Law of the land is teaching churches morality

In the past eight weeks, federal judges have ruled five times that state bans on same-sex marriages are contrary to the Constitution of the United States. The most recent decision has been handed down in Virginia.

The Virginia decision followed decisions in Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Ohio. The decisions are based on a simple constitutional provision: equal protection under the law. In the process, religious tradition, no matter how strong, has been found to be unable to overcome the provision of equal protection under the law.

This quick parade of decisions has caught most observers by surprise. It is now a race to see which case will get to the U.S. Supreme Court first. It looks like a definitive ruling by the nation’s highest court could be handed down as early as 2015.

Once again it is the exercise of law that is exposing the bigotry of Christian churches. In the history of the United States, law has exposed the bigotry of Christian churches on the issues of slavery, equal rights for women, racial equality and now sexual orientation. Meanwhile, Jesus, the one whom Christians call “Lord,” weeps. One of the ironies is that at the very same time judges are finding in favor of our gay friends, a single football player is bringing the bigots of the National Football League to their knees. Michael Sam, an award-winning defensive end for the University of Missouri, has come out of his closet and revealed that he is gay and has a male partner. He is probably too good a football player for 32 teams to ignore him when the NFL draft takes place in a few weeks from now.

There are lots of Christians who play in the league. Some teams have chaplains and players regularly cross themselves before and after games and after making a good play on the field. In the spirit of Jesus, every team in the league should put up a “welcome Michael Sam” sign. Christian players, coaches and owners should all be putting up welcome signs. Christian churches, bishops, priests and ministers should be shouting out their support for Michael. Do not hold your breath waiting for these things to happen. Confessing Christians will not speak out because they are too busy admiring America’s great gladiators, who are busy bullying and pounding their chests.

I have been an active churchman all my life. I love the churches in which I have found soul shelter and great friendships. I have always recognized churches as flawed institutions with flawed members and flawed leadership. However, I have looked to churches for personal moral guidance and have believed they should be leaders in the development of public morality. It is painful to watch secular public institutions teach Christian churches lessons in public morality. It is a monumental reversal of roles.

In the morality play that is taking place, there is another actor that should be recognized. With great pride I have watched the work of the welcoming church movement. Beginning in the early 1980s, small bands of churches began to form that challenged their denominations’ rejection of gay and lesbian people from their churches and excluded them from places of ordained leadership. Collectively, they will go down in church history as one of the great examples of Jesus’ teaching about the power of leaven, light and salt. Over the years, these small clusters found one another and formed what is now known as the Association for Welcoming Resources. There are now 11 clusters that make up IWR. This is the roll of honor:

• Affirm, United Church of Canada.

• Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.

• Integrity, Episcopalians.

• More Light Presbyterians.

• Open and Affirming Ministries, Disciples of Christ.

• Open and Affirming Program, United Church of Christ.

• Reconciling Ministries Network, United Methodist Church.

• Lutherans Concerned .

• Room for All, Reformed Church in America.

• Supporting Congregation Network, Church of the Brethren/Mennonite.

• Welcoming Community Network, Community of Christ.

Together, these prophetic congregations have witnessed to their denominations; published high-quality curriculum; held conventions, workshops and seminars; produced worship materials and welcoming songs and hymns; walked picket lines; and supported gay ministers who were defrocked by their denominations.

Even after the U.S. Supreme Court knocks down another legal barrier to full equality for all Americans, many Christian churches will continue their bigoted ways. However, their influence will continue to be challenged by an odd combination of federal judges, small bands of devoted Jesus followers and people like Michael Sam, who just happens to play football. May justice be served.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.

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