
same.”

If you’re like me, the implication that having a relationship with LGBT people somehow requires “compassion” in a way that relating to straight people does not, grates on the nerves. But if we read the Bishop-elect’s words with compassion ourselves, we can see that there is an opening here.

Bishop Jack Spong who became a champion of LGBT inclusion in the Church was once on the other side of the aisle. What changed him? Relationships with the LGBT clergy and lay people in his diocese. People, even Bishops, rarely make the move from opponent to ally unless they come to know, trust and respect gay people.

That is why the work of local Integrity networks, chapters and partners is so important. How will Bishop-elect Brewer ever come to see things differently unless the people of Central Florida who have themselves experienced God’s call to be gay and Christian, work without ceasing to form relationships with him and to tell him our stories? This is hard work, sometimes discouraging, but it is the work that changes hearts and minds. It may mean refusing to be silenced, refusing to be forced to meet in secret, insisting that Brewer put into action his language of relationship.

Looking back over the early issues of the Integrity newsletter, we see Louie Crew and others doing just this - constantly knocking on the doors of bishops, writing to them, asking questions and going back again and again. I am grateful to them for their work. I am grateful to all those who have seen the oppression of LGBT people and chosen to take action. I am grateful to the LGBT people in Central Florida and all our straight allies there who will take heart from the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Her persistence eventually paid off, and so will theirs.

And let us all support their work and that of Bishop-elect Brewer in prayer, asking that he may come to a new understanding of the Biblical imperative of justice and equity.