What happens when a group of pastors walks into a gay bar during a drag show? And what if the Holy Spirit is already there?
During a recent United Methodist Church leadership gathering in Calgary, Canada, I found myself sitting in the front row of a drag show alongside more than ten pastors and religious leaders from around the world.
When the host discovered who we were, I wasn't sure how the room would respond.
What happened next was something I never expected, and it challenged my understanding of Christian hospitality, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and where we encounter the presence of God.
In this personal episode of The Inclusive Faith Podcast, I share an experience that left me wrestling with a question I believe every church should ask:
Can our churches be as welcoming as a gay bar?
As a gay Christian serving in ministry, I know what it means to love the church while also carrying wounds inflicted by it. For generations, LGBTQ+ people have experienced rejection, condemnation, and exclusion in the name of Christianity. Yet the teachings of Jesus continually call us toward radical love, grace, and belonging.
So what might the church learn from the very communities it has too often pushed to the margins?
In this episode, we explore:
- What happened when a drag show host discovered a group of religious leaders in the audience
- The complicated relationship between LGBTQ+ people and Christianity
- What Jesus taught about welcoming outsiders and those pushed to the margins
- Why genuine Christian hospitality requires more than saying "everyone is welcome"
- How the Holy Spirit might be moving beyond the walls of our churches
- What The United Methodist Church and Christianity more broadly can learn about belonging, grace, and sacred worth
This isn't simply a story about a drag queen or a gay bar. It's a reflection on what it means to follow Jesus, love our neighbors, and recognize the image of God in every person.
Perhaps the future of the church begins not with convincing more people to come through our doors, but with our willingness to walk through theirs.
Where do you think the church has the most to learn about welcoming others? Share your thoughts in the comments.
🌈 About The Inclusive Faith Podcast
The Inclusive Faith Podcast explores Christianity, faith, the Bible, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and the questions too often left unasked in church. Through honest conversations and thoughtful reflections, we seek to make room for a faith rooted in love, grace, and belonging.
Subscribe for more conversations about progressive Christianity, LGBTQ+ faith, inclusive theology, and what it means to follow Jesus in today's world.
🌐 Website: https://theinclusivefaith.com
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