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Earlier this summer, our Interim Executive Director, Roberto Lara Aranda, was invited to preach during an international ecumenical leadership retreat at the Vatican, offering the first ecumenical homily in the program’s history. He went openly as a queer Lutheran and as a leader of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, carrying the witness of our community with him into that room.

The sermon that follows takes up one of Jesus’ most demanding commands, to love our enemies, and traces a divine mercy that keeps reaching past the boundaries we are tempted to draw. Drawing on the story of Ahab, the Lutheran conviction that grace is God’s work before it is ours, and his own years of accompaniment alongside immigrant and LGBTQIA+ communities, Roberto invites us to imagine grace as wide as God intends it, and to carry that love into our leadership, our ministries, and our shared life.

We are honored to share it with you.

—

Dear Siblings in Christ,

The Gospel we have just heard contains one of the most demanding commands Jesus ever gives: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

If we read this passage too quickly, we are tempted to make it smaller. We tell ourselves that Jesus must be speaking about people who irritate us, colleagues with whom we disagree, relatives we find difficult. Surely Jesus means those ordinary tensions that accompany life together.

But the text will not allow us that escape. Jesus is precise. He speaks of enemies. Those who persecute. Those who oppose us. He is calling us to extend love beyond the boundaries that fear, anger, ideology, and even our wounds would naturally draw.

For those of us entrusted with leadership in the Church, this teaching is not an abstract ideal. It is a daily discipline. To lead in a synodal way is to refuse, day after day, to place anyone outside the circle of accompaniment.

The first reading offers a striking example. Elijah is sent to confront King Ahab after the murder of Naboth and the theft of his vineyard. The prophet does not soften the truth. He names the injustice. He names the abuse of power. He speaks God’s judgment plainly.

Yet the story does not end there.

When Ahab hears these words, he tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth, fasts, and humbles himself. Then God says to Elijah, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me?” (1 Kings 21:29)

What surprises us is not Elijah’s courage. What surprises us is God’s response.

The God we serve does not draw the line where we would draw it. God’s mercy continually exceeds our calculations.

As a Lutheran, I have always been shaped by the conviction that salvation is God’s work before it is ours. We confess that we are saved by grace through faith, not because of our own achievements or worthiness, but because of the boundless mercy revealed in Jesus Christ. The Lutheran tradition speaks often of a God who never tires of seeking, forgiving, restoring, and reconciling.

I am reminded of a sermon by Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, who recently completed her service as Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — my church. Reflecting on the breadth of God’s saving work in Christ, she invited us to consider whether we sometimes place limits on a grace that God has not limited. Whenever I have shared that idea with friends, the same questions arise: What about those who have done terrible evil? What about those whose actions seem beyond forgiveness?

And I recognize in those questions something deeply human. We rejoice in God’s mercy for ourselves and for those we love. Yet we often struggle to imagine that same mercy reaching those whom we fear, resent, or condemn.

The story of Ahab reminds us that God’s desire is not exclusion but reconciliation.

This truth has accompanied me throughout my ministry and professional life. I have seen it while accompanying immigrant communities in the United States who have often been treated as strangers or threats by the very societies they enrich. I have seen it while walking alongside LGBTQIA+ Christian ministers whose gifts and vocations have not always been recognized by every part of the church. Again and again, I have learned that the love Jesus commands is not sentimental. It is demanding. It asks us to keep our hearts open precisely where experience teaches us to close them.

And perhaps that is why Psalm 51 remains one of the Church’s most beloved prayers. The psalmist cries out, “Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). The psalmist knows that reconciliation begins not with our own efforts but with God’s mercy.

Jesus concludes today’s Gospel with words that have challenged generations of Christians: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

The Greek word translated as “perfect” is teleios (télios). It does not mean flawless. It means complete, whole, brought to its intended fullness. Jesus is inviting us into the fullness of God’s love — a love that extends beyond every boundary we create.

As we gather around the Lord’s table, we come not as people who have perfected that love, but as people who need it. We come as those continually being forgiven, continually being renewed, continually being drawn into a larger communion than we would create for ourselves.

