This post is not about what the answers to these questions ought to be. The post is to stress the fact that you and your team should be having a conversation about what the answers ought to be. Let’s get plugged into leadership and start this conversation.
Jennifer Hatmaker, Tony Campolo and others have continued the on going conversation that is happening in the Christian Church about LGBT topics. As Christians we are called to love one another as Christ has loved us(John 13:34-35). This includes those in the LGBT community. We will not be able to begin a gospel conversation with someone and have influence in their life without first showing love. Love is a messy busy because we are all sinful. There are some questions that I believe will be helpful for you to answer as you think through what loving others looks like.
Are you asking and answering the right questions about this topic with your team? Here are some questions that I think it is important to have unified and biblical answers to for you and your team.
- How will your church respond to a couple of the same sex holding hands in the lobby of the church?
- Will your church baptize someone that is currently in a relationship with someone of the same sex.
- Would your church allow someone that identifies as the opposite sex go on a retreat of their identified sex. ex. Would you let a male that identifies as a female go to a women’s retreat?
- What is your church doing or willing to do to show love to people in the LGBT community?
- What will the response be to a youth that comes out as same sex attracted or feels they are in the wrong body?
Again, the point of this post is not to answer the questions for you, but to prompt you to start having the conversation. These are just a few of the questions you should be discussion with your team. As you answer these questions, please begin with scripture. Do not neglect God’s words as you go through the process of answering these. You should also be prayerful while you go on this process. Find a biblical balance between truth and grace.
Plugged into leadership 