Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

The Rev. Dee Bradshaw of Sacred Light of Christ Metropolitan Community Church

GLBT Mormons Participate in Interfaith Service
“We can be in a relationship with God no matter what people say, because God seeks us out”

From a story in QSaltLake
February 2008

An interfaith celebration brought together Mormons, pagans, Baptists, Jews and others at the Holladay United Church of Christ. Russ Gorringe, WinterPride InterFaith Chair and chair of the church’s Open and Affirming Ministry, welcomed the participants to the gay-friendly church where he married his partner and that he now calls “the place I have found to worship.”

“No matter who you are or where you are in life’s journey, you are welcome here,” Russ said.

The invocation was given by President Robert McIntier of the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, an off-shoot of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints which welcomes gay members and admits women to the priesthood.

McIntier encouraged the assembly to be thankful for being able to come together for the evening. “Not so many years ago such a gathering may not have been possible,” he said. He also encouraged those gathered to fight for laws that would bring about “peace, equality and justice for Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother’s children.”

“We’re here to proclaim to our community that we are one people, a queer people,” he said.

Remarks for the evening were provided by a number of Salt Lake Valley’s religious leaders, including Rev. Erin Gilmore of the UCC, Rev. Dee Bradshaw of Sacred Light of Christ Metropolitan Community Church and Rock Oakeson of Congregation Kol Ami.

Dee called upon the assembly to love God and each other without prejudice. He recounted the story of Adam and Eve hiding from God after they had sinned, and said this story was symbolic of the human struggle to accept God’s love.

“We can be in a relationship with God no matter what people say, because God seeks us out,” he said. “Jesus said, ‘Whosoever believes in me shall have eternal life.’ Not a period, not a comma, ‘but,’ ‘except.’ Jesus said that so we could walk without fear in that relationship.”