Twenty Years Later

A Presentation Sponsored by All One Body

On November 8, 2018

Expanded Version

Thank you very much for being here.  I invite you to follow my blog as I post entries twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) in the following weeks and months.  I promise that it will be a fascinating journey!

What’s this blog about?

In May of 1998 Classis Grand Rapids East of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) “released” me from the ordained ministry.  Why?  No church was willing to call me to my LGBT+ ministry because I had stated my affirmation of faithful, loving gay unions.  This approach was contrary to that of the denomination.

Early this year I mentioned this 20-year anniversary to friends on the board of All One Body, and they graciously agreed to organize an event for me to share some reflections.  We held this event on November 8, and this blog is an expanded version of the remarks I presented that night.

Here’s a brief overview of what I said on November 8 and the blog entries I will post over the course of the next weeks and months.

• Part 1:  Before Twenty Years Ago
• Part 2:  Twenty Years Ago
• Part 3:  Twenty Years Later
• Part 4:  Future Steps

Please note that I will be presenting stories and insights from the past, but I will be doing so with an eye to the future.  I genuinely want my remarks to provide inspiration and ideas for all of us as we work to be more faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

So here we go . . .

Part 1:  Before Twenty Years Ago

I grew up in the suburbs of Grand Rapids, Michigan—in Wyoming near the border of Grandville—in a healthy, happy, faith-filled home.  Our family was Christian Reformed and had deep roots in the CRC.  In fact, my Lucas ancestors immigrated to West Michigan in the mid-1800’s and became founding members of the first Christian Reformed Church in North America, the Graafschap CRC.  My mom immigrated to Michigan in 1948 with her parents and brothers, and they had been devoted members of the CRC’s counterpart in the Netherlands.

When my parents got married, there was no question about what church they would attend.  Of course, it would be the closest CRC.  I was my parents’ first surviving child, and within 6 years my two sisters and brother were born.  My mom and dad were kind, generous, and self-sacrificing.  They took us to church twice every Sunday and also sent us to Sunday School, catechism, and Christian day schools.  I was a really good kid, excelled in my studies, and graduated second from the top of my class at Calvin Christian High.

The story will continue next Monday as I recount my faith in early adulthood and growing recognition that I’m gay.

Notes:

• All One Body works toward the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members in their church homes.
• Classis Grand Rapids East is a regional body of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.  It is comprised of congregations within an eastern portion Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• LGBT+ is one of a growing number of shorthand ways of referring to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual, gender non-binary, or other gender minority.