Clarity: Shane Claiborne & The Wild Goose Festival
I was the first openly gay pastor in the Vineyard movement, and perhaps in the entirety of the evangelical orbit. I was fired in 2014, and my then-lead pastor, Ken Wilson, was fired for refusing to fire me. We now co-pastor a beautiful church called Blue Ocean Faith Ann Arbor (a2blue.org). We also co-wrote Solus Jesus: A Theology of Resistance.
Most of the time, I don’t spend my energy engaging “progressive evangelicals,” because it’s exhausting and, frankly, I see it as (mostly) ally work. But I feel allies are failing the queer Christian community here.
“Progressive evangelicals” come in two forms in relation to the queer community. The first type doesn’t believe the Bible condemns same-sex relationships and leadership, but they are unwilling to pay the cost of fighting for different policies regarding gay marriage and ordination and they are willing to enforce stigmatizing policies in the name of “slow change.” The second type believes the Bible condemns same-sex marriage, but covers the hard edge of their beliefs with soft language.
Shane Claiborne is the latter.
The Wild Goose Festival is a progressive Christian outdoor conference that takes place in the hills of North Carolina each July. When I attended last year, it was awash in rainbow flags and affirming speakers…
