This post is going to be quite different from my last posts. Before I go any further, I want to emphasize that the following post contains my thoughts and opinions. It in no way, shape, or form represents the opinions, thoughts, or positions of Christ the Servant Lutheran church, the Church Council, or any other entity connected to the church. I am not speaking in my capacity as Council member or Worship Coordinator. Rather I am speaking for myself as an individual.
One more thing before I continue on. I have heard some people say that they wish church was less political. I feel the need to point out that there are two meanings of politics. The first is a narrow version of politics, a partisan version. This is the one where a group explicitly comes down for one political party of any others or support a particular political candidate. The other version is a broader vision of politics. According to one definition in Merriam-Webster dictionary, politics is "the total complex of relations between people living in society". This is the version of politics that churches should embrace. It transcends partisan politics to embrace an ethos about how society should work. It looks at how society treats all of its members and how the members relate to the political society. In America, we all too often conflate the two, but they are really different things. The first one can very easily lead to theocracy (or at the very least theocratic thinking) but the second informs peoples decisions and helps to guide them to vote in a way that is consonant with their religious beliefs and their conscience.
I have become increasingly concerned about the US (and by extension the world, but I am going to focus on the US) over the last few years. Ever since the 2016 election cycle started, our country has taken an increasingly dark turn. From the time that a certain candidate (I cannot and will not say his name, so I will refer to him in other ways) stepped onto an escalator to announce that he was running for president of the United States, the darkest regions of our political thoughts have come to the forefront. Nativism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and white supremacy have come to dominate our national conversation in a way they haven't previously.
That is not to say that they did not previously exist (they clearly did), but they had been banished from the mainstream of society, and for good reason. America has always aspired to be a melting pot, a place where people from different countries and backgrounds can come and join together to form a new society, a "city on a hill". Regrettably, America has never quite fulfilled that promise, but we have tried in fits and starts. The course has meandered and we have never really dealt with structural issues that are holding some people (particularly people of color) back, but we have been trying, particularly the last 50 years or so.
But these last few years, it has felt like we have seriously backslidden. The current occupant of the Oval Office, supported mainly by white people (particularly white Evangelicals), has done everything he can to entrench white supremacy in all walks of life. We have had crackdowns on immigrants, we have had rollbacks of environmental protections that are mainly affecting poorer areas, we have had voting rights restricted in the name of "law & order", we have had the queer community affected by "religious freedom" rules that use religious belief as a sword to attack other people, and so much more.
Fortunately, we have had people fighting back against this trend. While the fighting back is been somewhat successful, it is more like fighting a rearguard action than anything else. We are losing ground for a lot of reasons, many of which are structural and systemic. But there is also the problem where people don't fight back because either what happens doesn't affect them, they don't want to be political, or they don't see where they can make a difference.
In the first and second cases, that is privilege of the utmost order talking. There is a meme that says "tbh being apolitical is a privilege. some people can't ignore politics bcs politics attack their identity on a daily basis". To translate: "To be honest, being apolitical is a privilege. Some people can't ignore politics because politics attacks their identity on a daily basis." For those people who can avoid politics, it is imperative that they not do so. They should absolutely use their privilege to help out others as much as they can. Yes, it is very tiring and exhausting, but imagine doing it because you have to in order to survive and to validate your very existence. The more people we have supporting and lifting up marginalized groups, the less tiring it will be for everyone involved.
As for the third reason, I do understand that. There is so much structurally which is standing against change. That however, is not an excuse to do nothing. It may take a long time, it may even take a lifetime or multiple lifetimes, but it can happen if enough people try hard enough for long enough.
So why am I writing a blog post about this in Footnotes? Before I answer that, I must say that if you've stuck around this long, thank you. The reason I am writing this is because I want to ask people to do something to make a difference and to be active politically. I'm not saying you need to go to every march there is because I know we are all very busy. But maybe take a few minutes at some point during the day and go to your congressperson's website or your senator's website and send them a brief note asking them to support a piece of legislation. Maybe we could start a letter writing group at church to encourage people to call or email their government representatives. Or you can submit written testimony in support of legislation (I've done this at the state level, not the national level) or leave comments for proposed regulation changes. If you have time to march or protest, that would be a good option too.
As Christians, we are called to live out a life of service. We are called to care for the poor, the orphans, the widows, the disenfranchised, the marginalized, and the outcasts like Jesus did. We are called to love radically and fully like Jesus did. We are called to charge into the temple and turn over the tables like Jesus did. We are called to bring forth the Kingdom of God on earth now, not wait passively for it to come.
