Reconciled in Christ
by Scott Swedeen
I have been asked to say a few words about what “Reconciled in Christ” means to me. And I think, first and foremost, I would not be here if this congregation were not “Reconciled in Christ.” I was baptized and went to Sunday school in a Lutheran church, and religion has always been important to me. But after coming out as a gay man, I found it difficult to find acceptance within Christianity. After many years, however, I realized that I really did need Jesus in my life, but was leery of what welcome I would find from other Christians. When I began to consider finding a church I could call home, I wanted to find a place that welcomed gays and lesbians. And that is one of the important aspects of being a “Reconciled in Christ” congregation: we are an entryway, a welcoming place for a return to Christ. We are sending a message to gays and lesbians who may yearn for a return to church but may be afraid of what they will find. We are saying “come.”
And by saying “come”, we are also saying “stay.” We are encouraging gays and lesbians to participate in the life of the congregation. At Our Savior’s, I have been able to volunteer at “Come for Supper” and assist at worship. I feel that being welcomed has made me want to be more active in church life. Participation in the church extends to the larger ELCA as well. I remember last summer watching the Church Wide Assembly in Minneapolis on the internet. I prayed for God’s guidance for the church, and felt great joy when the Assembly passed resolutions that fully opened the doors of the ELCA to gays and lesbians. For the first time, I felt like a full, validated member of a Christian church. “Reconciled in Christ” offers a home and place in the larger community of Christians for gays and lesbians.
But “Reconciled in Christ” must be about more than just sexuality. I believe that it should teach us greater lessons about who we are as Christians. “Reconciled in Christ” reminds us of Jesus’ Gospel message for all on the margins of society. It is a radical message about the worth and dignity of all. I feel that if we are to truly embody reconciliation in Christ, we must see that it is our faith in Christ that matters in God’s eyes—not our race, gender, class, disability, or sexuality. It means that we are all supposed to be here, because we are all reconciled by, with, and in our Lord Jesus Christ. For the first time in my life, I am beginning to truly feel that about myself, and about others. That, I believe, is the promise of being “Reconciled in Christ.”