Yes! It is very hard for those of us who are LGBTQ to return to church even when welcomed by the pastor. Not all congregations are on board even if they call themselves reconciling. It is hard for any of us who study the Bible in a scholarly rather than apologetic way. AND all mainline churches serve the religious industrial complex at least to some extent and yes, belief matters more than relationships. I can make myself comfortable in church if I stay inwardly congruent with my thoughts and language, but the undercurrent of social pressure to assimilate is always there. I've found much more social justice activity in non church groups and prefer to make them my church as I learn to love my neighbor from those groups.
Yes! It is very hard for those of us who are LGBTQ to return to church even when welcomed by the pastor. Not all congregations are on board even if they call themselves reconciling. It is hard for any of us who study the Bible in a scholarly rather than apologetic way. AND all mainline churches serve the religious industrial complex at least to some extent and yes, belief matters more than relationships. I can make myself comfortable in church if I stay inwardly congruent with my thoughts and language, but the undercurrent of social pressure to assimilate is always there. I've found much more social justice activity in non church groups and prefer to make them my church as I learn to love my neighbor from those groups.