Durham Street Methodist Church, also known as Aldersgate Centre, is an inclusive church located in central Christchurch. In March the church partnered with Diverse Church (Home - Diverse Church NZ) to host Awaken Conference, a special event for LGBTIAQ+ Christians and allies as part of Christchurch Pride Week.

Being inclusive can bring about meaningful and positive change for a marginalised community.

In 2016 Diverse Church welcomed 120 LGBTQIA+ Christians and allies to All Saints in Ponsonby for the inaugural Awaken Conference. This was an incredible time of learning, as like-minded people focussed on empowering and equipping rainbow Christians in their faith. Since then, Diverse Church has hosted two additional Awaken Conferences, in Auckland in 2019 and Wellington in 2021.

Awaken this year was designed for the LGBTQIA+ (rainbow) community who identify as people of faith, along with youth workers, whanau, and church leaders wanting to engage with and learn about supporting and affirming this community.

Keynote speakers included Karl Hand, from Crave Church, Sydney, Steff Fenton, a queer gender pastor in Australia, and Dr Peter Lineham, renowned historian, professor emeritus, and religious commentator from New Zealand.

Attendees participated in a range of workshops including one jointly arranged with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) where attendees discussed the new law banning conversion practices. Conversation centred on what it means for us, and what people from the rainbow community are saying they need to feel safe in their faith communities.

Caring for LGBTQIA+ youth can be challenging, especially when our churches are so conflicted. We began with a session specifically for youth leaders and workers, designed to help them be more effective with LGBTQIA+ youth - equipping them to understand how to create safe spaces, the importance of those spaces, how to have healthy conversations, and where to find support when required.

My Journey as an Ally

As a speaker for a workshop titled On being an ally or a good bystander for the LGBTQIA+ community, I shared my journey as a migrant with a deep faith tradition, based on the book of Micah chapter 6 verse 8.

And what does the Lord require of me here on earth “To be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), and to walk humbly with your God setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness.

Being a minister gives me a platform to be an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community as I interact with people from various backgrounds, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. I have heard stories and seen instances of my LGBTQIA+ friends being held back in their professional growth and personal wellbeing at work, at family and community gatherings, and church. The stories can be heart-warming, moving and shocking. The commonality that binds us together is wanting to fit in and be accepted.

There comes a time we need to move beyond listening and become real allies, not just a good bystander, but an active participant. Before this can happen, we must confront and challenge our assumptions, prejudices, and unconscious bias.

Acknowledging my humanness opened a pathway to attending many meetings and support networking with Qtopia, and Rainbow Alliance. I was proud to be invited to attend the launch of the Indian Pride Origin at Parliament House - the only minister present. Part of being an ally to our LGBTQIA+ friends and loved ones means developing a true understanding of how the world views and treats them. To learn, we must be willing and open to truly listen.

The Aldersgate Approach

At Aldersgate, we work as a team encouraging and supporting one another to be inclusive. We have created an inclusive environment where LGBTQIA+ can be themselves, and that includes them feeling comfortable enough to be out. Taking risks, opening doors, and making connections with the existing LGBTQIA+ community and service providers gave us the confidence to launch our first PRIDE service in two years. It has grown from strength to strength.

Being an ally in and outside of work for many years has been a journey of learning and growth. It has taught me so much about others and myself. I have been amazed at the impact allyship can have on a personal and collective level.

New Testament scholar Marcus Borg, wrote, “In the last half-century, more Christians have left the church because of the Bible than for any other single reason.” Many Christians have disengaged from trying to relate to texts that appear locked in a mindset that is trapped in a bygone age. I don’t take the Bible literally.

As religious scholar Dominic Crossan teaches, “My point, once again is not that those ancient people told literal stories and we are now smart enough to take them symbolically, but that they told them symbolically and we are now dumb enough to take them literally”. Christian fundamentalism is as perverse and dangerous as Jewish and Islamic fundamentalism.

Scripture should always be interpreted in the light of the Gospel and the Gospel is summed up in the LOVE of our neighbours. The over-arching narrative of the bible teaches us that God is LOVE and nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We are not sent into the world to judge or to condemn. It is especially important now to speak up for inequality as one voice. For this to happen, we must first empower ourselves to be brave in our interactions, conversations, and actions. Understanding our privileges can help us to empathise with marginalised or oppressed groups.

Allyship has taught me, time and time again, to listen to the perspectives of others and let them guide my choices and actions in promoting all aspects of diversity. While allyship can be incredibly impactful on a personal level, its power also lies in the way it drives change in the workplace and broader society.

I am still learning on my allyship journey, but there are things I know for sure: being an ally is humbling, eye-opening and incredibly rewarding. I am a better person, and a better leader, for the relationships I have been lucky to build as an ally. Above all, allyship is incredibly powerful because it enables us all, through empathy and our willingness to listen and act, to drive real change.