Pro-gay and Christian groups merge

In an effort to bolster a movement to mainstream Christianity among gays and lesbians, a national Christian organization said recently that it has merged with a nonsectarian advocacy organization for gay rights.

The Institute for Welcoming Resources — an umbrella organization of more than 1,300 mainline Protestant congregations that welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals — is joining with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

The move is meant to create new resources, training and strategies to increase the numbers of people of faith who support equality for gay people.

Emily Eastwood, executive director of Lutherans Concerned/North America, said it's a common perception that being Christian and being gay is an oxymoron.

She said many mainline churches don't mix politics with their religion, but as parishioners become more welcoming to gays and lesbians, they're "more likely to carry their witness into the voting booth."

"From my perspective as a Lutheran, this is not about directing our congregations to become more political," Eastwood said. "It's about helping our congregations to become welcoming. It's a very fine line."

The institute works with seven mainline Protestant denominations — the Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Community of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the American Baptist Churches.

Member congregations decide to offer an unconditional welcome to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and their families.

"Much of the most important and heroic work to win hearts and minds on LGBT issues has been within religious denominations," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the Task Force. "It's long past time for the secular and faith-based wings of our movement to share resources and expertise and advance as a united movement."

Six congregations in Utah are listed on the institute's Web site, www.welcomingresources.org, though not all are part of the seven sponsoring denominations.

One congregation is Sacred Light of Christ Metropolitan Community Church, in Salt Lake City, where pastor Dee Bradshaw said his congregation is welcoming but isn't politically active.

"We've looked at it and said, 'Spirituality is what we're for,' " he said. "We encourage people to get involved in politics, but we don't take a stand."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com