And from that table, Christ sends us back into the world as leaders, companions, bridge-builders, and witnesses to a mercy that is always wider than our hearts.

Que la paz de Cristo, ☩ que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, nos acompañe en este camino, ahora y siempre. Amen.

ELM is pleased to announce that the 2026 Workin Scholarship for publicly-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Lutheran seminarians and first-year pastors is now accepting applications. This year, up to three grants of $5,000 each will be awarded to the chosen candidates.

Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries expands ministry opportunities for publicly identified LGBTQ rostered leaders who are changing the church and society through their ministry. ELM is the custodian of an endowment fund established in 1995 to honor the memory of Joel Raydon Workin. Joel was one of the three gay seminarians who were refused ordination in 1989 after “coming out” to their candidacy committees. This act of faithfulness was the spark that ignited our movement of resistance within the ELCA and part of what led to the August 2009 change in ELCA ministry policies.

Each year, Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries names a Joel R. Workin Memorial Scholar (learn more here.) This award comes with a financial scholarship to a LGBTQ seminarian who embodies Joel’s passion for justice and faith in his or her life and ministry. In addition, the Scholar will be invited throughout the year to be involved with various ELM activities.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of Joel’s passing from AIDS and the nineteenth year that a Joel R. Workin Memorial scholarship has been awarded. Previous recipients include Bishop Jen Rude, the Rev. Matthew James, the Rev. Julie Boleyn, the Rev. Laura Kuntz, the Rev. Emily Ewing, the Rev. Rebecca Seely, the Rev. Asher O’Callaghan, the Rev. Gretchen Colby Rode, the Rev. Amy Hanson, Justin Ferko, and Christopher Gilbert , Rev. Leon La Crosse, Jory Mickelson, Rachel San Diego, Max Del Bosque and Juan Manuel Arias Parea.

Eligibility – The eligible student must be a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer seminary (or divinity school student) or first-year pastor who has demonstrated gifts for ordained or rostered lay ministry and seeks to fulfill their vocation as a publicly identified LGBTQ Lutheran rostered leader. The student must be a member of Proclaim, the professional community of publicly-identified LGBTQ Lutheran pastors, seminary students and rostered lay leaders. Proclaim is a program of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. 

The scholarship committee welcomes applications from current seminary students who have applied in prior years!

Application Materials – To be considered for the award, your completed application must be submitted to the scholarship committee no later than Friday, August 1, 2026

Please include:

1. Joel was a brilliant writer, and the essay is the most important part of your application. This year, we are requesting a 1-page response on your discernment process as well as a 3 – 5 essay in response this year’s topic. For the latter, you should be familiar with Joel’s published writings as presented in Dear God, I’m Gay, Thank You! and, in particular, his sermon entitled “New Beginnings.” Please feel free, however, to cite any of his works in your essay.
2. A copy of your current resume. Please include any Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries/Proclaim activities.
3. A professional recommendation from a professor, pastor or other rostered professional who can testify to your qualifications specific to this honor and award. (The recommendation letter must be on the official letterhead of the organization with which they are affiliated.)
4. A copy of your transcript from seminary or divinity school (unofficial transcripts will suffice).

The Joel R. Workin Memorial Scholar is awarded to those whose character and abilities are consistent with Joel’s legacy. Among these are: academic excellence, personal and professional integrity, courage in response to the church’s discriminatory policies, a passion for social justice, faithfulness to Jesus Christ and potential to become an effective leader in church and society. Please provide one letter of recommendation from someone (professor, pastor or other rostered professional) who can testify to your qualifications specific to this honor and award. The recommendation letter should be printed on official organizational letterhead.

Deadline – The deadline for submitting your resume, reflection paper and one letter of recommendation is 6:00 pm EDT on Friday, August 1, 20126. All application materials must be submitted electronically to mpnwrites@icloud.com. Please put “Joel R. Workin Scholarship Application” in the subject line.

Notification – The scholarship committee will notify applicants of its decision in mid-August.

On behalf of the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, Joel’s family and friends, and the members of Proclaim, we commend this opportunity to you and invite your application.

If you have questions, please send them to director@elm.org or to Workin Committee chair Michael Nelson at mpnwrites@icloud.com.

