Story by McKenna Golat
Photos by Sydney Pitchford
A faith panel discussing religion and the LGBTQ+ community was held on April 6 in the French Auditorium for Central Michigan University’s third event in celebration of Pride Month.
The faith panel was composed of four people from different churches around Mount Pleasant. Rev. Drew Frantz from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan, Rector Diane Stier from St. John's Episcopal Church, Pastor Audra Hudson from Wesley Church and Pastor Dana Hendershot from the Immanuel Lutheran Church answered questions given by members of the audience.
“(Faith) is about perspective and recognizing the dignity of every human being and dignity in creation," Stier said.
There are people within the LGBTQ+ community who are not supported by religious loved ones because of their identity. The panelists were asked about their views on this topic. With the churches represented at the panel, each one does its best to give support to the LGBTQ+ community. Hudson said Wesley tries to accommodate everyone’s religious journeys.
“The mark of good pastoral care is to meet people where they are,” she said.
Rev. Frantz discussed the tension a person may feel when they are alienated within their faith. An necessary option for someone in this situation may be to leave the unsupportive religion. He said for those who choose this route, it will be difficult and to expect a grief process. They should find a place where they are welcome.
"If your faith tells you that who you are is bad and wrong, then my answer is find a new religion," Frantz said.
The churches each panelist belongs to shows inclusion in different ways. Both Wesley and Immanuel Lutheran provide pronoun stickers to their members. Wesley and the United Unitarian Fellowship start their services with an inclusive welcome. Stier said St. John’s does its best to show the community they are an inclusive space.
“We're trying to be conscious in making sure that we live what we say,” she said.
The panelists continued by discussing how to help other churches become more inclusive. Hudson talked about how Wesley is the only on-campus ministry that is LGBTQ+ affirming. She said she feels a personal responsibility to have the church be explicit in its inclusivity. Hendershot talked about providing resources to shift mindsets. She also talked about how creating relationships with these other ministries will help them become more open.
"You can get further with somebody when you have a personal relationship and you're trusted by them," Hendershot said.
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