Over the green grass of my church, St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church, a new flag waves--the rainbow flag. Most of the parishioners are thrilled with our flagpole, which now flies the American flag, the Episcopal Church flag, and right below it, the rainbow flag, symbolizing support and love for the LGBTQ community. Since we hoisted the rainbow, however, the church leadership has fielded a few questions. Most notably this question, “We are an Episcopal Church. We have a gay, married bishop. We have a liturgy for same-sex marriages. Everyone knows we are inclusive of all types of people. Why do we need to wave a flag?”
"Why?" is a difficult question. It implies that I understand the roots of a problem, the antecedents behind behavior, the motives of a man. “Why?” implies that I can explain the reason behind something. Although I could tell the story of how I mentioned the flag to our priest, Fr. Tim, who said, “If you buy it, we can fly it.” Then, I mentioned that conversation to another friend, who graciously purchased the flag on her own. Then, the vestry discussed it, debated it, and decided to fly it. The story of the grassroots desire to fly the rainbow doesn’t really explain, “Why? Why does a church dedicated to loving others, serving the community, and enacting social justice have to advertise it?”
My answer, my friends, honestly, is that I do not really know “Why?”
- I do not know why people have never heard of Christian churches who affirm and celebrate ALL people, regardless of race, sex, or sexual orientation. But they haven’t.
- I do not know why people unfamiliar with churches assume all Christians are against gays and lesbians. But they do.
- I do not know why people who call themselves Christians can judge and hate people based on who they love and yet claim to “love the sinner and hate the sin.” But they do.
- I do not know why leadership in certain churches wouldn’t allow my gay and lesbian friends to be ministers, lay-leaders, or to teach children. But they won’t.
- I do not know why church leaders would tell a gay person that he or she is welcome, as long as he or she is celibate, or doesn’t “flaunt their ‘gayness’.” But they do.
- I do not know why outspoken religious leaders spew hate-filled rhetoric proclaiming eternal damnation based on who a person loves. But they do.
- I do not know why people tell my friend’s children that they are not welcome in “this club” because their parents are two men. But they do.
- I do not know why people leave dead cats and feces and other disgusting and degrading things on the porch steps of two men raising their adopted daughters together in a loving family. But they do.
- I do not know why any church founded on the principles of Christ’s love would have to advertise loving the marginalized and the oppressed. But we do.
- I do not know know why there is ignorance, bigotry, and hatred of people based on who they were born to be and who they love. But, there is.
My friends, there are people longing to find Christ’s love in a welcoming community, people who have been hurt by Christians, people who are afraid that they and their families will be judged, people who have been denied, marginalized, oppressed, and hated by Christian churches for the “sin” of loving another person. I do not know why my LGBTQ brothers and sisters have had to endure such bigotry and hatred. But I do know that they tell me their hearts lift and tears of joy well in their eyes when they see the rainbow flying proudly over a house of God. Although I wish it were just an unnecessary adornment, a redundant symbol of a long-won war, it is not. There are still people marginalized and discriminated against, and I am proud to see the rainbow flag flying over the green grass of St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church.
