『A Vacation Bible School and a Drag Show Walk Into My Life… +Audio』のカバーアート

A Vacation Bible School and a Drag Show Walk Into My Life… +Audio

A Vacation Bible School and a Drag Show Walk Into My Life… +Audio

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I had experiences last month with two very different groups who welcomed with abandon. These groups curated belonging like it was second nature. However, from the outside, they look like they should exist at opposite ends of a spectrum. One was the Vacation Bible School (VBS) team at a local United Methodist church, and the other, a local drag show & brunch fundraiser.But before I tell you those stories, let me tell you a little about how I became this person who volunteers at a VBS and attends a drag show in the same weekend.Learning by WatchingI was raised Catholic, and both of my parents worked for the church we attended. My mom was the director of religious education, and my dad the director of music. For my siblings and I, the church was our second home, and the people at church were our second family.When I share with people that I was raised “very catholic,” the image it conjures in their minds usually misses the mark. I don’t mean rigid dogma or strict rules requiring hourly rosaries. What I do mean is that we spent a lot of time at church and that my parents taught us, through their actions, that all life is inherently sacred and valuable. And that because every person’s life is sacred, that human dignity is inalienable — meaning it is given, not earned, and it cannot be taken away for any reason; not poverty, illness, disability, skin color, being an immigrant, having a different sexuality or gender, being in prison, or for any other reason.I will never forget the night my older sister, who was a year ahead of me in school, brought a friend home for dinner. He had messy black hair that spiked a few inches off his head, dark eyeliner, bold outlined lips, and heavy metal jewelry. I watched my mom’s eyes widen in initial surprise when they met, but within a split second, her face rearranged into a warm, genuinely welcoming smile. She told him how nice it was to meet him, and we spent the evening visiting around the table.My parents didn’t demand conformity. They didn’t preach to me and my siblings about accepting and welcoming people different than us. They showed us with their actions; with the way they made people feel welcome, included, and protected.Beliefs which alienate vs. includeAs I looked for a spiritual home as an adult, it was hard to find a church that felt like what I experienced growing up. It felt like trying to locate one unique grain of sand on the vast ocean floor. Along the way, I came across too many examples of faith and religion being held up as rationale for alienating and vilifying people who live or believe differently. I couldn’t help but wonder how the foundation had slipped so far away from loving our neighbor and valuing the dignity in all life.My family eventually found our home in a Jesuit parish with a strong focus on social justice, and I am continually thankful to the friend who introduced us to this community. A few months ago, I came upon another faith-based community which made me feel at home - and this is the one I’m going to tell you about today.This is going to sound like the beginning of a joke…What happens when an Israeli Jewish woman, a lesbian couple, a Catholic, and their families show up at a United Methodist church to volunteer for Vacation Bible School (VBS)?Magic. That’s what happens.Entering this community felt like walking into a warm hug. There were no rules about who fit and who didn’t. No gatekeepers making sure we conformed to their version of faith. And no rigid doctrine deciding who was “in” vs. who was “out.”To me, the ultimate expression of faith is expanding the table to include everyone, without any pressure to conform. Sharing our own beliefs and values in a way that welcomes someone to explore, while in parallel showing genuine interest in who the other person is, and being willing to shape our own beliefs based on what we learn from them.Ministry at this church was space-making; not gatekeeping. They drew people in, and made them feel like they belong. They demonstrated what it means to value all life, unconditionally.Here are a few things that stood out to me. * The church staff was excited and positively blown away by my friend’s ability to bring in such diverse volunteers from outside their community. They weren’t awkward or stressed out about interacting with people different from them - they were jazzed by it.* My kiddos volunteered and were warmly invited to join social post-camp activities with other teen volunteers. Disability was not a barrier. There was no hesitation in the invitation. The attitude seemed to be, ‘of course they should join us!”* The staff checked in with me and my kids on physical accommodations, volunteer roles, and to make sure they had everything they needed to feel supported. Not just for the VBS itself, but for the post-camp teen fun as well.* My kiddo with a disability and I pre-planned how she would navigate the transition between floors (peeling off from ...
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