May your Easter season be filled with joy and peace.

 

WORKIN SCHOLARSHIP 2026 ESSAY QUESTIONS

Please review Joel Workin’s essays and sermons entitled Dear God, I’m Gay – Thank You! and then reflect on the following:

1. Tell us your story and where you are in your discernment in your sense of call. (1 page)
2. Please read Joel’s sermon entitled New Beginnings. Keeping in mind the texts on which he preached, where are the new beginnings to which the church is being called today? Where are the new beginnings that Queer Christians are being called to today? And where do you see the intersection of the two? (3 – 6 pages)

Please submit your essay response along with your resume, letter of reference, and transcript.

 

 

Dear Beloved Community of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the One who meets us in prayer, in persistence, and in promise.

This last Sunday, we heard Jesus teach his disciples how to pray. In a world filled with uncertainty and longing, Jesus reminds us to turn to God with boldness and trust, saying, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” These words speak deeply to where we find ourselves as a community in this season, holding space for both what has been and what is yet to come, leaning into God’s faithfulness as we discern a new way forward.

With this in heart and mind, I am filled with gratitude to share that, after a thoughtful and Spirit-led search, the Board of Directors of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries has appointed Mr. Roberto Lara Aranda (he/él) as our Interim Executive Director beginning on September 1st, 2025.

Roberto brings a rare blend of strategic vision, faithful leadership, and compassionate presence. He currently serves as Director of Communications for Global Outreach at the Fetzer Institute, where he leads award-winning multimedia campaigns and narrative strategies that help build the spiritual foundation for a loving world in collaboration with organizations like the UN Religions for Peace and the Faith and Media Coalition. He also teaches in Columbia University’s Strategic Communication graduate program, mentoring emerging leaders in ethics, authenticity, and connecting mission to action.

Within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Roberto has held several prominent leadership roles, including Assistant to the Bishop for Communications and Development in the Metropolitan New York Synod, President of the Latino Ministries Association, and member of the recent Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. He also serves on the ELCA Foundation Board of Trustees and with Select Learning, a nonprofit offering accessible theological education for lay leaders.

Get to know Roberto more:
Roberto is a proud queer immigrant lay leader, born and raised in México. His leadership is shaped by his deep commitments to LGBTQIA+ inclusion, anti-oppression, and communal healing. His courageous and transparent presence during key moments of institutional change, particularly in times of grief and conflict in the wider church, has made him a trusted voice of integrity and hope.

A fun fact: before his career in ministry and communications, Roberto was a professional ballet dancer. He credits his time on stage with teaching him discipline, presence, and timing, gifts that continue to shape how he leads with clarity and creativity.

Gratitudes:
We give deep thanks to the Search Committee, who faithfully led this process with compassion and diligence: The Rev. Mycah McNett (she/her), Dana Rademacher Hansen (they/she), The Rev. Erik Christensen (he/him), The Rev. Kelsey Green (she/her), Christopher Vergara* (he/él). Their work has been a testament to the spirit of Psalm 138: “On the day I called, you answered me; you increased my strength of soul.”

We invite the full ELM community to join us in celebration, prayer, and participation as we continue this sacred work of rebuilding. In the coming weeks, you’ll receive opportunities to meet Roberto and engage with him in the shared mission of ELM.

Special Invitation:
If you are attending the ELCA Churchwide Assembly or are in the Phoenix area, we invite you to join us for a Celebratory Toast with Roberto, hosted by Board Chair Rev. Mycah McNett. We will gather at 8:30 PM at Carcara in the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown. Non-alcoholic options will be available. Further celebrations and welcome events will be planned when Roberto officially begins his time with us after September 1st, 2025.

Thank you for being part of this journey, for your prayers, your presence, and your persistent hope. May this next season bring renewal, clarity, and joy in our shared call to proclaim God’s love and seek justice for all.

