Worthing Baptist does Pride
Yes, we did it. What an exciting achievement. When many churches are unaffirming of the LGBTQAI+ community, we had the joy of being in the Pride parade alongside them. An unforgettable day.
Actually it all started around ten years ago when the church leaders began to consider the church’s position on LGBT issues. Our minister, Mike, carefully considered all sides of the debate and was led to encourage the church to love and affirm LGBTQAI+ people. Not an easy journey. It took several years with many twists and turns. Now, most of the congregation have gradually changed their thinking and realised how right it is to be inclusive.
I only joined the church 4 years ago because I wanted somewhere to marry my faith and my homosexuality, and to find a safe place to be both the Christian man and the gay man that I am. I can do that here. I’m so glad that I found it. It’s a beautiful thing.
The day at the Pride Parade was itself an amazing time. Around 30 of us gathered. The weather was hot and sunny with a bit of a breeze. In fact we had to keep a strong hold on our banner to prevent it flying away or even forcing one of us into spontaneous windsurfing in the sea.
The banner was specially made with a message on it. It said ‘You are loved as you are’. We all felt that we wanted to show our church’s acceptance and inclusion of the LGBTQAI+ community, hoping to redress some of the strongly negative messages that for many decades have come from many churches worldwide.
One amazing aspect of the day was the enthusiasm with which the congregation ran with the idea of being in the Pride Parade. For many it was their first ever Pride. I know some were nervous, yet so many people wanted to take their inclusive faith outside of the church building and make it truly public, where indirectly they could share their love for the LGBTQAI+ community.
Our banner advertised the church, and many people wore our purple church T shirt in a great act of solidarity. But what beamed out more than these things were the smiles and love emanating from everyone from the church. One of the men with us was quite taken with the fantastic positivity and atmosphere generated by the whole parade. A real first for him.
One of the other groups on the Parade were the Worthing Rainbow Collective, a newly formed group of local LGBTQAI+ people. We were able to have some joyful and fun interaction with them. Thank you too WRC for donating 20 whistles to us on the day to ‘make some noise!’
You never know what effect you have on people and my prayer is that many people will have been touched by our message, and that seeds of hope may grow. We did have one passerby tell us how grateful she was to see us and our message at Pride. Things were difficult for her but our presence helped her she said. I’m sure there were others silently feeling the same.
It was a privilege to be there. Although it was about my 20th Pride it was my first with a wonderful affirming church. I hope that there will be many more.
I did tear up a little on the parade as I looked around and realised the great enormity of what we were doing. I’d never dared to believe that I could march in a Pride parade with a church that loves me just as I am, but there I was. Awesome!
Having spent 4 years in church being a gay man in a Christian environment, I have finally also had time at Pride being a Christian in the gay world. I love it. I’m just being me.
Happy Pride.