Remember, back in those dark days before Osama bit the dust, back when the law firm of King and Spalding announced they would be defending the Defense of Marriage Act?
Remember how some people pointed out the hypocrisy of such a firm having on the website claims like
The firm's non-discrimination policy prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Further, domestic partner benefits are offered for same-sex couples.
??
Yup, found another one. This time it's not a prestigious law firm. It's a progressive Christian organization, website and magazine called Sojourners whose mission statement is:
... to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.
What's the brouhaha? It seems like they don't like this video (warning -- tear jerker):
In fact, they don't like it enough to cancel an ad buy for it by a group, Intersections International that put together the video and the related campaign Believe Out Loud:
Believe Out Loud is a collection of clergy and lay leaders, LGBT activists, and concerned individuals, working together to help the Protestant community become more welcoming to gays and lesbians.
So what kind of belief system would have Sojourners turn down an ad on the very Christian theme of welcoming everyone into a religious community? How about their web site statement on diversity?
we commit ourselves to...
-- Confront and dismantle discriminatory behavior wherever it may be manifest...
-- Publicly advocate for civil rights and legal non-discrimination to protect the safety and dignity of all people...
That doesn't seem quite right.
What about their statement on 'Gays and Lesbians':
Regardless of what moral or theological positions churches hold regarding gay and lesbian sexual behavior, all Christians can and should unite around a commitment to defend people's basic rights. But the church cannot in good conscience take a passive approach to this question. It is, after all, other Christians who often have taken the lead in this thinly disguised but mean-spirited assault on human dignity. Biblically based Christians who operate out of a more loving and compassionate framework must meet the challenge head-on and forcefully oppose homophobia...
While the passing of anti-hate-crime legislation that prosecutes attacks on gays and lesbians would be a good thing, it will do very little to prevent such crimes unless Christians and other people of conscience work to change the atmosphere where gays are seen as less than complete human beings with the full civil privileges of other citizens. Gays and lesbians aren't going to go away. Nor are they going to stay away from the church, where -- rumor has it -- people "love their neighbors as themselves." This is an opportunity to practice what we preach.
No, that doesn't seem to fit the bill either.
Which is a good thing, because as Reverend Robert Chase, Founding Director of Intersections International, the group that put together the Believe Out Loud project explains, their reasoning makes no sense:
I called the folks at Sojourners and asked what the problem was, what the "sides" in question might be. The first response was that Sojourners has not taken a stance on gay marriage (the ad is not about gay marriage); or on ordination of homosexuals (the ad is about welcome, not ordination); that the decision, made by "the folks in executive" (why such a high level decision?) was made quickly because of the Mother's Day deadline. The rationale kept shifting. The reasoning made no sense...
As Reverend Chase notes, the rejection of the ad campaign proves the ad campaign is needed:
Believe Out Loud is more than four years in the making. Virtually every mainline Protestant LGBT denominational advocacy group is a partner, making it a credible place for church leaders to turn for help on this issue. We have asked ourselves why Sojourners, a preeminent voice for justice in the religious community, rejected our ad buy. Does the organization not really believe in welcome for everyone in our churches or do they believe everyone is welcome, but they are afraid to "believe out loud" for fear of alienating some constituents?
On one level, it doesn't really matter. Their dilemma, apparently, is a ringing testimony for both the urgency and the necessity of this campaign... In recent years, American society has made significant strides forward towards full equality for LGBT persons. Tragically, the church has lagged well behind. Clearly, there is more work to be done.
Indeed.
I'd encourage you to practice some of your own "Social justice." Contact Sojourners and let know what you think about their rejecting the ad.
Sojourners
3333 14th St. NW, Suite 200
Washington DC 20010
Phone: 202-328-8842 or 1-800-714-7474
Fax: 202-328-8757
E-mail: sojourners@sojo.net
King & Spalding saw the light. Perhaps Sojourners will too.