From the Desk of Pastor Marsha 5.9.25

From the Desk of Pastor Marsha... 5.9.25

As you can see in the e-news this week, Zion will participate in the Iowa City Pride Festival on June 21st, 2025. We will be hosting a table that identifies who we are as a church, which sends an important message to the whole community that we support the LGBTQIA+ community and individuals.

You may be wondering, “Why is this important? We have it on our website that we are a reconciling congregation. Anyone can check and see that we are welcoming.” Which is true, but the problem is that churches have a long history of not being welcoming. Many churches have been very unwelcoming to those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Therefore, for many people they don’t even realize that there might be some churches that are open and welcoming of our friends in the LGBTQIA+ community, and wouldn’t even think to check out a website of any congregation. In fact, most will not have heard of the phrase “Reconciling in Christ” and therefore won’t know what it means. 

As a congregation that is welcoming and enjoys the gifts of LGBTQIA+ people in our midst, we would do well to find ways to be allies and present our support publicly, particularly in this divisive time. An ally is someone who walks alongside another. Because Zion is a congregation where LGBTQIA+ people are welcome and flourish, we have an important message for all searching for a church home that proclaims and lives out God's grace. 

This is how Jesus reached out and welcomed people when he was carrying out his ministry. He visited their homes, talked to them on the streets, reached out and built relationships with those who were on the margins of society as well as those in the center. I imagine this is how Jesus would like us to act in our place and time as well.

This is an ongoing conversation, of course, but I hope we can be open to the idea of Zion building deeper connections with the LGBTQIA+ community here at Zion and in Iowa City as we continue to have the goal of sharing the good news of the gospel with all of God’s children.