Full disclosure: I'm a proud Lutheran. Lutherans don't often get a lot of public media attention. We are often best known as "those Garrison Keillor people." There was a moderate amount of attention in 2009 when the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America changed its policy to be more welcoming to LGBT people and ordain clergy in same-gender relationships. Since 2009, the denomination has been more welcoming of LGBT people, as well as outspoken in advocacy for LGBT protections in the wider world.
But that might be missed, because churches that calmly and quietly move to a more accepting place don’t get the level of media attention that the Roman Catholic Church or evangelical leaders do, both of which still struggle with the reality of LGBT people. In fact, when GLAAD released its "Missing Voices" study, we found that 3 out of 4 religious spokespeople who talked about LGBT issues came from traditions that oppose LGBT equality.
But then, sometimes those Lutherans go and do something interesting and amazing. This week, we've seen two examples of amazing LGBT-related things. And they are not just amazing because they feature LGBT people, but because they also highlight an authentic, faithful Lutheran theology.
The first went viral late last week. Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber was asked to make a video for an Evangelical on-line church leadership conference called The Nines. The theme of the conference was "culture clash" that included what was called "the issue of homosexuality." Nadia, who doesn't really see the reality of LGBT people as a "clash," conceded her time to the LGBT members of her church. The overarching theme of the video, expressed by the members of her church are that LGBT people are not "an issue" but are a part of the body of Christ.
The other features a lesbian Lutheran pastor in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Pastor Margaret Kelly brings meals, prayer services, and a sense of community to the hungry and homeless with a food truck church. PBS's Religion & Ethics Weekly told the story of this creative ministry that is being led by someone who, just a few years ago, found herself outside of the church for who she loved.
My LGBT Lutheran pride is overflowing.