A People of Grace and Welcome to All

This is what's happening in Orlando right now. As I write this, the debate is raging - well, has been raging; I believe they've stopped right this minute for some parliamentary procedure of some kind.

As I write this, Disciples of Christ from churches and institutions throughout the global breadth of our denomination are discerning, debating, and deciding. Their decisions on various topics - from resolutions condemning unfair wage practices or drone warfare, to resolutions supporting the DOJ's promised investigation of the Trayvon Martin incident, to this resolution on grace and welcome - are not binding upon congregations. Nobody will be kicked out of the Disciples of Christ for disagreeing with a decision of the Assembly, and nobody will be forced to comply with a practice that they don't want.

But these resolutions are important nonetheless.

Because Christians are meant to speak for and with those in pain. We are meant to recognize the ways that we - our society, ourselves, and even (especially!) our churches - hurt other people, deny the fact that they are fully human beings made fully in the image of God.

It would be easy to consider this debate in terms of how it affects me, how it affects my congregation, how it affects our image.

But those aren't the most important factors.

It would be easy to consider this debate in terms of a church simply following the rules laid out by God, denouncing evil and celebrating good.

But those are simplistically misleading answers to complex emotional questions, and the fact is--

God is not about rules. Just plain not. If God's highest goal were humanity following the rules set out in the Holy Books, then God would never have given us Jesus Christ. Christ proved by his

life
words
love
death
resurrection

that the God who sent him is best recognized by an all-consuming love for Its creation. An all-pervasive grace that overcomes all obstacles and draws all people to one another, to Christ, to the Source.

That's the only reason I'm a Christian. That's the only reason that I know this God. That's the only reason that I am confident in the future - because God loves, and doesn't stop loving, any and all of the people It created.

As I write this?

As I write this, I learn that the Assembly has passed the resolution, and my eyes fill with tears of praise.

Thank you, Lord, for guiding Your children in the ways of love.
Thank you, Lady, for nurturing our compassion and helping it to grow.
Thank you, Eternal Companion, for never leaving our sides.
Thank you, Friend of the Friendless, for opening our eyes to the people that You have called us to serve.

Disciples, you are not required anything but what your heart tells you, but... Disciples, you are called by name to
welcome
accept
affirm
and love
without ceasing
without restrictions
without barriers

Just love. That's what we are called to do. That's what we've agreed to do.

It is resolved. Let us be so resolved, and act like God's children.