By Rev Roberto Ochoa
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1)
My dear friends from the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ and beyond,
During this Pride Month, some of my friends were upset with the introduction of June as also being “Nuclear Family Month” by some state governments. For a lot of folks, it looks like an attempt to minimize the 57 years of celebration of the Gay Lesbian Bi Trans Queer plus communities since the Stonewall uprising in New York City that began the contemporary LGBTQA+ civil rights movement in 1969.
My take is that of course we should honor and celebrate the nuclear families, as much as we celebrate families created by adoption, divorce, widowhood, and the beautiful diversities that make up families. Instead of being upset, we can showcase the family values that exist in our LGBTQ communities in our June celebrations. Many of us came from nuclear families that fell short and hurt us, often in the name of Christianity and the Church when we decided to live our authentic lives. Often this meant the creation of families of our own choosing, that would provide familial love and affirmation when our biological kin could not. I know firsthand how that felt as a young man when my family needed time to process my coming out by refusing to speak to me for over three years. Fortunately, I found those that took on parental and sibling roles during my journey of loss and grief. Most importantly, I found Christ when I needed Jesus the most during this period. I thank God for that.
This past weekend, I was privileged and honored to march with Spirit of Peace and First Congregational UCCs of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in their annual Pride parade. As I marched down on Phillips Ave, downtown Sioux Falls, with Pastors Rev Becky Pagone (Spirit) and Rev Carol Hallman (First Congregational) and their congregations, I noticed the number of families that lined the parade route which was amazing and heartwarming. Families of all types, grandparents, parents, and children waved with excitement with “Happy Pride” and signs of “Love Always Wins” “I Love My Dads” or “I Love My Moms”. I saw t shirts on Moms and Dads offering hugs and I thought, yes, these are our family values…we love and affirm all of God’s children.
The United Church of Christ calls us to affirm that no matter where one is in life, a place can be found in the UCC. That even when we disagree, we make a commitment to inspire to “live together in unity.”
Family values matter in the United Church of Christ, and we are urged to testify values that expresses hope, faith, love, affirmation, and acceptance. Let’s celebrate Family Pride, not only in June, but all year round.
May God’s blessings be upon you and your families through the love of Jesus Christ and the assurance of the Holy Spirit.
Testify to Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwQhsL98qkg&list=RDnwQhsL98qkg&start_radio=1
Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto