Being There for the LGBTIA Community
Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2024 Blog #22
June 2, 2025
Being There for the LGBTIA Community
I don’t care for the term “Pride.” There is something about the word “pride” that makes me feel uncomfortable. Pride is, after all, one of the seven deadly sins. The minute we begin to feel prideful, we set ourselves up for all kinds of bad behavior.
Yet, I do affirm the members of the Pride Committee in our town of Glen Rock, and I stand firmly with those individuals who wish to be treated with justice, compassion, and inclusion. For far too long, the church of Jesus Christ has been oppressors of that community, shunned, condemned and ostracized them. We will, I am afraid, be scolded by Jesus when we meet him face to face. Until then, I think that it is incumbent for all Christians to stand firmly with this group of oppressed people and bring them into full fellowship with our various faith communities.
When I was growing up, I was taught that Gays choose to be that way. Somehow, for some reason, I was taught such people chose to be Gay. I was also taught that such people were “perverts” and gay men loved to prey on young boys. I was taught, for my own protection, to stay away from gay people. It was believed that Gay men would love to molest me, or worse. Amidst all of these warnings, my family completely overlooked my uncle who was obviously Gay. His Gay orientation was never discussed. Far from being a predator, he was one of the kindest and most gentle people that I had ever met, as was his “friend” whom I suspect was more a partner and not a platonic friend.
As I have grown up, matured, and have met with members of this community, I find that they are more like me than I was ever taught as a child. At no point did they choose this orientation, any more than I did. I never chose to be straight. As far back as I can remember, I was attracted to women. I made no choice in this matter. The attraction simply came on its own. Members of the community tell me that they had similar experiences, but they fought this attraction. They wanted to be just like their friends. Living as a LGBTIA is not easy. I have never met a member of the community who did not wish to have a straight orientation. Life would be easier if they were born with this.
For me, growing up in church was a place of affirmation. The opposite was true for these folks. They were pushed out of church.
I remember bringing my girlfriend to church to meet my brothers and sisters in Christ. Members of the community were not given the privilege of doing that.
I was taught that all our sins could be forgiven. Members of the community were taught to “clean up their lives” before attempting to unite with a church.
I was praised for preparing for marriage. Monogamy was seen as a virtue. Too often community members were taught to “be celibate” and not to act out on their sexual desires. These instructions came from straight people who would never dream of being celibate themselves.
Yesterday, I was honored to stand with members of the Community Church of Glen Rock at the Glen Rock Pride Celebration. As a representative of Christ’s church, I wish to make up for the harm done to members of the community. We have done them wrong and treated such people horribly. I am pleased to have stood with this group that is only now beginning to be treated fairly. I pray that I can begin to make up for the hurts that they have received.
Members of the Glen Rock Pride Committee, I apologize to you. Please know that you have a safe place at the Community Church of Glen Rock and I am here to help be a catalyst for your healing if that is possible. Please contact me and let me apologize in person.
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