Advocate
op-ed on the selection and withdrawal of a pastor to give the
benediction at the inauguration, and replacement by an LGBT-affirming
Episcopalian priest.
"...We do live in a society that should
welcome vibrant discourse on a variety of subjects. But when it comes to
affirming the human dignity of an individual, there is no room for
compromise. It’s not up for discussion.
"That’s why, on second
glance, something was very wrong with the initial selection. The problem
was not merely a difference of opinion on an 'issue,' but rather, that
the prayer to our nation would be offered by a man who might not fully
affirm the human dignity of all Americans.
"...Christianity does not have to be exclusive of LGBT equality, and when it is, people are leaving the church.
"...As public opinion shifts, churches that do not fully affirm LGBT
people will leave many in their flock behind. Scripture that is void of
compassion is merely words, and our ability to have compassion for every
human being is critical to our faith and in an increasingly diverse
world.
"...The exclusion of Reverend Giglio is not a matter of
banishing conservative theology from the public square; it is a matter
of the public demanding more from our churches — more compassion, more
understanding, and more dialogue about our biblical texts.
"While I have and continue to appreciate the president’s efforts to
reach across the aisle, it is clear that his inaugural committee
initially missed the mark on this one. It isn’t a problem to have an
evangelical conservative give the benediction, but at the very least, a
pastor who blesses our nation must fully affirm the human dignity of all
Americans — that includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Americans."
Advocate
op-ed on the selection and withdrawal of a pastor to give the
benediction at the inauguration, and replacement by an LGBT-affirming
Episcopalian priest.
"...We do live in a society that should welcome vibrant discourse on a variety of subjects. But when it comes to affirming the human dignity of an individual, there is no room for compromise. It’s not up for discussion.
"That’s why, on second glance, something was very wrong with the initial selection. The problem was not merely a difference of opinion on an 'issue,' but rather, that the prayer to our nation would be offered by a man who might not fully affirm the human dignity of all Americans.
"...Christianity does not have to be exclusive of LGBT equality, and when it is, people are leaving the church.
"...As public opinion shifts, churches that do not fully affirm LGBT people will leave many in their flock behind. Scripture that is void of compassion is merely words, and our ability to have compassion for every human being is critical to our faith and in an increasingly diverse world.
"...The exclusion of Reverend Giglio is not a matter of banishing conservative theology from the public square; it is a matter of the public demanding more from our churches — more compassion, more understanding, and more dialogue about our biblical texts.
"While I have and continue to appreciate the president’s efforts to reach across the aisle, it is clear that his inaugural committee initially missed the mark on this one. It isn’t a problem to have an evangelical conservative give the benediction, but at the very least, a pastor who blesses our nation must fully affirm the human dignity of all Americans — that includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans."
"...We do live in a society that should welcome vibrant discourse on a variety of subjects. But when it comes to affirming the human dignity of an individual, there is no room for compromise. It’s not up for discussion.
"That’s why, on second glance, something was very wrong with the initial selection. The problem was not merely a difference of opinion on an 'issue,' but rather, that the prayer to our nation would be offered by a man who might not fully affirm the human dignity of all Americans.
"...Christianity does not have to be exclusive of LGBT equality, and when it is, people are leaving the church.
"...As public opinion shifts, churches that do not fully affirm LGBT people will leave many in their flock behind. Scripture that is void of compassion is merely words, and our ability to have compassion for every human being is critical to our faith and in an increasingly diverse world.
"...The exclusion of Reverend Giglio is not a matter of banishing conservative theology from the public square; it is a matter of the public demanding more from our churches — more compassion, more understanding, and more dialogue about our biblical texts.
"While I have and continue to appreciate the president’s efforts to reach across the aisle, it is clear that his inaugural committee initially missed the mark on this one. It isn’t a problem to have an evangelical conservative give the benediction, but at the very least, a pastor who blesses our nation must fully affirm the human dignity of all Americans — that includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans."
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