The Blessing and Curse of Diversity

The blessing and curse of diversity in the Church-- they're one and the same thing.

They sit just a few feet from each other in Church.  One Sunday a few months back, during the refugee crisis, one of them asked that we pray for President Trump because he's destroying our country.  The sentiment was clearly that through prayer we might change the direction Trump was headed and the course down which our country is being led.

And then this last Sunday, we were asked by the other person to pray for Brett Kavanaugh that God might give him peace throughout these confirmation hearings and the vicious attacks that are aimed at destroying him. 

In the first case I had a conversation with the gentleman and explained that I simply could not offer such politically partisan prayers.  In the second I offered a petition for "wisdom and discernment for our elected officials and peace of mind to all involved" in the hearings.

After thought and reflection I have come to a couple of conclusions.  First, given the political divide in our country it is incredibly difficult to maintain a unity of Spirit within a congregation.  Secondly, that we face such a divide in our congregation is a wonderful blessing for it indicates that there is no political litmus test for membership here. 

Of course, this puts pressure on me as the pastor.  There is a balancing act involved in the attempt to be in active conversation with the various voices in the congregation.  The most difficult thing is that I have a political bias, and the truth is that those biases inevitably show up in various subtle and not so subtle ways.  How does one keep that enough in check as to be able to continue to effectively serve both camps?  And yet, how does one avoid losing all integrity by not addressing issues that are clearly important with deep convictions of faith involved.

Case in point, our immigration crisis.  That families should be reunited (actually, never separated in the first place) seems to me to be such a basic issue of Christian virtue, justice, morality, etc., etc., that it blows my mind that others support the practice at our border, and that to suggest it should be otherwise is such a politically biased and controversial position in our day and age.  A second and more complicated issue is the controversies involved in the Kavanaugh hearing.  Let's just say that it is unfathomable to me that some Christians (actually many!) will side with Kavanaugh, even if he is guilty of the allegations, and that they are ready to vilify the woman who is alleged to be the victim in this case.  I mean, my sentiments believe that we should be supporting the victim, not the abuser.  And yet there is another perspective, namely that though wrong, this behavior is so far in the past and really should be water under the bridge by now.  Destroy a man's life over some poor judgment calls as a youth?  No, many people are saying.  And of course, there is the question of who do you believe?

Our congregation has a purpose statement which declares "God's purpose for our congregation is to welcome, love, and serve all in our local and global community."  That we have such a statement to guide us is wonderful and everyone seems to embrace it.  But the implications can be very controversial.  I believe that it is my calling as a pastor to offer pastoral care to everyone, regardless.  But in saying that am I making a highly biased statement?  The truth is that many can support such a statement in general, but the specifics get sticky.  Are conservatives ready to extend the Church's welcome to gay and lesbian people?  Are liberals willing to extend the Church's welcome to those who feel this is wrong?  And can the two live together?

Reconciled Diversity is a concept our national Church adopted.  We differ, but remain one in Christ.

My hope and prayer is that we will continue to live into that reality.