Baylor’s recent decision to rescind the research grant focused on “trauma-informed practices for people marginalized by the church, including LGBTQIA+ individuals and women” is disheartening. It signals a retreat from compassion and understanding at a time when it is desperately needed.
As a white, heterosexual, cisgendered female pastor, I am deeply alarmed by the Church’s ongoing efforts to marginalize and harm those it considers unfit or unworthy. This rescinded research grant represented a beacon of hope, a tangible step toward healing and comprehension. Jesus calls us to love God and our neighbors, yet the actions of the church directly contradict these commandments, ignoring the truth that all humans are created in God’s image.
A decade ago, I conducted an informal survey of the LGBTQIA+ community at Baylor University. This was more than gathering data.
It was a critical attempt to illuminate the experiences and perspectives of LGBTQIA+ persons whose stories have been overlooked, dismissed or suppressed within the church. The goal was to provide them with spiritual care.
I collected thirty-one completed surveys, which posed three demographic questions to gain insight into the respondents’ identities and personhood. I ensured anonymity to protect the dignity of those who shared their truths.
Each person who identified themselves as LGBTQIA+ is not a statistic, but a real person in pain, a person genuinely searching for spiritual care and affirmation within a faith community.
In seeking to understand their experiences, I aimed to identify potential areas for improved support and understanding. To achieve this, I asked respondents two questions.
First, I inquired about the reactions they received from religious people towards themselves and the LGBTQIA+ community. Second, I asked what kind of support or care they would like to receive from a religious community.
The responses to my first question reveal a disconcerting and damaging pattern among many religious persons towards the LGBTQIA+ community, which we cannot ignore. These harmful responses can be categorized into seven distinct groups: judgment/prejudice, condemnation, misunderstanding, rejection, questioning and denial, preaching and change, and avoidance. Among these, condemnation stands out as the most prominent, closely followed by judgment and prejudice.
Comments in these categories undermined the personhood of LGBTQIA+ persons, labeled their sexual orientation as sinful, suggested their lifestyle was a choice, promoted heteronormative views on sexuality, asserted eternal condemnation, and claimed they could not have a relationship with God because of their queer identity.
It’s crucial to recognize the harmful language often directed at LGBTQIA+ persons. Statements like “You are perverted,” “Sodomy is a sin,” “It is unnatural,” and “It is against God” perpetuate discrimination and inflict deep emotional wounds. When people hear things like “You make Jesus cry,” “You are all going to hell,” or “God does not love you,” it fosters an environment of fear and isolation.
Many in the LGBTQIA+ community have spoken about the profound impact these sentiments have on their lives. One respondent noted that they’ve stopped expecting acceptance from the church and instead want guarantees of their rights from the state. The tension between the church and the LGBTQIA+ community adds complexity to the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ persons.
In response to my second question regarding support and care, respondents voiced a longing for unconditional love, affirmation of their worth, fulfillment of their needs, and a genuine sense of being welcomed and accepted for who they are. They desire religious persons to share powerful messages, such as: “God loves you, and we love you;” “You are whole and precious in God’s sight;” “You are welcomed and valued in our church;” and “Is there anything you would like to talk about or anything I can do for you?”
On the other hand, participants emphasized the critical need for religious persons to avoid judgment, refrain from imposing their beliefs, treat them with respect, and see them as persons rather than focusing on their sexual orientation. Additionally, respondents emphasized the importance of religious individuals seeking common ground, practicing fairness, offering guidance toward inclusive communities, and committing to ongoing education, sensitivity, and inclusivity.
The survey results clearly indicate that participants experience a strained relationship with the church. They yearn for a nurturing environment where they are accepted for who they are, rather than feeling ostracized or alienated.
The church must take concrete steps to foster a sense of belonging and acceptance. We cannot afford to ignore the voices of those who have been marginalized; doing so compounds their suffering and perpetuates a cycle of exclusion and silence.
Rebuilding the relationship between the church and the LGBTQIA+ community is an essential journey that begins with love. For too long, the experiences of many LGBTQIA+ persons have revealed a painful truth: many in the church have failed to embrace and acknowledge them as beloved creations in the image of God.
This failure not only diminishes their worth but also fundamentally contradicts the essence of God’s will and personhood. Every human being is created in God’s image and possesses inherent value that is intrinsically connected to the Divine. When we acknowledge this truth, we recognize the dignity that each LGBTQIA+ person holds, a dignity that demands our ethical response.
Thus, as people of faith, we must heed the call to “do no harm,” understanding that inflicting pain upon others is a profound betrayal of the respect owed to them as bearers of God’s image. We must love because love is our greatest commandment and the foundation of our faith.
To love as God loves us means to see with compassion, to engage actively in the struggles of others, and to create a space where mutuality and equality thrive.
The time for dialogue and understanding is now. As followers of Christ, let us stand up for the rights and dignity of all people and work together to create a community where love and respect prevail.
In this place, every person’s worth is not only acknowledged but also celebrated and valued. This is more than a call to action. It’s a crucial step toward building our faith and future on justice and compassion.
Editor’s Note: Robin Drake’s original research paper can be found here.
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Graduate of Baylor University: BBA ’81 and M.Div. in Sports Ministry ’16.
