Welcoming and Inclusive

(A sermon preached by Reverend Dr Cindy Alloway May 3rd, 2015)
Our first scripture reading for today was Acts 8: 26-40. (About Philip baptizing the Ethiopian Eunuch.) I searched for a dramatic reading of this scripture and found Hearts Unbound by David Weiss. It was perfect for 7 voices to read the parts of the story in a way that gave much more context and meaning to the passage. 

The second reading was from: John 15:4-8

         "Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

          The word “abide” literally means to accept, withstand, tolerate, or act in accordance with. But the old English definition of abide is: “to live or dwell in.” Such as, “I abide in the town of Santa Rosa.”

         Christ was using vivid imagery in this passage about the vine and the branches to teach his disciples how they must abide in him, live in him and him in them. And when we do that we do more than just say we are a Christian, we act Christ-like in all ways at all times. Abiding in Christ is a 24/7 experience!

         I love this “I am the vine and you are the branches” imagery. It emphasizes connection with God and with one another.  We are all in God’s family tree. But some of us are treated like the black sheep of the family. When the queer one, or outcast is given less respect by others in the family of God and made to feel as if they are not worthy of equal benefits and justice, then Jesus is not abiding in that part of the vine. The branch has dried up and lost its vitality. And that part of the vine is not producing good fruit. Sometimes God allows that branch to be pruned and cut off to help the center of the vine grow even stronger and produce even more loving faithful fruit.

         I think that is happening to the Presbyterian Church USA. As our church government, with the help of bible scholars and faithful church leaders, has taken many years to analyze the scriptures and discern how the greater message of Love in the Bible guides our decisions about how to incorporate people of different sexual orientations into ordained ministry in the church. The new words for our ordination of elders, deacons and ministers, now focuses on submitting “joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life.” Rather than focusing on fidelity and chastity.

         The PCUSA committee that studied this topic came to the conclusion that Love is the abiding rule of God’s message in the Bible. And all that we do and say to follow Christ’s role modeling must be done in the context of doing justice, loving kindness, walking humbly, and loving our neighbors. And that means showing our love by being in solidarity with them to combat injustice.

         For example Presbyterians showed solidarity this year through participating in the Day of Silence events across the nation on April 17^th.  Founded in 1996, at the University of Virginia and at the Union Theological  Seminary in Richmond, the Day of Silence has become the largest student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. 

         The event brings attention to anti-LGBTQ name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students from middle school to college take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBTQ behavior by illustrating the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBTQ students and those perceived to be.

         Though the conversations about LGBTQ people have changed a lot in the last twenty years, current statistics tell us why the Day of Silence is still an important and necessary event. Four out of Five LGBTQ students nationally report having been harassed in the past year. 80% of transgender students report that they don’t feel safe at school. LGBTQ youth are over 4 times more likely to have attempted suicide than their straight peers, or to have skipped a day of school in the past month due to feeling unsafe. Even more troubling, because of the overwhelming lack of support many LGBTQ students feel, they often don’t report it when they are harassed.  Life can be hard, and can be especially hard for those who feel alone, or whose voice has been taken, whether through force or fear.

         But the silence of solidarity –– is life-saving. In appreciation for the Day of Silence event, one student said, “It is the kind of silence that allows people of a different sexual orientation to know that, though things are difficult, at times even unbearably so, we are not alone and someone cares.”

        Philip listened to the Ethiopian Eunuch and heard his efforts to faithfully understand the scriptures. Rather than just pass him by Philip reached out and welcomed this man into the Christian community through discipleship and baptism. Jesus was the first, Philip the second and Paul the third true examples of what being welcoming and inclusive looks like.

         Like wise we are to abide in the way of Christ by being welcoming and inclusive of all who come to our doors here at church or whereever we may have a chance to invite someone to join us here for worship and our many programs and activities.

         This concern to be welcoming and inclusive is dear to my heart because I had a good friend in my class at Princeton Theological seminary who attempted suicide because another close friend rejected him. After my friend received supportive counseling he felt brave enough to tell his father he was gay. But his father replied, “I am, too, but don’t tell your mom!”  Being born and raised in New Mexico, he felt he had to keep silent and pretend to be straight  - to stay alive.

         In Galatians 3: 28  Paul taught the church of Galatia, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” That is the way we are to look at the branches on God’s vine of love. And we are to do all we can to enable those branches to yield more fruit for the glory of God by perceiving all of humanity as One in Christ Jesus.

         Be welcoming and inclusive. By so doing you will help yourself and our church produce good fruit and bless God’s ever expanding vine of love. Amen!