Trans Faith: A Response By Rev. William T. Young IV
I
was privileged to guide my previous congregations in the United Kingdom through the hard and bitter process of publicly affirming LGBTQIA+ relationships. In that journey, the most compelling arguments came from the youngest congregants. When I spoke candidly with them about the struggle of some of the older members
and even my own, one of the youths said, “Just start with love.” Out of the mouths of babes… I commend Dr. Bego for his article and strong affirmation of humanity, biblical integrity and holistic pastoral concern. These tools are necessary for people of faith to discern how radically inclusive the faith of Jesus truly is and what it means for our generation. Raising the Ethiopian eunuch as a representative
produced tragic consequences that has left the church
of social outcasts (sexual, gender or otherwise)
preaching and living our learned opinions and
deserves elaboration that the injunction to include
behaviors, but not thoroughly revolutionized by
them predates Jesus. Deuteronomic law originally
Love.
banned eunuchs from the temple and branded them
As the proud pastor of one of the few publicly
with the stereotype unclean. However, the radical
Affirming
and
Welcoming
African-American
initiative of prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah was to
churches in the nation, with a painful history of its
expand God’s kingdom, and, thereby, calling for
growth into the inclusive process, we understand that
eunuchs to be included in the kingdom. Jeremiah,
a church’s public move toward becoming an
who incidentally was rescued by an Ethiopian
inclusive ministry is not without internal loss and
eunuch (Jeremiah 38:6-13) further begs the question:
external alienation. The journey, however, is a
What do you do when the one you have been taught
fruitful engagement in the long run. In fact, some of
to despise saves YOU?
the most faithful and engaged members of Covenant
The prophets’ radical initiative is the beautiful
Baptist are transgender, and we support the Wanda
idea that, in eras of violence and imperial tedium,
Alston Foundation, which shelters and supports
God’s
homeless LGBTQIA+ youth who are estranged from
way
is
to
expand
the
“KinDom.”
Unfortunately, traditional biblical sexual ethics have
their families.
Gomorrah
Dave Chappell’s routine is evidence against the
(destroyed for lack of hospitality, not for sexual
popular criticism that, in being allies to our
impropriety) rather than the prophets. This has
LGBTQIA+
errantly
begun
with
Sodom
and
siblings,
April/May 2022 | Capital Baptist Newsletter
19
Christians
are
merely
