The Reason Why

Last week I met a guy and we got to talking and during the course of our conversation it turned to my involvement with church and then more specifically the United Methodist Church, a church that feels it is ok to deny lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people membership. He kept asking me why I stay in a place that seems to not want me so vocally. Why do I struggle for equality from a group that has no desire to grant me equality? This isn’t the first time I have been asked these questions but somehow it never gets any easier to answer them so I thought it would be important to share them.

For me there are several reasons that I stay. The first and most important reason is my faith in God prevents me from abandoning the body of Christ. It is a source of constant inspiration for me. It isn’t always easy knowing that I’m not welcome everywhere as an equal but somehow God always manages to use those experiences to help me continue to grow in my faith.

Another reason stay is because I see people hurting outside the church. I unfortunately have many friends who have abandoned faith because they feel they do not belong or are unwanted. I know that’s not true but for people who have been so deeply hurt it is hard for them to see. I stay because I want the church to be a place where they feel welcome to come just as they are and if I walk away nothing will ever change.

I see so much potential in the warm and wonderfully loving church that is the UMC. After all it is the church that helped me to find my faith. But it is unfortunately denying a part of the body Christ full access. This is hurting the body because it is making many feel less worthy and less welcome, in a church that preaches that all are of sacred worth.

So why do I stay. I stay because I believe in the UMC. I believe change is currently happening and one day we will truly be a church with open hearts, open minds, and open doors.

Comments

[Julie A. Arms]

Excellent, Joey. Change is happening. The example has been shown and one day it will be the standard throughout our UMC. We must embrace the people like you who stay to make the standard a reality sooner.

[Antony Hebblethwaite]

Hi Joey,

Thank you for the reminder that at the heart of all we do is the belief that people and institutions can change. I appreciate your love for God and the UMC.