Word for Word 6/9/21

Happy Pride Month

Jesus commanded his followers: ‘Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA). Formed in 1988 with the merger of three smaller Lutheran organizations, the ELCA is based in Chicago and encompasses nearly 10,000 congregations and more than 3.8 million members across the country. Since 1991, the ELCA has passed repeated resolutions to welcome, include, and advocate for the equity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual/aromantic (LGBTQIA+) Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church, congregations, and community.

Along with our denomination, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church takes seriously Jesus’ command to love. For this reason, we welcome people of every race, background, age, political affiliation, economic and social status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and mental and physical ability—proclaiming that all of us have been created in the image of God and are infinitely loved.

June is Pride Month, a time when LGBTQIA+ communities around the world come together to celebrate their progress and inspire people to work for a better future. Pride events are rooted in the painful history of minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are. The original organizers chose June to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement.

Many churches also celebrate Pride Month. Supporters of LGBTQIA+ people and families are the growing majority in the Lutheran church today, taking up Jesus’ call to continue working for justice until all of God’s beloved have equity.

This is now more important than ever. It can even be a matter of life and death. Supporting LGBTQIA+ youth is suicide prevention. According to the CDC, providing welcoming, safe, and loving environments for LGBTQIA+ people helps prevent suicide among this population. You can read more at https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth-resources.htm.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church would like to wish a happy Pride Month to all of you who identify as LGBTQIA+ as well as your family members, friends and advocates. You are not alone. You are our beloved siblings in Christ and we welcome you.

Visit us in person for Sunday worship at 9 a.m. or online at LansingLutherans.org. There’s a place here for you.

Rev. Laura Gentry
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church ELCA, Lansing