Church-y Places and Pride
This is a great time to practice my own untapped radical welcome!
I'm creating materials for mission-driven groups to welcome LGBTQIA+ individuals year-round, starting with pieces tailored for churches since I'm a practicing Christian. I aim to expand this collection to include other faith practices.
It's emotionally charged work—declaring my beliefs is tough when they're often looked down upon. Adding exuberant gay pride to the mix?? OoOoooooOoOoOoo, FEELINGS!
But I'm having a blast—I get to experiment and play between my day job tasks, exploring styles and tools I don't usually get to use. Though I've developed a tone for the work, I sense a bit of self-restraint. While I want to create church-friendly images, I know many congregations won't be interested in these messages. A number would even condemn them.
I sit in a lot of meetings in church. I know what it is like, striking a balance between the beliefs of many–often, it is easier to just walk the middle line to stay out of controversy. I understand that there is always a risk of alienating adherents of one end of the political continuum or the other at every turn.
But when does welcome become problematic? As Christians, we're guided by the example of Jesus, who embraced revolutionary love and compassion for marginalized people. How can I prioritize the comfort of those already inside the church while neglecting others' needs? That feels like an incomplete practice.
I acknowledge that Pride celebrations primarily serve a segment of society to which I belong. As I work, I confront my own internalized homophobia, using that discomfort to widen my church's doors to those I may not fully understand.
I am taking a lot of notes as I move forward, grappling with hesitancy and fear at each step. I learned all too well to round myself way down to stay alive in hostile territories and relationships. Who feels that way around me, right now? What signs should I watch for? What am I doing that could spur another to mask their true nature?
As I balance my personal beliefs with the broader mission of acceptance and compassion, I see the need for continual self-reflection and growth. By confronting my internalized biases and striving to open doors wider for those on the margins, I aim to embody the spirit of welcome and love that lies at the heart of my faith tradition. Through this project and reflection, I hope to help build a more inclusive and empathetic community, where all individuals are embraced and valued for who they are.
You can find all of the work here at EverlovingPride.com, a project from my studio, Stoneroller Cooperative.
Thanks so much for your work and creativity! we will be featuring some of your work week during pride month and our church bulletin. With attribution, of course.
"I acknowledge that Pride celebrations primarily serve a segment of society to which I belong" - well, perhaps *primarily*, but I think that the celebrations serve humanity generally by encouraging everyone to be open about their lives and not live in fear.
"How can I prioritize the comfort of those already inside the church while neglecting others' needs? "
I also think that you are among the most gifted people I know at opening people's minds in a way that, for lack of a better word, comes across as non-confrontational or at least which catches people in a different place than they might be expecting, which to my mind is a good thing!