So I am asking you to seriously consider what you can do. I will not shame anyone into doing anything, but please do think and pray about it. Are you doing what you can to help others? Or are you simply letting it go in the name of "ignoring politics"?
Mychel Vandover
Queer, non-binary person
Citizen of the United States
Member of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
"Go in Peace. Care, Teach, and Serve."
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Monday, February 18, 2019
February 2019
I know that when I started this year, I had declared my intention to write a series on inclusive language during the liturgy. Unfortunately, my best intentions were sidetracked by reality so I am expanding the scope a tad. Rather that focusing on the language we use, I want to expand the scope and look at making the liturgy more inclusive through different aspects. I have looked a bit at language, so I want to spend right now thinking about the worship space.
If you look at the population of CTS, you will note that there are quite a few members who are elderly, some who are hard of hearing, one who is blind, and others who have various physical ailments that make it hard for them to get around. Part of being inclusive is making sure that we do what we can to make their moving around the church or participating in the liturgy easier. Now, I want to stress that I am not saying we don't do things to help, but I do ask some questions that I would like everyone to reflect on and consider.
Before I begin, I am going to apologize if this comes off as condescending or something like that. Please be assured that is not my intention. It is my strong belief that those of us who have any sort of privilege examine those privileges and see if there is a way to remove barriers or issues that exist so that everyone knows that they are welcomed and that we will do what we can to make sure that they can participate as fully as they can. What I am saying below are my own suggestions as someone who does not have some of these issues. Ultimately, we do need to listen to people who have these issues and see what help (if any!) they need or want.
[1] For someone who is blind, do we make sure that they know if things are moved around? I have been told that people who are blind (or visually impaired) depend on learning the physical landscape to make sure they don't trip over something because they cannot see. When we move chairs or tables around, we can make it that much harder for them and it throws up a barrier for them. So maybe we can tell them if something has changed or warn them in advance if possible. What can you do to help out here?
[2] For someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, do we make sure they have seating closer to the front of the sanctuary so that they can have an easier time hearing or to make lip reading easier? Those of us who are younger or do not have hearing issues can sit a little further away to make sure there is room up front. Also, would we want to consider some sort of electronic distribution of the sermon in Word or PDF format so that it can be read at a later date?
[3] For someone who has a physical ailment that makes it hard for them to get around, do we make sure that there is ample space if they have a device that helps them get around? Are we patient with them if they are slower than we are? Do we help them get up and sit down if they need it? Do we make other accommodations to be sure that they can get what help they need/want while they are in church? Maybe you could help them walk to the front of the church if needed. Maybe you could take their offering up if they desire that assistance.
I don't know if my thoughts are helpful (although I certainly hope they are!), but I do believe that in order to have a church which is fully welcoming to all people, we need to consider these things. Not just as a congregation, but as individuals. Do you, personally, do things to make it easier for all people to have access to the worship space so that they can participate fully? Or do you do something that throws up a barrier to other people? I just ask that you consider this.
God Bless.
If you look at the population of CTS, you will note that there are quite a few members who are elderly, some who are hard of hearing, one who is blind, and others who have various physical ailments that make it hard for them to get around. Part of being inclusive is making sure that we do what we can to make their moving around the church or participating in the liturgy easier. Now, I want to stress that I am not saying we don't do things to help, but I do ask some questions that I would like everyone to reflect on and consider.
Before I begin, I am going to apologize if this comes off as condescending or something like that. Please be assured that is not my intention. It is my strong belief that those of us who have any sort of privilege examine those privileges and see if there is a way to remove barriers or issues that exist so that everyone knows that they are welcomed and that we will do what we can to make sure that they can participate as fully as they can. What I am saying below are my own suggestions as someone who does not have some of these issues. Ultimately, we do need to listen to people who have these issues and see what help (if any!) they need or want.
[1] For someone who is blind, do we make sure that they know if things are moved around? I have been told that people who are blind (or visually impaired) depend on learning the physical landscape to make sure they don't trip over something because they cannot see. When we move chairs or tables around, we can make it that much harder for them and it throws up a barrier for them. So maybe we can tell them if something has changed or warn them in advance if possible. What can you do to help out here?
[2] For someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, do we make sure they have seating closer to the front of the sanctuary so that they can have an easier time hearing or to make lip reading easier? Those of us who are younger or do not have hearing issues can sit a little further away to make sure there is room up front. Also, would we want to consider some sort of electronic distribution of the sermon in Word or PDF format so that it can be read at a later date?
