Thoughts at Nightfall

by Rev. Michael Burke

Last night I think my heart broke in three different places.

Once again, it felt like 2009’s so-called “Summer of Hate” was happening all over again. I was seated in the Anchorage Assembly chambers waiting my chance to testify on a proposed non-discrimination ordinance that would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of protected categories, alongside gender, marital status, disability, race, religion and national origin.

My heart broke listening to the very personal stories of discrimination, of people being told the landlord wouldn’t rent to them because, “you know, you are one of those kind of people.” A husband and wife talked about their love for their teen, who is struggling through issues of gender identity. A preschool teacher talked of her love for her students, and how she had to hide while at the supermarket, for fear that someone might see her shopping with her spouse, report her to her religious employer, and she would be fired for being a lesbian. 

My heart broke when people testified that their belief in the Bible required them to shun others who were different from themselves. One woman took great pains to point out how she loved all LGBT people, really, she did, and she respected them. She then used the final 60 seconds of her testimony to compare marriage equality with approving of sex with animals.
My heart broke when others testifying seemed not simply to disagree with non-discrimination, but seemed, to me, to be so mean-spirited in what they had to say, and how they chose to say it.

It’s just all so sad. And unnecessary. 

Pray for our community. Pray for those who feel that they will be judged harshly by God if they do not keep a bright line of separation between themselves and those they consider “unclean.” The image of God that came through to me, through much of their testimony, was of an angry, vindictive God. I think there is some truth to the observation that “we become what we worship.”

Pray for those who are genuinely and lovingly struggling to discern what God requires of us. Pray for those who are conflicted. Pray for those who are victimized because of that conflict. 

But mostly, I ask that we pray that God might strengthen us. Pray that God might strengthen us to become better witnesses for our faith in Jesus Christ – a faith that does not claim false certainties, a faith that is willing to take the risk to love, -- a faith that has the humility to respect others who walk other, different paths of love. And a faith mature enough to be compassionate even to those with whom we disagree.

The world needs that now. Not our silence. Not our “embarrassment” for being associated with the name of Jesus. Not more avoidance of anything “religious.” 

What the world needs now:
is a bold, unapologetic confidence in the very same Jesus who came for the lost, the unwelcome, the wounded, and the fearful… … a confidence in the very same Jesus who revealed the heart of God as compassion, healing, love, justice, and mercy.

That… and some time for healing…

The Rev. Michael Burke serves as Rector at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Anchorage and is on the steering committee of Christians for Equality

Equality Is A Christian Value

On March 9th, 1965, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King led more than 2,000 marchers in a peaceful protest of Alabama’s voting policies and the harsh treatment of previous protestors. He was joined by hundreds of clergy, who had answered his call to stand up for those who were being disenfranchised. Following the march, King and his fellow clergy-people kneeled and prayed, and their courage moved our nation one step closer to equality. Their demonstration, like so many throughout history, embodied the fact that justice and equality are hallmarks of the Christian witness. “To bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.” This is the central concern of the Gospel: Love and justice for those who are oppressed and marginalized.

And yet, at the Mayoral debate on Monday, candidate Amy Demboski said that laws protecting the marginalized would somehow be anti-Christian. In the past she has expressed fear of such protective measures as a “war on Christianity.” A few days ago, one church sent a mass mailing to clergy expressing similar fears. These incidents and others make it clear that there is a concerted political effort underway to say that the exclusion of gays and lesbians is a Biblical, Christian action. Speaking as Christian leaders of many faith communities in Anchorage, we must speak out and say that this is untrue.

Some churches oppose homosexuality, and consider it a sin. That can be claimed as a personal opinion, and a church can claim it as its teaching. But it cannot be accurately claimed that this is “the Christian opinion.” Recent studies by the Pew Research Center and the Public Religion Research Institute show that more religious Americans support gay marriage than oppose it. The view held by Ms. Demboski is not representative of Christianity, and yet she claims that somehow Christianity is under siege when the rights of others are upheld. To claim that you are being discriminated against because you have lost your right to discriminate against others shows a gross lack of understanding of history and oppression, as well as a disturbingly narrow understanding of Christianity.

We perceive the 'War on Christianity' to be those who are actively thwarting the truth that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Love struggles to flourish where there is discrimination, hate speech, threats, and fear. However, our understanding of history reveals that love wins. Truth will come out. The realities of the gifts that our LGBT friends, neighbors, and family members bring to this community will prove to be essential to the growth of Anchorage as a modern city. Indeed, they already have. We are among the people of all faiths who see that and will stand to acknowledge it. And we renounce the voices that pretend it is not so, because discrimination is not Christian.

Jesus sat and ate with all people, never creating a system of worthiness for who was accepted. To the contrary, he regularly reached out specifically to those on the margins of his society.  If we claim to follow Jesus, then we must acknowledge that discrimination is not his way. It is not who we are or what we stand for. Looking back on the history of the church, we are proud of those moments when we stood to lift people up. We are ashamed for when we have stood to keep people out.

People of faith must remember the love and acceptance of Jesus, as well as the successes and failures of our own troubled history. In doing so, we hear the call to seek equality for all Alaskans in work, play, housing, marriage, and business. Because discrimination is not only un-American. It is also unChristian.

Reverend Matt Schultz, Christians for Equality Steering Committee

Reverend Michael Burke, Christians for Equality Steering Committee
St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Nora Ortiz Fredrick, Christians for Equality Steering Committee
Ascent Alaska (UMC)

Reverend Martin Eldred, Christians for Equality Steering Committee
Joy Lutheran Church, Eagle River

Mrs. Candace Bell, Christians for Equality Steering Committee
Catholic Laywoman

Reverend Julia Seymour
Lutheran Church of Hope

Reverend Ronald Myers
Anchorage First United Methodist Church

Reverend Jenny Smith
St. John United Methodist Church

Reverend John Campbell
St. John United Methodist Church

Reverend Ted Cole
St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Reverend Ellen Johnson-Price

Reverend Jamez Terry
Christian Universalist Association

Reverend Bob Smith
Turnagain United Methodist Church

Marie Sweezey
UMC Chugiak

Reverend Lisa Smith Fiegel
Director for Evangelical Mission, Alaska Synod ELCA

Reverend Sara Gavit
St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Tia Hollowood
Turnagain United Methodist Church

Judith Goodrum
Program Associate, St. John United Methodist Church

Bill Herman

Ministry and Nurturance Committee, Anchorage Quaker Meeting

Bishop Shelly Wickstrom
Alaska Synod ELCA

Blanche Crandall
Catholic Laywoman

Reverend Curt Karnes
Presbytery of the Yukon

Reverend Gail Nauska

Jim LaBau
Turnagain United Methodist Church

Phyllis Rude
Lutheran Church of Hope

Bonnie Bladow
Lutheran Church of Hope

Reverend Susan Halvor
Chaplain, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Louise Dekreon-Watsjold

Patricia Kennish

Repairing A World Torn By Religious Extremeism

Here is an article co-authored by CFE steering committee member, Reverend Matt Schultz of First Presbyterian Church (Anchorage), along with Rabbi Michael Oblath of Congregation Beth Shalom,Youssef Barbour andHeather Barbour of the Islamic Community Center of Anchorage, Alaska.

 Repairing A World Tonr By Religious Extremism Means Repairing Our Own Houses.

Murder Perverts Any Faith

This article in Anchorage Dispatch News is co-authored by CFE Steering Committee Rev. Matt Schultz, along with Heater and Youssef Barbour of the Islamic Community Center of Anchorage Alaska.

Murder Perverts Any Faith - Peace is The Work of All Faiths