You might be surprised by the level of theological disagreement an attender may be willing to tolerate with their pastor and still remain under their teaching—so long as they still feel seen, heard, and loved. What’s more is that you may begin to move the needle and shift how they understand God’s intention for sexuality in ways you previously thought impossible.
Define Clear Parameters for Church Leadership
As pastors and churches cultivate an environment that is welcoming to those currently outside the church’s teachings without sacrificing the teachings themselves, what they will find is that a number of practical concerns begin to arise.
For example, what measure of leadership will your church be willing to endow to someone who is LGBTQ-identifying? Can they help park cars? Can they be greeters or ushers? Can they serve in children’s ministry?
At some point, your church will need to begin drawing lines. Spend time in prayer and discussion with your elders and other leaders about what those lines should be. Then create guidelines and parameters in light of those discussions.
Set clear expectations and ensure that your entire staff, board, and all your leadership teams understand those expectations.
Doing this will inevitably lead to uncomfortable and at times thorny conversations. Nevertheless, these difficult conversations are yet another pastoral opportunity to walk with the attenders and members of your church in both grace and truth.
Pray for Wisdom
None of this is easy. It’s messy and complicated, and you’re not always going to get it right. We need the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom, prudence, courage, and love. Pray for these things. Start praying for them before you find yourself in a situation where you are in dire need of them.
Proactively pray for those in your community and your church who identify as LGBTQ. Pray that they would feel comfortable enough to come to your church. Pray that what they encounter through your church would be the lifesaving message of Jesus. And pray that as they encounter Jesus, his kindness would lead to repentance (Romans 2:4).
Pray the same for yourself.
