Opening Up Again and Again - inclusion at the root of the calling of faith communities

Poland 🇵🇱

Some say that religion and LGBT+ acceptance are at odds with each other. Yet in my understanding and in my changemaking this has proven to be otherwise. I experienced inner healing from a very closed mindset to reconciling my two identities: faith and my sexuality. And now I constantly remind religious communities of their fundamental calling to openness and inclusion. I strive for the full inclusion of LGBT+ persons in churches not just as an expression of equality as a secular concept, but because it is deeply rooted in truths of faith. My faith leads me on in this pursuit, as I have experienced faith and community as affirmative forces in my life and the lives of others.

I grew up in a dissident family of Orthodox Christians in Russia. Despite serious risks at that time, my parents were engaged in social and youth work, international and ecumenical contacts, etc. I inherited the spirit of open-minded, welcoming, socially responsible and politically aware Christianity, where people overcome borders, linguistic barriers and divisions to learn, transcend, celebrate and work together.

My world was a happy place – until I realised I was gay, which caused a constant clash between my two identities: faith and “love orientation”. Nothing was there to help me reconcile them. I only heard about the sinfulness of my nature. That conflict was devastating for my soul but it also affected people around me. I got married and became a father, but was still in pain and hurt others. Eventually, after landing at the very bottom, I had to find a way back up and rebuild my life. In prayer and supported by friends, I learned how to reconcile with myself, nature, God and others.

That path gave inspiration to me as a changemaker: I am an LGBT+ Christian activist, a person at an intersection, whose faith leads them to build bridges, creating a world where nobody is left out. Where people are accepted/supported not despite who they are but thanks. Where dignity is celebrated and where everyone enjoys the same fullness of rights.

First as a staff member of the wonderful European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups (for over 8 years), and now as its co-president, I oversee its capacity-building projects and advocacy work. Focusing on the Orthodox Church, in 2016, I wrote an Open Letter of Orthodox LGBT+ persons to a large church council. The letter caused a storm but it also opened many doors, for the very first time boldly putting “Orthodox” and “LGBT” in one sentence. In the following years, I participated in theological consultations that gave much hope: ever more people, especially in the academia, started to admit that the church, to remain true to its calling, should be affirmative towards LGBT+ persons.

It is my deep conviction that taking down the dividing walls is the essence of the call of God’s children. ‘Radical inclusion’ is very much grounded in the scriptures and tradition: the church initially didn’t see a place in itself for the gentiles unless they renounced their identity. Yet, the Spirit led it to a mind-shift from exclusion to inclusion allowing it to embrace the whole world. The history of the church continued as a cycle of missing the signs, making mistakes, and learning to grow out of them, settling and rebelling, persecuting and being persecuted. And now: learning to see gender,  sexual diversity, human rights and dignity not as a threat but as yet another divine lesson. Making yet another inclusion choice and opening up. Again.