With deep gratitude,
The Rev. Mycah McNett, Chair
On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Bio: Mycah McNett(She/Her) is a lifelong Lutheran who hails from both Washingtons: the State and the DC Area. Being a Queer Lutheran is a major part of Mycah’s identity. Mycah is a 2023 graduate of United Lutheran Seminary and is ordained in the ELCA. Mycah holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from James Madison University, specializing in environmental and evolutionary fields as well as anthropology. After college, Mycah served as a Young Adult in Global Mission through the ELCA in Manchester, UK, and as a lay staff member at a Lutheran Church in Harrisonburg, VA. Currently, Mycah is located just outside Philadelphia, PA with her spouse, Alyssa, and three cats: Clem, Clio, and Minnie.

Search Committee Update

Overview of the Process:
In June 2025, the position of Interim Executive Director was publicly posted and widely circulated through networks aligned with ELM’s mission and values. By the June 30 deadline, the hiring committee had received several complete applications—enough to proceed with an interview phase.

After a thorough initial review, the committee determined applicants who met the criteria for further consideration and invited them to participate in interviews. All applicants were interviewed using a structured interview format designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency. Each candidate was asked the same set of core questions, distributed in advance of the interview, which assessed competencies in the following areas:

• Executive Leadership and Organizational Stability
• Community Engagement
• Communications Strategy and Voice
• Donor Engagement and Development
• Mission Alignment and Cultural Sensitivity

Composition of the Committee:
The hiring committee was composed of a diverse group of ELM stakeholders, including current and former board members, BIPOC leaders, gender identity, historic roster, and Proclaim community members. The committee reflects a broad spectrum of identities, geographies, and leadership roles within the church and the wider LGBTQIA+ Lutheran movements. We are grateful for our search committee members: The Rev. Kelsey Green (she/her), The Rev. Erik Christensen (he/him), and Dana Radamacher-Hensen (they/she), as well as board members Christopher Vergara (he/él), and the Rev. Mycah McNett (she/her).

The Next Steps:
The interview and discernment process is still underway. We ask for your continued prayers and support as we listen for the Spirit’s guidance in identifying the leader who will serve ELM in this interim season. We look forward to sharing further updates as they become available.

Happy Pride, Beloveds!

The ELM Board is excited to share that after a period of listening and discerning, we have agreed upon a job description for an Interim Executive Director. The ELM Board took into account our current financial situation, the needs and desires we have heard from the Proclaim community and our supporters, and the current political climate in North America. We plan on contracting with a suitable candidate for 18 months, during which period we will be setting specific goals for ELM, our growth, and the ministry we participate in! Priority deadline for applications is June 30th, 2025.

What can you do to help? Discern if you would like to apply for the position, share the position availability, and above all, please pray. Pray for a potential candidate, for the hiring team, and for the ministry that our creator is calling us to in the next era of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries.
Interim ED Job Description and Application Process

You can find the Interim Executive Director Job Description and Application Process Here.

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Bio: Mycah McNett(She/Her) is a life-long Lutheran who hails from both Washingtons: the State and the DC Area. Being a Queer Lutheran is a major part of Mycah’s identity. Mycah is a 2023 graduate of United Lutheran Seminary and is ordained in the ELCA. Mycah holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from James Madison University, specializing in environmental and evolutionary fields as well as anthropology. After college, Mycah served as a Young Adult in Global Mission through the ELCA in Manchester, UK. Before attending seminary, Mycah served as a lay staff member in a Lutheran congregation where she worked with communication, youth, and young adult ministries. Currently, Mycah is located just outside Philadelphia, PA with her spouse, Alyssa, and three cats: Clem, Clio, and Minnie.

On Joel R Workin’s Birthday, we are happy to announce that the Workin Scholarship committee received five incredible applications for this Scholarship cycle. This Spring, the committee met, discerned, and decided to award two Working Scholarship awards.

This year’s honor comes with a $7500 grant to be used for the specified purposes of the fund: professional or spiritual development, or educational, ministry, or candidacy expenses.

Meet the awardees:

The Reverend Juan Manuel Arias-Perea (He,Him, Él) serves as the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Weehawken, New Jersey. Originally from Cuba, Rev. Arias-Perea brings a rich blend of academic and pastoral experience to his ministry. He holds a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, a Master of Theology from the Mexican Theological Community in Mexico City, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.

