Dear People of St. James’,
Fifty years ago, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church opened the door to a movement toward full inclusion and embrace of the LGBTQ+ communities in the church. St. James’ Episcopal Church sought to be an early space of sanctuary and an inclusive and affirming Christian community in Austin. Members of St. James’, particularly Ms. Ora Houston, stood up at microphones at Diocesan Council after Diocesan Council and at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to push for marriage equality and the full and unhindered recognition of the God-given gifts for ministry of people from the LGBTQ+ community. St. James’ was quick to move through the Unity in Mission process to get permission to hold same sex blessings, and later marriage, when it was legalized by the Supreme Court’s decision in 2015. Since the bar to the ordination of individuals from the LGBTQ+ community fell in our diocese, St. James’ has supported James Harrington, Steven Tomlinson, Scott Madison, and Addison McMillan in the ordination process. Not only do we support people in their discernment, but we at St. James’ hire people from the LGBTQ+ community for leadership positions. Over the years, St. James’/Iglesia de Santiago has been an inclusive and affirming space for seminarians from the LGBTQ+ community to serve both in the context of Latino Ministries and within our broader multicultural community. We respond to the wounds of church hurt among LGBTQ+ people from other church backgrounds with compassion and the long (sometimes lifelong) work of rebuilding trust.
At St. James’, we believe that God’s Love can be expected to break through our age-old prejudices in order to reveal something new and good. We are grateful for the ministries of members of the LGBTQ+ community in our midst and in our larger community, and we seek to be a place where all feel welcome at God’s table and may receive strength for the journey. We know there are ways in which we fall short of our aspirations toward full inclusion, and we hope that we will keep learning and growing in this work. We pray that we will continue in the awareness that we have been blessed in order to be a blessing.
Texas currently has some of the most severely restricted rights for trans people in the country, and this summer, the Supreme Court will be ruling on two cases related to trans athletes which may have implications that go far beyond discrimination in sports. During this Pride Month, we are aware of God’s call to continue to stand in solidarity with all whose personhood and personal dignity are threatened by the evil of hatred and discrimination. May the active practice of solidarity be a balm for the suffering and a sign that opposes oppression.
Rev. Eileen
