Perpetuating a myth
March 2016
“All are Welcome” (March issue of Living Lutheran, page 14) are my least favorite words we use, because all are never welcome. A gay couple holding hands would not be welcome in most churches. A transgender woman would not be welcome to use the restrooms. A crossdressing man or a woman who smells of perfume or something just in off the streets would not be welcome in our midst. Please stop perpetuating this myth. Look at the pictures you ran in the article. They were 80 percent white people who were all dressed nicely. If you want us to be believe that all are welcome anywhere, show us a place where people look differently and are dressed differently and aren’t all white.
The Rev. William R. Dohle Jr.
Peoria, Ill.
Editor's response:
Thank you for taking time to submit a letter and for sharing your opinion. We agree with you and with several people quoted in the “All are welcome” cover story who say that some of our congregations still have work to do in making sure that all actually are welcome. While there is still room for improvement, there are many ELCA congregations, some of which are referenced in the story, that have explicit welcome statements and ministries to make sure that “All are welcome” really means ALL. As pastors interviewed for the story said, “Welcoming is a complicated and emotional challenge that isn’t problematic only to the ELCA.” To this, we think Brenda Smith’s quote at the end of the article offers good advice: “Just having a sign that ‘all are welcome’ isn’t enough. You have to live that sign.”