Rev. Arias-Perea is a committed public theologian whose work is shaped by a liberative and decolonial perspective, informed by his experiences in Cuba and his theological formation across Latin America and the United States. His writing and teaching often explore the intersections of faith, justice, and identity, with a particular focus on dismantling systems of oppression within and beyond the church. He believes that theology must be embodied, prophetic, and responsive to the cries of the marginalized.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Rev. Arias-Perea serves on the Board of Directors of Seafarers International House, reflecting his commitment to social justice and advocacy for marginalized communities. Under his leadership, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church continues to be a vibrant, bilingual, and multicultural congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), dedicated to creating an inclusive, welcoming community for all.

Seminarian Max Del Bosque (he/him) is a queer, bi, transgender, Latinè seminarian at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and candidate for ordination in the ELCA’s Southwest California Synod. Max has an MFA in Studio Art, and is a practicing visual artist and tenured art professor at Los Angeles’s Pierce College. He has taught painting workshops for Yale Divinity School’s Graduate Conference on Religion and Ecology and Harvard Divinity School’s Program for the Evolution of Spirituality, as well as painting workshops for San Francisco Night Ministry, and art workshops for transgender and gender diverse folk out of his studio, Miel de la Tierra Studio. Max’s art explores identity as it relates to gender, culture, and sacred connections to land and place.

The Joel R.Workin Memorial Scholarship was established in 1995 by the generosity of Joel’s family, colleagues and close friends to honor his life and legacy. Read more about Joel and the scholarship here. We are pleased to add Rev. Juan Manuel Arias Perea and Seminarian Max Del Bosque to this distinguished roster of previous Workin Scholars: Bishop Jen Rude, Rev. Matthew James, Rev. Julie Boleyn, Rev. Asher O’Callaghan, Rev. Laura Kuntz, Rev. Emily Ewing, Rev. Becca Seely, Rev. Gretchen Colby Rode, Justin Ferko, Christephor Gilbert, Ben Hogue, Rev. Leon LaCross, Jory Mickelson, Rev. Rachel San Diego, and Rev. Reed Fowler.

Please join us in congratulating these two awardees and in giving thanks for their continued witness as beloved members of Christ’s body.

Sincerely,
Rev Mycah McNett, Chair, Extraordinary Lutheran Board of Directors
Michael Price Nelson, Chair

Workin Committee members: Greg Egertson, Bishop Jeff Johnson, Michael Price Nelson, Rev. Becca Seely, Rev. Amalia Vagts, Rev. Becca Seely, Rev. Kelsey Green.
Donate to the Continued Ministry of ELM

Bio: Mycah McNett (She/Her) is a life-long Lutheran who hails from both Washingtons: the State and the DC Area. Being a Queer Lutheran is a major part of Mycah’s identity. Mycah is a 2023 graduate of United Lutheran Seminary and is ordained in the ELCA. Mycah holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from James Madison University, specializing in environmental and evolutionary fields as well as anthropology. After college, Mycah served as a Young Adult in Global Mission through the ELCA in Manchester, UK. Before attending seminary, Mycah served as a lay staff member in a Lutheran congregation where she worked with communication, youth, and young adult ministries. Currently, Mycah is located just outside Philadelphia, PA with her spouse, Alyssa, and three cats: Clem, Clio, and Minnie.

