Some of you may watch the HBO reality show “We’re Here” and seen the episode in season 2 in which Rev. Craig Duke, a United Methodist clergy from Evansville, Indiana, participated. Rev. Duke accepted the invitation to be in the show “because,” he said, “I wanted to empathize, not just sympathize with LGBTQ people in my community and to express support for my daughter, who recently came out as pansexual.” The show aired on November 8th and even though Craig knew that not everyone will understand or support his decision, he did not think it would cost him his job.
The church he served did not respond too well to his participation in the show, which has caused Rev. Craig Duke to step away from his duties at the church and enter a time of renewal, reflection, and recovery, effective December 1st, and an interim pastor has been assigned to the church.
Friends, I admire Rev. Duke for what he did because I don’t believe I will ever have the courage to do what he did, so the way his story has turned out to be is very disappointing and discouraging for me. And, to be clear, from the denominational point of view he has not done anything that could be considered a chargeable offense, and the District Superintendent and Bishop of the Conference are working with Rev. Duke, but the hatred he experienced from the people he served is painful!
In this season of Advent -- as we prepare our hearts and our lives to remember the love that God has shown for us and the whole world, and, as we renew our commitment to do the same, how does a community that calls itself Christian and has seen this pastor as their spiritual leader suddenly turn against him in this way?
Beloveds, I want to hear from you. What are your thoughts about this situation? Do you support this pastor? Do you think he did anything wrong in the eyes of God? Please share. As far as I am concerned, I have a lot of respect for him and for his courage to stand up strong for what he believes in. He stepped out from his comfort into a space that was completely unknown to him, to let his daughter, and the whole LGBTQIA+ community know that they are beloved, that God loves them, and that he loves them unconditionally! Isn’t that the message Jesus came to share with us, and the world? Isn’t that what we all are called to do?
Beloveds, may God help each one of us, as we continue to prepare our hearts and lives to remember this love, and to extend that love to others, and I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday!
