I joined Christ First, then Christ Church United, in 2007 when I was four years old. My parents deliberately sought out a progressive church where their children would be able to grow in an inclusive environment. In the following eighteen years, the church gave me opportunities to learn about music, chances to volunteer and work, and support when my family needed it.
I took part in the confirmation process when I was fifteen. I remember a particular conversation with our then minister. I told him that certain things in the Bible still confused me, and that I wasn’t certain about everything I believed. He thanked me for being honest and assured me that part of developing faith meant asking questions and experiencing doubt. Looking back, it was a pivotal moment. I learned that the church was a place where I was encouraged to think critically.
In other words, I was lucky. For others, churches are places where congregants cannot ask questions, where only cisgender and heterosexual people are accepted, where women will never have an equal role in the church, and where any doubt of these exclusionary concepts is considered an affront to God.
The hateful voices within Christian communities are loud. It is easy for progressive churches to watch this with distaste, albeit from a safe distance and without ruffling too many feathers. The United Church does not condemn the LGBTQ+ community, and performs same-sex marriages. We may believe that churches which preach bigotry distort the Bible for their own means, and that they do not represent Christianity.
But for many, entering a place of worship only to face rejection is simply too great a risk. Homophobia and transphobia are dominant narratives, and if we do not challenge them, then it will simply remain true in the minds of many that churches are closed minded places where they can expect reluctant tolerance, at best, and outright cruelty at worst. It is not enough to refuse to engage in hate, we must oppose it with unconditional, radical acceptance.
Today, when I talk to people about the Church I grew up in, I have to be very clear where I stand. I have been met with palpable relief when I clarify that I do not, in fact, believe that the existence of LGBTQ+ individuals is a sin. Ultimately, people who have never stepped through our doors have no reason to trust us. If we want to be a place where all people, especially historically marginalized groups, feel that they belong, we need to show the world that Christ First is a safe place for everyone. Because everyone deserves to feel safe.