TC Pride 2008

[Kris Johnson]

I attended the Mpls Pride celebration this summer with my two sons - one gay and one straight. It was a glorious weekend, perfect weather, joyous family atmosphere. We walked around the festival grounds in Loring Park, watched the parade, and afterward I went down to the area where private commitment ceremonies were being held, and officiated at 7 or 8 of them in the time I had to be there. It was a beautiful, moving experience and I look forward to not only assisting again next year, but to the day when I can do this in my own church at any time.

Overshadowing all of the festivities were two old churches of long standing in Minneapolis. St. Marks Episcopal Church hung their rainbow banners from the top of their bell tower and they could be seen dancing in the breeze.
On the other side of the park, the Basilica of St. Mary, the oldest basilica in the nation, bells pealing calling folks to worship. But what hung over the gathering like a pall was an announcement that Archbishop John Nienstedt had made a few days previously. A local Catholic parish, St. Joan of Arc has been known in our area to be very welcoming to the GLBT community. Previously Nienstedt has forced them to cancel events pertaining to glbt issues, even to telling of people's stories. In past years St. Joan of Arc has held a prayer service in its sanctuary during Pride week to show its support. This year Nienstedt refused to allow the service to take place in the church, even if it was called a peace prayer service.

As my sons and I walked around, watching families with children, couples with pets, people celebrating the gift of family and human love, it seemed so incongruous to hear the sound of church bells - which I normally love to hear- and know that instead of calling all God's children to worship, the doors were barred for some of the most loving people I know.

I pray everyday for all of us, that we will come to understand that our God is a God with open arms and an open heart, not a God who shuts anyone out.

Kris