What Christ Church Means to Me

By Scott Nelson
November, 2008

ood morning. It is my pleasure to share what Christ Church means to me seven weeks after the baptism of our children in this special place. I have been a devout Christian all of my life and during most of that time have been openly gay. My devotion to Jesus Christ has been unwavering and He has been my greatest role model through good times and bad. Everything I do in my life is based on what I believe Jesus would expect of me. He is the reason why early in my life I decided to be a teacher, developed my particular political and social beliefs, chose to live honestly and accept the consequences, reject materialism, and love unconditionally. So many gay people have rejected the church because the Church has rejected them. Thankfully, my sexuality and my religious faith have never been in conflict.

Jesus Christ never said one word about homosexuality and yet most mainstream Christian denominations have spent far too much time, money, and energy on condemning the love that Joao and I share and the family we have built together. Family is more important to us than any other thing and we are proud to be in a place where all families can be respected.

Four years ago we were at a crossroads. A lesbian minister in Philadelphia had just been stripped of her right to administer sacraments in the Methodist Church and our local UMC minister informed me that if we were to have our future child baptized in the church, my life partner would not be able to stand with me at the altar. After years of service to that church, I walked away after singing “O Holy Night” one last time with tears in my eyes.

The search began for a church home. The first requirement was to find a denomination that did not practice bigotry on a national level. After worshipping in various churches in Union County we settled on the Unitarian Universalist congregation down the street. While I have nothing but respect for the history and traditions of that denomination, something was missing… a focus on Jesus.

Joao and I have very different views on organized religion. I tried so hard to find a place where he would be comfortable raising the family we were ready to build but the local UUC was too far from the Christianity that I passionately needed. The United Church of Christ was the only mainstream Christian denomination that truly accepted gay people at a national level, and now accepts gay marriage, and this was the logical place to end the search.

When I first visited Christ Church, Pastor Julie took me on a tour and I expressed particular interest in the Sunday School program. Antonio arrived on September 7, 2005 and we alternated between the Westfield and Summit churches and their Sunday Schools for a few weeks. It was Antonio who chose the “brown church” over the “white church” as he called them and I agreed. We have been here ever since.

At Christ Church we have a home where the children have an innovative and very active Sunday School program, I am spiritually energized by a fine music program, and Joao can find social and political allies over coffee in discussions about the great issues of our day. Here we find families who share our values and commitment to social justice. Here we listen to sermons which challenge our minds and touch our hearts. Here religious devotion and intellectualism are not exclusive. Here we find people who respect God’s earth and value all of God’s creation. Here we find a place where people are far less concerned with their own personal salvation than with what they can do to help others and make our society more productive.

What does Christ Church mean to me? It is a place where everyone’s unique abilities can be appreciated and used to glorify God. I am convinced that the message and methods of Jesus Christ are truly welcomed here. Thank you.