Love Letter HT: RNS

However, while we have sought to remain faithful to our call and covenant, you have not always remained faithful to us. While you have welcomed us as pastors, youth leaders, district superintendents, bishops, professors, missionaries and other forms of religious service, you have required that we not bring our full selves to ministry, that we hide from view our sexual orientations and gender identities. As long as we did this, you gladly affirmed our gifts and graces and used us to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world in the varied places you sent us.

RNS notes that another document is out in support of it signed by Christians and non-Christians alike.

Today, responding to their coming out letter, a broad coalition of national faith leaders outside of the United Methodist Church released a statement in support of these clergy and candidates. The statement celebrates the 111 United Methodist clergy who “risked their own security in order to share the fullness of their gifts with their faith communities and the United Methodist Church.”

National Faith Leader Statement

As siblings in faith, we join with these United Methodist LGBTQI religious leaders in praying that the United Methodist Church will stop harming LGBTQI persons, and we commit ourselves to a world where sexual and gender diversity are understood as a blessing that enriches all.”

Endorsers of the statement:

Imam Daayiee Abdullah, Executive Director, MECCA Institute (Islamic)

Sapreet Kaur, Executive Director, Sikh Coalition (Sikh)

Idit Klein, Executive Director, Keshet (Jewish)

Ms. Ani Zonnevald, President, Muslims for Progressive Values