Rev Philomeno Kinera, Parish Superintendent at Aldersgate Centre, Durham Street Methodist Church, Christchurch, reflects on recent Pride events at Aldersgate and the role of church in ensuring that no one should feel isolated, marginalised and alone.

An evening of games, interaction and pizzabrought together people from different backgrounds, countries, age groups and sexual orientation. The aim of the games evening was to create a safe place for our ethnic rainbow communities. This vision was extended at our Pride service on Sunday. The turnout included people from diverse agencies, ethnic communities and service providers. Around tables, we shared narratives from and issues facing LGBTQIA+ communities. It was heart-wrenching to hear what some people had to endure, including insults and negative comments on a daily basis. At the beginning of the service we affirmed that God makes no mistakes and does not abandon his creations. Barriers and fences of uncertainty around xenophobia and homophobia slowly came down replaced by laughter, acceptance, respect and understanding.

Church and Sexual Diversity

How can we erase the prejudices that ethnic and rainbow communities face? What is our role as a church committed to sharing the unconditional love of God? Is there a place in our churches for our LGBTQIA+ communities that includes equal participation and rights?

Despite all the latest technology and innovations available to us, the basic social needs to live, to belong and to be accepted have not progressed across all sectors of the community.

Rainbow communities face tremendous challenges and find it hard to become part of any community, especially the church community. Many remain closeted, unable to express their faith and celebrate who they are.

Our ethnic communities are historically conservative and traditional. As a Singaporean Kiwi Indian, I have faced cultural bias and endured racist slurs. I have no doubt that people who identify themselves as LGBTQIA+ and their families face many challenges and hurdles. They are subject to homophobic slurs and psychological abuse. Being made to feel invisible can lead to isolation, depression, mental illness and suicide. Ethnic LGBTQIA+ communities have additional challenges as their identity is intertwined with culture and religion. To practise one without the other is to tear apart what makes a person human.

​The bridge between faith and sexuality has been destroyed over the years, leading to misunderstanding and self-sabotage for LGBTQIA+ Christians who fail to obtain the connection and support they need and desire. Our vision is to lead the way for LGBTQIA+ and their families so they can be proud of their identity. Observing the interaction during our two events affirmed the fact that identities make us unique, special and fabulous. And arguably, there’s nowhere more colourful than the rainbow community.

The Pride Sunday service began with the acknowledgement of Matariki; we are as brilliant as the stars created by God. Psalm 139:14 highlights the work of God and emphasises the need for us to be thankful for who we are. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.”

Sexual orientation never stops us from being beloved sons and daughters of God. If we are able to claim this truth, we can help others understand it. It is undoubtedly a challenging but much needed path to follow in order for the Church to be more open and welcoming. God does not have any issue with our sexuality because, as it is written in Jeremiah 1:5, God knew us before we were born. He knows us more than we know ourselves and we are called to something greater than our sexuality. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

God Does Not Discriminate

The Church must make every effort to understand what it means to be LGBTQIA+ and exercise one’s faith. And the first step is to talk with and listen and engage. In every age the Church finds herself asking important moral questions. At one and the same time, the Church cannot change and the Church has to change.

Jesus invites us, regardless of sexual orientation, to love one another. That we love may be more important than how we love.

We want to provide safe spaces and environments where all people can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment or other emotional or physical harm. Our Pride events sent a message that no one should feel isolated, marginalised and alone. This is in line with our philosophy of Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors.

The mercy of God invites us to listen, to hear each other’s stories, to share each other’s joys and sorrows. We are all children of God. We all need the mercy of God and are called to extend that mercy. As Pope Francis said, “No one is excluded from the mercy of God.” No one has to be other than who they are to receive it; it is available to all of us as we are.