“Look, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” – 1 Corinthians 15:51   I’ve never been good at tending to plants. The rhythms of care that most require are rhythms that I find hard to keep in a way that keeps them vibrant and green. Most plants that come into my possession are ones I receive as gifts, including a jade plant gifted to me by a congregant after sharing this trait of mine as a sermon illustration (“These plants are unkillable!” they said. Reader, I did my best, but this plant did indeed eventually die under my care). Having received these verdant companions as a sign of friendship, there exists a guilt when my lack of a green thumb kicks in.   At the outset of this Lenten season, I was gifted with a helpful reframing of this guilt by means of the eponymous piece of Ash Wednesday. Being new to my call, I wasn’t sure if any of the congregations I served had any ashes on-hand to use, and I waited too long to order any from a church supply store. Luckily, a local ecumenical colleague was making her own from the palms of the prior year’s Palm Sunday observance and she was willing to share them with me. I’ve heard of such a practice before, but to be using ashes made from a leafy green that had served such an important purpose a year prior got me thinking about death and transformation in some particularly harmonious ways.   In particular, it sparked in my mind what Paul wrote in his first letter to the church in Corinth that is a recommended piece of our graveside ritual. For us and for the palms from Palm Sunday, death is not the end of the story but there is yet change to be seen and experienced! While this is a beautiful and comforting and mysterious reminder for us to steward on the grand scale of one’s life, I feel it also provides us with an invitation to look for the change and transformation in our midst when we’re in smaller seasons of change, liminality, and lament. Change can certainly take many forms: pruning to make room for new growth, decay to feed what will emerge next, and sprouts emerging from what was previously sown. From death, from ashes, from dust, from all of these arrives potential for transformation.   As we continue our wanderings through this season, it’s my hope that we’ll discover something within this season to help us find meaning in the in-between: a helpful change, some guiding meaning, a spark of gentle newness. Liminal spaces are difficult to hold, especially when they linger longer than we expect them to last. All the while, may we be buoyed by these reminders from Paul, the companionship of those on this journey with us, and ever-guiding presence of our loving Creator.

Bio: Anders Nelson (he/they) is the pastor of the Mabel/Henrytown Tri-Point Parish in Mabel, Minnesota where he’s been serving three congregations since December 2024. Their interests in ministry center around inviting communities to tell their own story, including recognizing how their story fits into the larger narrative God is weaving throughout all time and space. In his spare time, you can find Anders playing plenty of board games, singing and dancing on stage and off, and participating in way too many Dungeons and Dragons campaigns.

“We are treated as impostors and yet are true, as unknown and yet are well known, as dying and look—we are alive, as punished and yet not killed, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.” – 2 Corinthians 6:8b-10     Beloved friends, colleagues, and siblings in Christ, grace and peace to you from God the wellspring of imagination, God our co-conspirator, and God the in-dwelling breath of our liberating creativity.     Deciding on a theme for this year’s season of Lent has proven to be a challenge. Surely you don’t need me to tell you that the times we live in are oppressive, terrifying, challenging, uncertain, and exhausting. If you’re like me, then every day seems to bring the challenge of trying to find the delicate balance between staying informed, spiraling into despair, and shifting my habits away from what they have been to better connect with organizations and efforts towards justice in my immediate community. Right-Wing movements around the globe have gained momentum and power. The 3-month old federal administration within my home, the USA, continues to wreak havoc upon the rights of its citizens while actively trying to legislate trans, queer, disabled, truly most people of marginalized identities, out of existence. The Earth, mother of us all, screams in anguish as human and corporate greed continue to upset the balance of the climate putting lives across the world in increasing danger. And, tomorrow, I will still need to clock in to my job in order to afford my ongoing survival. Strange and challenging times to exist in, indeed.     Given this surrounding context, I did not know how to approach the Lenten season. For so many years of my life I have equated the season with grief, stillness, solemnity, and solitude. A temporal and theological memento mori, as it were. But this year especially, I did not feel we needed yet another reminder of the world’s brokenness, our finitude, or simply another reason to grieve. That is, until I turned my focus towards the day that begins the season, Ash Wednesday.     This year, I found the imagery of dust and ashes to be a source of inspiration as well as a reminder of my mortality. Yes, we all return to the dust, but so also are we born from the dust in God’s very image. What we might consider the moment of life’s end, as a body returns to dust, is also in fact the moment of life’s beginning. While we might see a moment of decomposition void of life, that moment is also the time where microbes start to recycle nutrients back to the soil, (or dust!) which then go on to nourish fungi which feed bugs, slugs, and other crawling things which in turn feed the birds and animals and the cycle continues.     In this moment of unrest and upheaval, it seems that there is much in the world and in our lives returning to dust. To grieve those losses is certainly appropriate, and I also believe that imagining what life may spring forth next is equally appropriate. In Lent, as we turn inward and reflect, I invite you to join me in honestly accepting the realities of dust and ash: that all things come to an end, and that each end can and will generate renewed beginnings. From the ashes, let us grieve and imagine together.

