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*I've had to ask people* Well, you*re talking about if we*re averaging 300 people on Sunday mornings, and I*ve got 3 who*ve got some anxiety, I don*t think we have a problem. But, I do address the 3: *What*s your anxiety? What*s wrong?* And, people come out of an understanding, well not an understanding, they*ve been told what the scripture says. My role is: *Let the scripture speak for itself. Don*t tell it what to say. What does it say?* I just had this conversation last night; I had it in Richmond. Does the scripture say that? It really does not.
*One of the things I don*t ever want to do, if a mother says to me, *Is my child*s decision in life jeopardizing their eternal salvation?* And, I say, *Yes* and I don*t believe it? That*s hypocritical on my part. And, I say, you know at this stage in my life as I wrestle with these things, I don*t see it. But I tell you this, let*s give ourselves 2 percent room for error, and let*s keep looking at the text and keep asking God to give us some revelation. And, if God then speaks to us, speaks to us, not to me, speaks to us, and says we need to revisit this, then we will. But, I say, let*s move on then. I*ve been doing that a long time. That has not been just in the last two or three years. I*ve been dealing with that for a long time.
D:*But, the more and more white people* it may be an issue for some?
Lee:*I wonder about that. I*m not certain because sometime people do not tell you. But, I wonder* Now, on the other hand, if you*re white and gay, you stand out in a church that*s 95 percent black.
D:*Right!
Lee:*But, something happened last Sunday. And I was hoping that the person that had talked to me, Laurel, the Sunday before* And she said, *I*m not ashamed of this.* And I said, *You have no right to be. But, unless you want to make it known, I will not.* I don*t think that*s right. I*ve never made known about anybody else. But, I know people would watch when Michael and others would come up and wonder why are they coming? Well, they*re celebrating someone they know.
D:*I thought about that, and I thought well maybe I shouldn*t go up there.
Lee:*No, no, no. If folks make a leap, that*s their leap. And, if they do, then Laurel is even easier transitioned. You understand what I*m saying? For me, I think for the Church on whole, it*s a non-factor. Because, I would know. And, I think the persons who have issues, that*s not their issue. There*s some other stuff going on, so you chose something to give you rationale to ease out. I think I*ll just be honest. As I told our officers, let*s own it. Loudon has outgrown some people. And, if we don*t, then we*re not being Church. If we*re not stretching ourselves beyond boundaries, then we*re not being Church. And, if you have become stagnant in your growth, you can*t stay here. I don*t care what it is. The issue may be my saying, *You know, we*ve got to do a better job in financial stewardship.* But, you*ve said, *I*m OK, don*t push me on that.* Then you*re gonna start hearing all kinds of talk about this money. You know what, no I don*t. You don*t hear me doing that. I*m saying, in order for us to go to the place we need to do the kind of work and have the staff, we need for everybody to step things up. But if you*re locked up where you are, then that becomes the issue: *All you talk about is money.* No, I don*t.
D:*Because it*s their focus.
Lee:*Not mine. Yep.
D:*What*s your idea of an ideal church or a model church?
Lee:*I have seen and read of the Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C. The Church of the Savior requires everyone to sign a covenant. And then you re-sign every year, every December, that I still believe in these tenants of the Church of the Savior, and I will live by them. The Church has about 100 members and never got much larger than that. But, it*s a powerful Church. My idea of a model church is a church that has as much diversity as God has. But every person, well, the masses, I wish everyone would be accountable and responsible for their spiritual growth and would be covenant people, no matter who*s the pastor: *I am sold on the principles laid out in the life of this church. Its vision and mission is my vision and mission, and I*m going to do everything I can to live it out.* That, for me* *You have heard me mention probably about Howard Thurman being a person whom I read a lot. I have everything he has written. Howard Thurman started All People*s Church in San Francisco, which was in the late 40*s, early 50*s, the most diverse church in the country. Asians, African Americans, White, etc., etc. That*s where I am at this stage. Loudon happens to be a predominantly black church. I want gospel preached.
To be continued in the next issue of the Blue Ridge Lambda Press.
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