Spring Break
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
CHICAGO _ For Dotti Berry, healing the rift between religious conservatives and gay-marriage advocates could be as simple as replacing both sides' stereotypes with a human face.
"You can't hate someone whose story you know," Berry said Sunday in suburban Fox River Grove, Ill.. "My hope is that by meeting people, they'll come to realize that what they might have been taught is not computing."
Berry, visiting from Blaine, Wash., with her partner of 7 years, Roby Sapp, had just returned from testing that theory Sunday afternoon at the Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., one of the Midwest's largest churches. Alongside a group of gay Christians, their family members and clergy _ including Jay Bakker, the son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker _ they met with Willow Creek leadership, hoping to begin a cordial dialogue about how the church views homosexuality.
The effort was one of six visits this spring organized around the nation by the gay-rights advocacy group Soulforce, each attempting to bring together gay families with leaders and members of influential "mega-churches" to discuss religious attitudes about homosexuality.
Members of the group that visited Willow Creek was optimistic after their meeting with the church's leaders, including senior pastor Bill Hybels. They were treated with respect and open ears, even if only limited common ground was reached, they said.
"It was a good first step today," said Berry, 54.
Willow Creek was one of the first to welcome Soulforce, which is based in Lynchburg, Va., to worship and engage in dialogue with Hybels, church elders and staff, said Jeff Lutes, executive director of Soulforce.
"Bill Hybels is to be commended," Lutes said. "They were the first church that responded to our letters and to begin to have conversations with us and show willingness to meet face to face. By being willing to sit down at the table with us, they've demonstrated courage."
Other pastors have not been as welcoming. Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md., accepted the invitation but at the last minute insisted on a debate, and Rev. Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston did not respond to any of Soulforce's attempts to reach him. But he warmly welcomed Jay Bakker to his church when the group showed up to worship anyway.
"You can't hate someone whose story you know," Berry said Sunday in suburban Fox River Grove, Ill.. "My hope is that by meeting people, they'll come to realize that what they might have been taught is not computing."
Berry, visiting from Blaine, Wash., with her partner of 7 years, Roby Sapp, had just returned from testing that theory Sunday afternoon at the Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., one of the Midwest's largest churches. Alongside a group of gay Christians, their family members and clergy _ including Jay Bakker, the son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker _ they met with Willow Creek leadership, hoping to begin a cordial dialogue about how the church views homosexuality.
The effort was one of six visits this spring organized around the nation by the gay-rights advocacy group Soulforce, each attempting to bring together gay families with leaders and members of influential "mega-churches" to discuss religious attitudes about homosexuality.
Members of the group that visited Willow Creek was optimistic after their meeting with the church's leaders, including senior pastor Bill Hybels. They were treated with respect and open ears, even if only limited common ground was reached, they said.
"It was a good first step today," said Berry, 54.
Willow Creek was one of the first to welcome Soulforce, which is based in Lynchburg, Va., to worship and engage in dialogue with Hybels, church elders and staff, said Jeff Lutes, executive director of Soulforce.
"Bill Hybels is to be commended," Lutes said. "They were the first church that responded to our letters and to begin to have conversations with us and show willingness to meet face to face. By being willing to sit down at the table with us, they've demonstrated courage."
Other pastors have not been as welcoming. Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md., accepted the invitation but at the last minute insisted on a debate, and Rev. Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston did not respond to any of Soulforce's attempts to reach him. But he warmly welcomed Jay Bakker to his church when the group showed up to worship anyway.
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