Author Bio: Tom Gehring (He/They) is a pastor currently working as a chaplain in Metro Chicago providing spiritual care for individuals living with, or at risk for HIV. In their free time Tom loves to DJ, spend time outside, play lots of games (both video and board), read excessively thick fantasy novels, and work out with his lovely gym community. Tom has been serving as a member of ELM’s board of directors since October of ’23 and is honored to be a part of this ministry.

As we head into the holiday season – a time where we often gather with our loved ones around tables and share in delicious food, and one another’s company – I keep being reminded of the image of God’s endless table. 

 

For me, the image of the eschaton being like a large banquet, with a never-ending table with enough room for all, has been an image of hope, liberation, and admittedly, also confusion. This idea that no one is separate from the love and grace of God, that our God is one who craves wholeness with us, and among each other. That in God’s desired future, we might all share in a meal together, even those we might disagree with most vehemently in this lifetime. That one day, all of creation might be reconciled to God, and that can look like gathering over a meal that never ceases, full of joy, abundance, and pleasure. 

 

This image of a banquet table being a place of God’s salvation is a repeated metaphor throughout scripture, found in Isaiah 25:6-10, Luke 14:15-24, and Matthew 26:26-29, and so, has been a common metaphor in our practice of Holy Communion. In the Lutheran tradition, we trust that in the Eucharist, all are gathered in a mysterious union with God, to share in the sacrament with us, and that this is just a small taste of the feast that is yet to come. Every time we share in communion together, we are at the same time preparing for, and participating in, this endless table.

 

While thinking about this tradition, where the Kingdom of God is like gathering around a dinner table, I couldn’t help but be reminded of kitchen table polyamory. For those unfamiliar, kitchen table polyamory centers around the idea of polyamorous relationships being anchored in building community, sustaining relationships, and found family – so much so that a polycule (partners, and partners’ partners, and everyone connected in a great web of relationship!) might be so comfortable around each other, they hope to regularly gather around a kitchen table and share in a meal together. This style of polyamory is the closest definition for what my relationship structure looks like, where my partners (though not together romantically) are family to one another. 

 

Kitchen table polyamory is itself a metaphor for the style of relationship the practitioners of it want to achieve – that of closeness, proximity, and interconnected relationships. It is especially fitting then that the Kingdom of God is said to look like all of us gathered together, around food, around abundance, around love and around reconciliation. In this way, kitchen table polyamory is a fitting metaphor for how the Kingdom of God might one day look. To me, this is not a flowery or utopic metaphor – polyamory, just as life in the Church, or in any relationship structure, is not all sunshine and rainbows. There can be hurt feelings, grief, miscommunications, and more – and yet, we are drawn back to the table, drawn to being reconciled to one another, created by God to be in community.

There is something beautiful too about how a seemingly small, daily act that my family (and incredibly queer polycule) regularly does – sharing a meal together around a table – might in some way, be re-enacting or foreshadowing the world to come. In her book Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown talks about how our imaginations can aid us in thinking of our future, and I find it fitting here. “Science fiction is simply a way to practice the future together. I suspect that is what many of you are up to, practicing futures together, practicing justice together, living into new stories. It is our right and responsibility to create a new world.” (pg.19) Through living kitchen table polyamory in the flesh, we are practicing God’s New Day together. We are practicing what it is like to meet one another across difference and difficulty, to share in nourishing our bodies, and building lasting community – in this act, we are in fact, living and creating the Kingdom of God together.

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This blog post was lovingly submitted by an anonymous author and has full support of ELM’s Board of Directors. If polyamory, relationship anarchy, ethical nonmonogamy, or any other relationship structures are new and unfamiliar, we ask that you approach this topic with curiosity rather than judgment. Relationship structures outside of a monogamous paradigm are not for everyone, and that’s okay, but it is not okay to do harm to a sibling in Christ who finds it right for their relationship. Here are some further resources to check out if you are curious: The Triad Fam: a Polyamourus Christian Family or the book Polysecure by Jessica Fern.