Always willing to help people with their personal advancement I thought nothing of it and said yes I would do it.

Within moments I had received the questionnaire via e-mail.  I opened it and read the cover letter telling me the focus was on LGBT ministries and outreach.  I must admit I was a little slow, I immediately thought I was dealing with some Episcopalian or Baptist sort of term that I was not familiar with.  I assumed it would be explained to me in the questionnaire. 

I opened the ‘very long’ questionnaire and proceeded.  The first three questions were information waivers regarding our church.  The fourth question referred back to this strange species the ‘LGBT’, asking me if they were welcomed and ‘what wording’ did we use to make them feel welcome.

At that point I knew I would have to focus my attention on who these unnameable LGBT’s were; in the whole document the acronym was never explained.

Well I may sometimes miss the obvious but it doesn’t usually take me long to catch up.  And catch up I did; after all I grew up in the Kootenays, possibly the Canadian Capital of alternative choices.  So although I have known many people in alternative relationships I had never actually been introduced to the acronym used here.

What struck me with such force was the lack of tolerance suggested by this questionnaire.  The very act of asking some of these questions means there would be people somewhere holding a high level of intolerance.  Of course I recognize this is so in some religious theatres; still I feel such a sense of gratitude for such a high level of genuine openness in this community I choose to call home.  I recognize that many people in our community consider such alternate choices to be strange, yet still there appears to be a level of acceptance exemplary of the teachings of the great master in the good book.

The lesson he taught more than any other is the lesson of unconditional inclusion.  Almost across the board the only people he consistently rebuked were the ones of strong religious opinion, the ones of moral judgment.  Again and again we were reminded by the great teacher to lay aside our opinions and embrace all people as our complete equals. 

As I answered the survey, with every question of inclusion I found myself repeating “why not?”  Why not include LGBT’s (people of alternative sexual persuasions) in services, social activities, prayer and bible study groups?  Why not include them as lay ministers, Sunday speakers, youth and children’s leaders?  Why ever would I exclude any person who exhibits those qualities that Jesus the master exhibited, even though they may have different relationship leanings than I?