Championing Love for All

June is PRIDE month. Credit: Unsplash.com

Reflecting on Welcome, Humanity, and Love: A Call to Action During PRIDE Month

At the 2025 Synod Assembly, the La Crosse Area Synod affirmed a resolution to enter a year of discernment, learning, and conversation about becoming a Reconciling in Christ synod. This important step invites the community to explore what it means to be a church that intentionally and openly welcomes all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The journey is grounded in faith, humility, and a commitment to live out the radical love exemplified by Jesus.

During these discussions, a powerful message emerged: the community is not called to vote on anyone’s humanity—that is not subject to debate. Rather, the decision centers on how the synod expresses its commitment to welcome, inclusion, and affirmation. This reminder reinforces the sacred dignity of every person and challenges the church to embody and extend love without reservation.

As PRIDE month is observed—a time to honor the courage, diversity, and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities—this message resonates deeply. It is a time for the church to reflect and recommit to the unwavering truth that every child of God deserves love, respect, and dignity. This commitment goes beyond tolerance to a full embrace of one another, actively dismantling any barriers that prevent true belonging.

The real call to action lies in living out this truth. The question is not whether love and respect are deserved, but how these gifts are demonstrated in everyday life, congregational settings, and the wider community. Responding to God’s unconditional love requires cultivating life-giving relationships rooted in grace, celebrating diversity, seeking justice, and creating safe spaces where all can thrive.

This year of discernment offers an opportunity for the synod and its members to listen attentively, learn courageously, and move forward with humility. It encourages opening hearts wider and embodying a welcome that reflects the inclusive nature of God’s kingdom.

Together, the community is called to be ambassadors of this love—following a path of radical hospitality and extravagant grace, and fostering a church where every person is truly seen, valued, and loved.

Prayer

“Loving God, we give thanks for those who tear down barriers, reflect truth, and guide us toward embracing the fullness of your body—the Church. Inspire us to steadfastly uphold love for every one of your children, especially those who have been marginalized because of who they are.”