Christians work to bridge the rift between gay, conservative communities
June 9, 2008
Robert Mitchum and Manya Brachear - Chicago TribuneIssue date: 6/5/08 Section: Real News
Bakker, 32, who has led his own Revolution Church since 1994, said he was drawn to help Soulforce's efforts by the group's willingness to engage religious leaders rather than fight them.
"I liked it because it wasn't protesting, it was trying to have conversation," Bakker said Sunday. "I know from experience what happens when Christians start gossiping and rejecting other Christians."
Bakker said he came under fire when he publicly supported homosexuality and gay marriage three years ago. But he commended the response of the Willow Creek leadership to Sunday's meeting. "They listened, they ate with us, when a lot of churches struggle to show hospitality to these groups," he said.
Betty Schmidt, a longtime elder at Willow Creek, described Willow as a welcoming congregation, even though the church does not accept gay and lesbian members who don't stay celibate.
"It's a very warm and welcoming atmosphere," she said. "It would certainly be my experience that we would never single out or identify or discriminate against anyone."
Schmidt said she feels strongly that people do not choose to be gay, and many in the Soulforce group said they were happy to hear similar sentiments from several church leaders at Sunday's meeting.
But others said that large, influential churches like Willow Creek could still do more to adjust their views on homosexuality and treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families.
"I think for instance Bill Hybels could say just a few words from his pulpit without either opposing us or condoning us to make the world a lot safer for my child
"I liked it because it wasn't protesting, it was trying to have conversation," Bakker said Sunday. "I know from experience what happens when Christians start gossiping and rejecting other Christians."
Bakker said he came under fire when he publicly supported homosexuality and gay marriage three years ago. But he commended the response of the Willow Creek leadership to Sunday's meeting. "They listened, they ate with us, when a lot of churches struggle to show hospitality to these groups," he said.
Betty Schmidt, a longtime elder at Willow Creek, described Willow as a welcoming congregation, even though the church does not accept gay and lesbian members who don't stay celibate.
"It's a very warm and welcoming atmosphere," she said. "It would certainly be my experience that we would never single out or identify or discriminate against anyone."
Schmidt said she feels strongly that people do not choose to be gay, and many in the Soulforce group said they were happy to hear similar sentiments from several church leaders at Sunday's meeting.
But others said that large, influential churches like Willow Creek could still do more to adjust their views on homosexuality and treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families.
"I think for instance Bill Hybels could say just a few words from his pulpit without either opposing us or condoning us to make the world a lot safer for my child
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