[3] For someone who has a physical ailment that makes it hard for them to get around, do we make sure that there is ample space if they have a device that helps them get around? Are we patient with them if they are slower than we are? Do we help them get up and sit down if they need it? Do we make other accommodations to be sure that they can get what help they need/want while they are in church? Maybe you could help them walk to the front of the church if needed. Maybe you could take their offering up if they desire that assistance.
I don't know if my thoughts are helpful (although I certainly hope they are!), but I do believe that in order to have a church which is fully welcoming to all people, we need to consider these things. Not just as a congregation, but as individuals. Do you, personally, do things to make it easier for all people to have access to the worship space so that they can participate fully? Or do you do something that throws up a barrier to other people? I just ask that you consider this.
God Bless.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Sermon for Reconciling in Christ Sunday 2019
Welcome and well come to Christ the Servant Church for our celebration of our status as a Reconciling in Christ congregation. If you were here last year, you may remember how several queer members of the church (and Pastor Kari) got up here and spoke about how being a member of an RIC church made a difference in their lives. This year, I wanted to expand on that and offer some of my own, personal reflections and observations.
In the second reading today, Paul talked about how we are all parts of one body and how all of those parts are necessary for a body to function properly. I do love that imagery, but I prefer a different image that doesn’t have some of the ableist connotations that this passage has. I prefer to look at the church as a symphony or a tapestry. Both are works of art that have many different bits and pieces that make it what it is. If you leave out or change a part of the tapestry or symphony, you alter it from what it could be.
If you’ve ever heard the Overture to the opera “Phantom of the Opera”, you are familiar with the opening notes which are blasted out on an organ. Now, imagine those same notes played on a piano or a guitar. Would the music have the same power in those cases? The answer is no. It may still be pretty, but it is missing a vital something that makes it the gloriously haunting opening that it is. Or imagine the “1812 Overture” without the crashing symbols and sounds of cannons firing. Would it still be the awesome music to play on July 4th? Of course not!
In the same way, a church that is not fully affirming is missing out on vital aspects of life that make everything the way God intended. When we exclude any group, we miss out on the gifts that that group brings to the table. If only males lead churches, we miss out on the perspectives that women or non-binary people bring. If only straight people lead, then we miss out on what members of the queer community bring to the table. These groups, which have historically been marginalized or unrepresented, often have a perspective that allows them to advocate for other marginalized groups and gives a “bottom up” view of the world that sees things that the “top down” perspective misses.
For the Offering Song today, we will be singing “Draw the Circle Wide”, a song which perfectly encapsulates the ideal we have here are CTS. On the website, it says “Christ the Servant seeks to be a home for people— wherever they are on their spiritual journey –where they are safe, accepted, cared for, and then challenged to grow in Christ and sent out to love and serve in the world.” We don’t look to limit ourselves based on someone’s sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. Rather, we want everyone who comes in to know that they are a child of God and they are loved just as they are.
Sadly, too many Christian churches, even many in the ELCA, are not welcoming or affirming. This leads to a situation where many people who are queer reject religion because they see many prominent religious voices calling them “intrinsically disordered”; saying that they are destined for hell, unworthy to raise children in a loving home, or unworthy to be married to celebrate the love they have for each other. They also hear these same voices denying the identities of people who are transgender or non-binary and telling them that their experiences are invalid and unworthy of being heard.
These churches are taking the circle and tightening it rather than widening it. They are taking the tapestry and trying to make it monochromatic. They are taking the symphony of the church and turning it into something simpler and easier for them to listen to rather than trying to see the beauty in the differences that exist. They are ignoring the word of Jesus that we hear in the Gospel today:
“‘You must love the Most High God
with all your heart,
with all your soul and
with all your mind.’
“That is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘You
must love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these the whole Law is based
—and the Prophets as well.”
They are also ignoring the Great Commission: to make disciples of the nations. When people hear that they, or people they love, are unworthy to be included in the church, that makes it that less likely that they will be a part of that church. After all, why be in a church that tells people that they are unworthy because of who they are? Why be a part of a church that tells people that they are destined for damnation because of how God created them? Instead, we need to show the love of God to all people.
