Faith

Evangelical

Lutheran Church


 

SECOND SUNDAY FOOD COLLECTION

The second Sunday of each month food items are collected and are given to either the Food Pantry.  Donations are accepted at worship on the second Sunday.  Please remember to bring yours.  Thanks for all you do!



NOISY OFFERING:
 3rd Sunday of each month

 


Follow Us On:


 

From Our Bishop:


"Be careful when you draw a line


 between 'us' and 'them,' because


 Jesus is always on the other side with


 'them.'" 



I do not remember when or from whom I


 heard that statement. However, it has


 stuck with me and challenges me as I


 continue to wrestle with proclaiming the


 gospel in relevant and faithful ways.


 The gospels are filled with stories of


 Jesus standing with, eating with


, healing, touching, and welcoming


 those whom the culture labeled as


 "them" - Samaritans, lepers, tax


 collectors, women, outcasts, children,


 the least, the last, the poor, the meek,


 those who mourn, and those who are


 persecuted – proclaiming that in God's


 reign "they" are the greatest. Our


 society often labels transgender people


 and those who identify as LGBTQIA+


 as "them." 


Today I am writing to publicly announce


 that I stand with "them."


Several bills introduced into the


 legislative process in both Kansas and


 Missouri can be described as "anti-


trans." These bills prohibit the full


 inclusion of transgender children and


 youth participation in sports, restrict


 open education that encourages


 respectful learning about the diversity


 of human sexual orientation and


 identities, and prevent affirming


 medical treatment for individuals who


 are transgender. Often the justification


 for such legislation is to protect children


 and youth or the rights of parents,


 these laws have the effect of drawing a


 line between "us" (those who fit into the


 perceived "normal" understanding of


 sexuality) and "them" (those who do


 not), diminishing and limiting the lives


 of "them."   

I am fully aware that, as a church, we continue to have different interpretations of the Scriptures regarding human sexuality. Some believe it is clear that God created us male and female, that marriage is between a male and female, and cite Scripture passages that condemn certain same-gender sexual acts. The belief is that to go against this binary understanding of sexuality is to go against God's created order.


For others, it is clear that the order that


 God created out of chaos is much more


 fluid, diverse, and mysterious. Rather


 than going against God's created order,


 the diversity of human sexuality and


 identities reflect the glory and majesty


 of a God in whose image they are


 created and loved. This is my


 understanding, and it calls me to stand


 with transgender individuals and affirm


 their value, worth, and beauty as God's


 beloved children.


  

Regardless of where one stands in their


 interpretation of Scripture, I hope we


 can all stand together as "us" and


 "them" united in love and care for our


 neighbors. In our recent workshops led


 by Reconciling Works (www.reconcilingworks.org), we


 were reminded that the suicide rate


 among transgender youth is


 dramatically higher than their peers.


 Having just one supportive adult in their


 lives can make all the difference. 



This is not a social issue. This is what


 the body of Christ means that when 


 a person suffers, we all suffer. We are



 all diminished by the lines we draw


 between "us" and "them."



I am compelled to speak out not as part of a political agenda but as a proclamation of the gospel, seeing the face of Christ in every person. As you examine your own understanding, responsibility, and call as people of faith, I urge you to pray and act in ways that affirm the humanity of all God's people and stand against ways that diminish lives.

Bishop Susan Candea, Central States Synod