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Values

Before we could start thinking about what we "do," it was important to articulate what we believe and where our priorities lie. This is not necessarily exhaustive, but we hope that it will make clear where we are coming from and why we were motivated to begin this adventure.

Inspired by Christ

First and foremost, the motivation for our work comes from the example of Christ. Those of us who identify as Christian have come to believe that God mourns the exclusion of LGBTQ people from full participation in the Body of Christ, and so we feel called to the hard, yet beautiful work, of reconciliation. It's important that we be clear - religion, and specifically Christianity, are not the problems when it comes to gender identity and sexual orientation—rather, it is the misinterpretation and misappropriation of scripture, tradition, and human experiences which are wrong. We are convicted that at their heart, Christianity and the Scriptures lend themselves to supporting LGBTQ identities.


So what then shall we do? We find ourselves asking "Whom shall You send? Is it us, Lord?" like the text from Isaiah chapter 6 (and one of Brian's favorite songs). Christian faith has long been a motivation to challenge the status quo for the sake of the Good News and we find ourselves in that position again today. Scripture and Christian tradition inspire us to speak out and stand up. It is because, not in spite, of, an appreciation for and/or commitment to traditional Christian principles that we find ourselves here today.

Community

Sanctuary Collective strives to be an inclusive community, journeying together toward healing and reconciliation. We desire to listen to every voice and seek to understand the experiences and choices that have been a part of our lives as LGBTQ people and friends. To that end, we will begin showcasing the various folks who are connected to Sanctuary Collective—the people praying for us (and you), the people creating Bible studies and prayers, the people paying our website bills and transportation costs, and most importantly, others like yourself around the country working to continue Jesus's vision of an inclusive Body of Christ, on earth as it is in heaven.

Youth Leadership

We firmly believe that every young adult has the potential to be a leader and agent of change, even if they (or you!) don't believe it about themselves. We as the Sanctuary Collective may not always know what needs to happen in every situation, but we can support young adults and share resources so that they will be empowered to make those decisions, start life-saving conversations, and begin creating change themselves. We don't see ourselves as a voice for the voiceless - everyone has a voice. It's our hope that we can be quiet enough to hear the voices of affirmation rising from Christian communities around the country, and bold enough to support, nurture, and share those voices.

Nonviolence

We affirm the potential for reconciliation and the good intentions in all people. Nonviolence is more than physical restraint, it is also an approach to life and relationships. We commit to refraining from violence of thought, speech, and fist. We will relentlessly pursue reconciliation with those who label us sick and sinful, and we recognize that we have things to learn from them along the way. Nonviolence is also not non-confrontational. There are times when a commitment to love and nonviolence demand that we act, causing a creative agitation which will spark dialogue and lead to reconciliation. Nonviolence also involves a dying to self, as Christ instructs us. We willingly put ourselves in the way of the crucifying forces of the world, exposing and absorbing the spiritual (and if necessary physical) violence directed at LGBTQ people.

Equal Engagement

Sanctuary Collective is excited to engage with a diverse network of supporters and participants. We recognize that the vision that the American church has historically held for inclusion in the body of Christ has been narrow and deficient, and we seek to address this issue through our work.

If you have seen very few faces or bodies like yours represented in the movement for equality, we need you as part of our collective. We pursue partnerships and relationships especially with people of color, Native people, people of all religions, people of any nationality and with any immigration status, transgender and gender variant people, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, people of all sizes, people of all abilities, people of all ages, people from all economic backgrounds, and anyone else who has seen themselves excluded on the basis of who they are - and if you see yourself reflected in these concepts, we also encourage you to reach out and work with us.