One of my favorite quotes allegedly comes from Saint Francis of Assisi: Go and preach the Gospel unto all the world. If necessary, use words. Another quote I love is from Mother Teresa: There are no great things, only small things done with great love. These two quotes encapsulate CTS and the mission of the church. By our actions, which demonstrate the love that God has for all of us, we show that
And this is what we are celebrating today. We are celebrating the love of God and showing that all are children of God and loved just as they are. So today, and all days, may you show the world the love of God: a love that is all inclusive and all encompassing, a love that gives and gives until it has nothing left and then manages to give even more. It is agape, a perfect, transcendent love, a love that raised the mountains, created the world, and breathed life into humans. A love that is transformative and validating. A love that abides no borders because it knows no borders. Love freely, love boldly, and let the world know that we are Christians by our love. Amen.
In the second reading today, Paul talked about how we are all parts of one body and how all of those parts are necessary for a body to function properly. I do love that imagery, but I prefer a different image that doesn’t have some of the ableist connotations that this passage has. I prefer to look at the church as a symphony or a tapestry. Both are works of art that have many different bits and pieces that make it what it is. If you leave out or change a part of the tapestry or symphony, you alter it from what it could be.
If you’ve ever heard the Overture to the opera “Phantom of the Opera”, you are familiar with the opening notes which are blasted out on an organ. Now, imagine those same notes played on a piano or a guitar. Would the music have the same power in those cases? The answer is no. It may still be pretty, but it is missing a vital something that makes it the gloriously haunting opening that it is. Or imagine the “1812 Overture” without the crashing symbols and sounds of cannons firing. Would it still be the awesome music to play on July 4th? Of course not!
In the same way, a church that is not fully affirming is missing out on vital aspects of life that make everything the way God intended. When we exclude any group, we miss out on the gifts that that group brings to the table. If only males lead churches, we miss out on the perspectives that women or non-binary people bring. If only straight people lead, then we miss out on what members of the queer community bring to the table. These groups, which have historically been marginalized or unrepresented, often have a perspective that allows them to advocate for other marginalized groups and gives a “bottom up” view of the world that sees things that the “top down” perspective misses.
For the Offering Song today, we will be singing “Draw the Circle Wide”, a song which perfectly encapsulates the ideal we have here are CTS. On the website, it says “Christ the Servant seeks to be a home for people— wherever they are on their spiritual journey –where they are safe, accepted, cared for, and then challenged to grow in Christ and sent out to love and serve in the world.” We don’t look to limit ourselves based on someone’s sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. Rather, we want everyone who comes in to know that they are a child of God and they are loved just as they are.
Sadly, too many Christian churches, even many in the ELCA, are not welcoming or affirming. This leads to a situation where many people who are queer reject religion because they see many prominent religious voices calling them “intrinsically disordered”; saying that they are destined for hell, unworthy to raise children in a loving home, or unworthy to be married to celebrate the love they have for each other. They also hear these same voices denying the identities of people who are transgender or non-binary and telling them that their experiences are invalid and unworthy of being heard.
These churches are taking the circle and tightening it rather than widening it. They are taking the tapestry and trying to make it monochromatic. They are taking the symphony of the church and turning it into something simpler and easier for them to listen to rather than trying to see the beauty in the differences that exist. They are ignoring the word of Jesus that we hear in the Gospel today:
“‘You must love the Most High God
with all your heart,
with all your soul and
with all your mind.’
“That is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘You
must love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these the whole Law is based
—and the Prophets as well.”
They are also ignoring the Great Commission: to make disciples of the nations. When people hear that they, or people they love, are unworthy to be included in the church, that makes it that less likely that they will be a part of that church. After all, why be in a church that tells people that they are unworthy because of who they are? Why be a part of a church that tells people that they are destined for damnation because of how God created them? Instead, we need to show the love of God to all people.
One of my favorite quotes allegedly comes from Saint Francis of Assisi: Go and preach the Gospel unto all the world. If necessary, use words. Another quote I love is from Mother Teresa: There are no great things, only small things done with great love. These two quotes encapsulate CTS and the mission of the church. By our actions, which demonstrate the love that God has for all of us, we show that
"As disciples of Christ seeking justice and reconciliation among all people,
we at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church welcome all into the fullness of
God’s love. We welcome everyone, without exception and regardless of
sex, race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical and
mental ability, age, or anything else that too often divides us."
And this is what we are celebrating today. We are celebrating the love of God and showing that all are children of God and loved just as they are. So today, and all days, may you show the world the love of God: a love that is all inclusive and all encompassing, a love that gives and gives until it has nothing left and then manages to give even more. It is agape, a perfect, transcendent love, a love that raised the mountains, created the world, and breathed life into humans. A love that is transformative and validating. A love that abides no borders because it knows no borders. Love freely, love boldly, and let the world know that we are Christians by our love. Amen.
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