When I was contacted by the Pastoral Search Committee of First Christian Church a little more than 32 years ago, it was after they had selected my resume as someone that they wanted to interview. The selection process was a bit different, in that the chair of the search committee decided to cover the names and gender of the candidates and ask the committee to select not knowing any specifics about the individual. The purpose of this was to overcome hesitation to consider any female candidates. Following the committee's decision to proceed with an interview, and ultimately to recommend me to the Board and to the congregation, there were those individuals that said that they would leave the church if a woman was hired. Some did leave. Others stayed and eventually changed their minds. The resistance was rooted their belief that scripture said that women shouldn't be pastors, or at least not teaching or leading a congregation. For some the thought was "maybe they could be youth pastors or Christian Education leaders, but no lead pastors." I have always been confident in my calling from God to be ordained and lead a congregation and continue to stand ready to answer any questions that might arise regarding my gender. While looking back on how the search committee brought my name forward, we might chuckle and think that we have come a long way. But the task to be open and affirming of ALL God's people is an on-going work in progress for each of us. Not only has scripture been used to exclude women, but it has too often been used to justify hostility and exclusion towards the socially marginalized, including people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community. As Christians we are to inspire faith, hope and love, and we begin to do that when we open the door, and our hearts, to all God's children and love them as God loves them.
Just as people have asked me how I can "justify" being a woman pastor when their reading of the bible tells them otherwise, I believe that through conversation and questions we can all learn what the scriptures do and don't say about one another. Unfortunately, for centuries, "proof texting" (using scripture to prove a point) has been utilized in a variety of ways to hurt or marginalize individuals and groups and has been done so out of context of the original intent of the scripture and in contradiction to the spirit and intent of God.
To share art and creativity with the community, and further the message that First Christian Church of Glendora believes that God's doors are open to all people, regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation or any other marginalizing description, the church has created a community art installation.
The community art project is built upon the idea of the nationally known art project "God's Doors Are Open to All." The first door was installed for Pride month, symbolizing that God's doors are open to the LGBTQ+ community. The second door installed celebrates the diversity of our community and nation and lifts up immigrants. The most recent door affirms our unhoused neighbors, with a reminder that we are to love our neighbor no matter where they rest. For each of the doors, the church has invited community participation. The community was invited to paint hearts on the door recognizing the LQBTQ community, and the community was invited to personalize a monarch butterfly to place around the second door. With the third door, community members are invited to scan the QR codes to learn more about homelessness and/or find out how they can volunteer or donate to assist those in need.
The over-arching theme for the doors comes from Mark 12:31, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The message is that no matter who you are or where you are from, or where you are on life’s journey, you are loved, and you are welcome here.
Unfortunately, the Pride door was stolen on October 15. We don't know what their intention was, but we stand firm in our intention to continue to offer God's love and grace to all (even to the person that stole the door). We intend to continue to find ways to love one another, every single other. We replaced the stolen door with one that reads, "Love Wins", and we invited the community to paint on the door on November 14 and 15. With each door we create, we want the community to be a part and share in the message of grace and hope. And, we have more doors to add, even as God reminds us that the door to grace, love and hope is always open.