Queering Racial Justice

This summer, we have been experiencing a hopeful sea change in recognizing the continued oppression of people of color in America because of white supremacy. This week, we celebrate Tuesday’s primary election where many Black women won their primaries and Missouri voted to expand Medicaid coverage.

As LGBTQ people of faith, we know that lasting change comes from sustained effort, sacrifice, and optimistic hope. We bring that hope with us, as we look toward continuing our church’s legacy of justice by digging in deeper in fighting systemic racism.

At the end of July, some in our church were involved in a discussion on Queering Racial Justice featuring young panelists from around St. Louis in response to Milwaukee 53206. This powerful film highlights three families affected by mass incarceration in America’s city with the highest rate of incarceration per capita, where 62% of adult Black men are currently in prison or have served time.

Our conversation contextualized the problem of mass incarceration for St. Louis, creating urgency over the need for us as LGBTQ folks to get involved with addressing the school-to-prison pipeline. In Missouri, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, the incarceration rate has risen since 1978, around 6 times more people are incarcerated now. This increase disproportionately affects black people as 2,237 per 100,000 black people are incarcerated in Missouri compared to 495 per 100,000 white people.

In coming months, we will continue to offer opportunities for you to be a part of the solution to end mass incarceration and address racism in all forms. For now, we invite you to click this link and watch the conversation. Let us know what comes to mind as you listen.

Thank you to Odyssey Impact for the opportunity to screen and discuss this important film.

Support Local Black-Owned Businesses

Can't join the marches, but want to help? There are lots of ways to support Black Lives! One way is to support our local black-owned businesses. Consider placing an order for takeout or just dropping in to do a bit of shopping! Economic strength is vital to all the other aspects of fighting for change and balance.

Just as MCCGSL has done in the past, we can individually or collectively support these businesses with our dollars and our supportive patronage. We and our tribe (friends, family, neighbors) can call in an order at a restaurant or seek out a photographer, tax advisor, or lawyer. Here are some great resources to help you....

The Faith We Sing: Country Music Edition

Join us as we begin our annual July Series entitled "The Faith We Sing." Each year we explore a different genre of music and ask ourselves, what is "the faith we sing" when we sing along to the music on our radios? If we are going to put these songs on our tongues and memorize the lyrics, do they accurately express our heart? And finally, where do we find gospel themes in this genre of music?

Over the years, we’ve explored everything from Disney, to Motown, to Broadway, and this year, we are headed down the dusty backroads of Country Music. We invite you along with us as we explore the Gospel according to Nashville. From George Strait to Dolly Parton to Rascal Flatts and more, we have a fun and surprising deep journey ahead!

This Sunday we will explore the theme “Finding” that is found in a myriad of forms in country music. While the stereotype often focuses on the lament of lost things in country music (dogs, trucks, wives), this stereotype is born out of the many songs that are about types of finding (finding love, home, self, child, parenthood, etc). If this is a part of the “Country Gospel,” how does it speak to the finding that we are promised in Scripture where we are told “the lost will be found?” Join us on Sunday to find out!

Celebrate Father's Day

As was the case with Mother's Day, Father's Day is going to feel a bit different this year. For those who are accustomed to doing something special with their Dad on Father's Day, some traditions may have to change this year. For those who have lost their dads or have no relationship with their dad, this might be a year where the pain of that loss is particularly close.

During worship on Sunday, we will be having a special blessing for our fathers and for the fatherly figures in our lives. We invite you to bring photos of your father(s) or fatherly figure(s) to the space in which you worship. We will ask you to hold or touch the picture(s) during the blessing -- or, if you prefer, simply close your eyes and draw on your memories of your dad.

We encourage you to think about inviting your dad to share worship with you on Sunday, or take a picture and send it to your dad or fatherly figure, and let them know your church prayed for them on this special day.

MCCGSL Celebrates Landmark Supreme Court Ruling

Today, in the hallowed halls of the U.S. Supreme Court, history was made. After decades of work by activists, lobbyists, and everyday folks marching in the streets or simply talking to family members, it is now illegal to fire someone because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Human Rights Campaign president Alphonso David said this decision is a "landmark victory for LGBTQ equality."

Supreme Court analyst and University of Texas law professor, Steve Vladeck said, "Today's decision is one of the court's most significant rulings ever with respect to the civil rights of gay and transgender individuals. On its terms, the decision is only about discrimination in the workplace, but it inevitably opens the door to a host of other challenges to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or transgender status on the ground that it, too, is impermissible based upon sex. In that respect, only the court's 2015 ruling recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage may be equally as significant."

Currently, we are facing so many adversities and challenges to human rights: the imperiled lives of Black Americans, the coronavirus, and growing anxieties over the looming election season. So while there remains much work to be done, today is a day to truly pause and celebrate. This ruling represents a tidal shift in the way America recognizes the inherent dignity of trans* and queer people of all types. In the 51 years since Stonewall, we have come out and proven our worth. Today, the Supreme Court honors what God always knew...what MCC has always taught...that every part of the rainbow, LGBTQIA+, is beloved, precious, and a part of the image of God that we call humanity.

Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we keep working to ensure that every life, especially Black Lives, are held and treated as sacred.

Black Lives Matter

Jesus left for us the work of reconciliation, justice, and renewal. In our community, this includes dismantling white supremacy and confronting systematic racism. We must start with ourselves and our community, so join us for upcoming programs to educate ourselves and one another. See our programming page on our Web Page for available programs.

Celebrate Pride This Month

This month, we will be focusing on LGBTQ liberation and how our liberation is wound up with the liberation of all people -- especially our BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) family. Throughout the month, we will explore people, movements, and ideas that have shaped the movement for LGBTQ inclusion and equality.

On Thursdays we Queer the Bible with Pastor Wes and Dr. Teresa O'Flynne. Join us as we de-code passages used against LGBTQ people and highlight positive stories of queer folk in the Bible.

On Sunday, we support Moms Demand Action Day Against Gun Violence by contemplating non-violence with Rev. Pressley Sutherland. Orange is the color of gun violence awareness, so consider wearing orange on Sunday and taking a photo of yourself to show your support.

Next Monday, think about joining our Book Club, celebrating the young voices in the LGBTQ movement by reading Rainbow Briefs by Kira Harp.

Continue looking for ways we will celebrate Pride in worship, films, and discussion all month. At the end of the month, we will continue our liberating work by turning our focus to ways we can use what we know to fight for the liberation of our BIPOC family.