Reconciling Works via Clint Schneckloth's substack.
"Beloved Children of God,
For over 50 years ReconcilingWorks has advocated for the acceptance, full participation, and liberation of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions within the Lutheran Church. This is holy work for holy people.
In one week, the world has experienced the Trump Administration - through Executive Orders - try to remove, deny, and endanger the lives of our Transgender, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, Intersex, and Gender Nonconforming siblings. Just by saying there are only two genders does not make it true. We have a God who exists beyond a binary.
Trump's recent actions against the LGBTQIA+ community could not be further from the Gospel message of love, welcome, inclusion, and liberation.
1. Declaring there are only two genders, male and female.
2. Banning Transgender people from military service.
3. Ending gender affirming care for anyone under the age of 19.
ReconcilingWorks will continue to work with our 1,150+ Reconciling in Christ congregations and ministries to be a public witness in word and action, working against the dangers of White Christian Nationalism, discrimination, and erasures of people groups. We call upon all of our Reconciling in Christ partners - congregations, synods, and other ministries - to amplify your own voices in support of your LGBTQIA+ siblings. Now is the time to speak up and speak out, joining our voices and actions with those of Christians and members of other faith communities who also support God's beloved LGBTQIA+ children."
May the God of love and liberation hear our lament. May each of us be bold in our witness. May we all work to bring an end to this attack against people God has named beloved.
Signed,
ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation
 |
| ELCiC Bishop Susan Johnson |
