I’ve stood at the door of St. Bart’s speaking this invitation for many years, and it never gets old. I try to say it with honesty, warmth and affection — hoping someone walking up to our church will appreciate it. At St. Bart’s, I am not alone.
It’s important for many reasons. Mostly, perhaps, because for so many the church has been the opposite of a source of acceptance and inclusion. This is by now a well-worn story, one that may be worth recalling if only because so many of our institutions continue to fail and harm us. To cite just one statistic, according to The Trevor Project’s website, 42% of LGBTQ youth, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth, seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. On this Pride Sunday, it’s worth remembering that our struggle is not over.
But there is hope. Like Noah on his ark, you might see hope in the rainbows covering the city today making their promises to a more inclusive future. You can see this promise as you walk past St. Bart’s and notice a flag over the front door. Bright-colored strips of cloth proudly flying a message of acceptance and waving us into a place where struggles are eased by inclusion and stories do change. Our community will take you in and give you the space to explore and to find your way. Our hope is that you will be with us, and search with us, and walk with us as we look to a God who loves all that s/he/they created.
In our church, a joyous mother proudly emails us to let us know her daughter has recently come out; newlyweds happily greet a noisy church full of friends and family after their same-sex wedding, busy clergy check every detail of this Sunday’s Pride service and our LGBTQ+ community plans and works hard hoping to make our Pride BBQ a big success.
So, welcome all you Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus and plus and plus people all over God’s creation.
The invitation stands: Come as you are — just as you are. Welcome and come on in. It never gets old!
I hope to see you at St. Bart’s soon.
Manny Rodríguez-Leach
He/him/his
Welcome and Parish Life Associate