There is a fascinating trend I believe is developing in the LGBT Christian community. Not only are the churches coming to reconsider their traditional hostility to same-sex relationships, much as they once rethought and rejected what they once claimed was a biblically required support for slavery, and so making explicit provision for LGBT inclusion in worship and ministry, but in some important respects, those who were previously rejected are inspiring and providing leadership in matters that go way beyond sexuality and gender.

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”

That is a theme I want to elaborate on slowly, and much later. But there is another way in which queer people of faith are rejuvenating the church, and one which is more easily demonstrated - in sheer numerical growth. The Metropolitan Community Church is one of the fastest growing of all denominations globally. Locally, another example is provided by a community in Tennessee.

It’s standing room only at Holy Trinity Community Church as the Rev. Cynthia Andrews-Looper wraps up her sermon for the 10:15 a.m. service, one of three she’ll do this morning.

She strays from the pulpit, pacing in front of an architectural rendering of a planned multimillion-dollar expansion to the church.

“Let’s make God-sized goals,” says Andrews-Looper, a former standup comedian.

Like many of her parishioners, Andrews-Looper grew up in an evangelical church — in her case, Independent Fundamental Baptist — and found she was no longer welcome when she revealed she was a lesbian. She started a Bible study with a handful of other gay Christians in July 1996, which eventually led to starting Holy Trinity, affiliated with the United Church of Christ denomination.

Andrews-Looper used conservative theology combined with a progressive view of sexual orientation to grow the congregation to 600, making it one of the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender congregations in the Southeast.

The planned building expansion, which includes classrooms and a 600-seat sanctuary, will give the congregation room to grow, she said.

Many of Holy Trinity’s members had been away from religion for years. Yvette Ridley said she’d grown up United Methodist but dropped out after being told she would go to hell for being lesbian. She listened to Andrews-Looper’s sermons on her MP3 player before becoming a regular at services.

“A lot of churches will tell you that God loves you,” she said. “And then they will tell you that God does not love you because of who you are.”

via The Tennessean

Blessed are the queer in faith, for they shall inherit the church.

Related articles

• Author sheds light on what life is like as openly gay Christian (queertheology.blogspot.com)
• Lutheran pastor’s reversal on gay clergy (queeringthechurch.com)
• Adam’s Gift: A Memoir of a Pastor’s Calling to Defy the Church’s Persecution of Lesbians and Gays (mlp.org)
• Coming Out Day at ETSU! (shuckandjive.org)