Why I Participate in Pride Month

by Charissa Bradstreet, Interim Rector

On June 25 the Diocese of Olympia will participate in the Pride Parade and Good Sam will be part of that group. Given some things that were said at a recent Sammamish City Council meeting, I thought I would share a little about why I participate in Pride events. I do so out of confidence that the lives of LGBTQ+ folk matter, that God calls us to bear witness to the dignity of every human being, and with a spirit of repentance.

Growing up, I was taught that same-sex attraction was wrong and I carried that with me into adulthood, although with increasing discomfort with that position because of friends who loved me. When I started to take seriously the possibility that God called women into church leadership I could feel anxiety arise in my faith circles with some people fearing I was headed down a slippery slope – that my feminist readings of scripture would lead me to affirm same-sex relationships. I knew it would be safer for me if I could demonstrate that I was still sufficiently faithful to the Bible, and at that time, one’s position on sexuality was a key litmus test of whether one took scripture seriously. I confess that it would take me another two years before I could fully affirm LGBTQ+ folk as blessed by God in the fullness of their being.

In the meantime, I broke with my previous denomination and local church, largely over this issue, ending my process for ordained ministry. That was almost 20 years ago. I changed my mind, I believe, because of the kindness of LGBTQ+ friends and allies who trusted me with their stories, and because of the Holy Spirit who spoke through them and who helped me to listen and grow. I repent that it took me that long, that what now feels obvious felt dangerous to consider at the time. A reality that still feels too dangerous for too many people of faith to trust and embrace, as seen in recent remarks made at the City Council meeting. That is why when I march at a Pride parade, I do so with a spirit of repentance – for myself and others in the Church and in other faith traditions. There is still so much bad theology and its impact to unravel.

I’m sharing my story, because that’s the only one I can tell. My story and perspective has been deeply shaped by the stories others have told me: stories of having to hide parts of oneself, stories of coming out, stories of experiencing harm within churches, stories of being assaulted, stories of the joy of loving and having love reciprocated, stories of learning to embrace the whole of oneself without shame, stories of being a parent and supporting an LGBTQ+ child, stories of not identifying with the gender assigned at birth. Stories of courage in the face of fear, anger, suspicion, and rigid gender norms.

At Good Sam, and in the Episcopal Church more broadly, we don’t just want to include LGBTQ+ folks, we want to confidently affirm, recognizing that they are vital members of the Church and have given graciously to help build the Church. We don’t affirm because it is politically correct but because we believe that God affirms and tells us to do so as well. To that end, I share a link to a recent theological reflection from the Bishop of Minnesota on the story of Creation as recorded in Genesis and how that teaches the Church to affirm, not just include. I hope you will take a few minutes to read it here!

I also hope that if you have thoughts on ways to make this church more affirming and reflective of our diversity that you will share those with me. And, if you are still finding your way into affirming, I’d love to talk with you about that too.

Warmly,

Mthr. Charissa+

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