Churches Struggle with Inclusion

I apologize that my blog is later than usual this week.  I spent all weekend watching democracy in action.  Where was I?  The hallowed halls of Congress?  California legislature?  Neither.  I was at the General Convention of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church.  Or, if you speak church already, I was at GenCon of TEC.  This is the triennial gathering of representatives of the Episcopal Church.  There are two houses, one consisting of elected deputies (both lay and ordained) and the other of bishops.  This important gathering sets the budget and priorities of the Episcopal Church which covers a wide range of issues from liturgy and worship to human sexuality.  It was this gathering that in 2003 set off a media blitz when the legislature confirmed the consecration of openly gay and partnered Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.  This action set in motion a domino effect throughout the Anglican Communion the effects of which are still felt today.  The questions at the center of the issue are twofold: one dealing with human sexuality, another with the relationship of the Anglican Communion.  Luckily, as a guest at convention, I was free to watch the process without having to engage it.

At the convention, there was a lot of talk about inclusion.  Interestingly, I don’t think I ever heard a group say they wanted to exclude people, rather it’s selective inclusion that causes de facto exclusion.  Most of the talk is about sexuality, especially since Integrity USA, a group of GLBT members of the church, has a very strong presence.  Questions that arise are as follows: Should a  gay person be a leader in the church?  What does it mean for a gay or lesbian couple to be in a long-term committed relationship?  Should the church create rites from same sex blessings and unions?  Virtually all of the mainline protestant denominations have dealt with this topic.  And, I would be remiss to omit that I have mostly been proud of the Episcopal Church for being on the forefront of this issue.  (Even if I did have to walk by a protester with a sign reading “Gene Robinson is a minister of satan.”  An inclusive church is well worth the momentary discomfort.) 

But, as I kept being reminded when I was at Convention, inclusivity is about so much more than sexual orientation and gender identification.  The most moving moment of convention for me was watching the church include another group of people, those who are deaf.  The Episcopal Conference of the Deaf arranged for translators to be at every church service and business meeting.  I watched the testimony of two deaf gentlemen requesting money from the Program Budget and Finance Committee to plant deaf churches.  But, most amazing of all was watching the deaf congregants sign the sanctus, as their motions mixed with the raised voices of the crowd.  The voices raised, “Hosanna in the highest” as the signers gracefully motioned their hands to the heavens. 

Another group that has received a Convention nod for inclusion is the Latino community.  The legislature passed a bill to fund $3.5 million of outreach to this community. 

It proposes a way for the church to reach out to the growing Latino/Hispanic presence in the United States.  But it’s about more than merely offering help and assistance–it’s about revitalizing and growing our church by establishing new partnerships in ministry

 As the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori reminded us, “The field is ripe for harvest but it may not be white for harvest.”

Most Protestant churches are bleeding membership as church attendance is down overall.  In order to remain an effective ministry, we must open the doors of inclusion.  To whom else can we extend our welcome?