The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy regarding gays in the military never sat well with Jesse Otterblad during his time as a U.S. Marine.
Those sentiments stayed with Otterblad when he joined the United Methodist Church and had him leading the charge for First United Methodist Church of Western Springs to be a reconciling congregation.
Church members on Sunday gave their approval to being a congregation that welcomes lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender individuals. There was not a single “no” vote cast when balloting was done by a show of hands, church pastor the Rev. Christina Vosteen said, though one member abstained from voting.
“This is not a marketing tool. It is simply the right thing to do,” Vosteen said. “People who were afraid to walk into a church can now walk in. They may see our sign and decide to come in and talk. If they go back to St. John of the Cross (or another church) and reconnect with their faith, I would still say that we won.”
Vosteen said other denominations’ opposition to homosexuality is partially based on the listing of laws in Leviticus.
“There are over 600 laws listed and you are going to pull out one law that describes as a church who’s in and who’s out?” Vosteen asked. “I don’t understand. People still eat shrimp and wear blended fabrics (other forbidden acts in the Leviticus listing). How can you follow one law if you are not going to follow them all?”
Otterblad and Vosteen aren’t sure Sunday’s vote will make a big impact on the church’s membership.
“Some people may think that there is not a church they can attend or they have had a bad experience at a church,” Otterblad said. “Whether they come to our church remains to be scene. We are looking to get the word out.”
Otterblad said there are signs in town talking about the church’s acceptance of all people, as well as information on the church’s Facebook page and its website, http://www.fumcws.org.
The former Marine said the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy where military personnel’s sexual orientation was kept under wraps was troublesome to him.
More Top Picks Step Lights
“I felt it was wrong. As a junior officer, you can’t do much to change that,” Otterblad said. “Sexual orientation did not affect troop readiness; and morally people were living closeted lives.”
Sermons and educational programs were conducted at First United Methodist to answer members’ questions. Otterblad personally spoke with many church members regarding the issue.
Vosteen said eventually the United Methodist Church will likely allow openly gay individuals to be clergy and for gay couples to marry in the church.
“I think that is the direction we are heading,” Vosteen said. “As a pastor, the issue puts me in an awkward position. It is a relationship that can be solemnized by the secular world, but not by the church. We are speaking out of both sides of our mouths.
“Our members need to be treated equally and fully. It draws a line on my authority.”
The Western Springs pastor said those changes won’t come without some internal battles.
“Days of tension bring about change,” she said.
She hopes her church’s stance will send a message to young gays.
“When youths who are homosexual have a suicide rate multiple times that of the population, there is something wrong there,” Vosteen said. “They need to know that our church is a safe place to be, that you can be who you are.
“We want to offer them a safe place. Leaving life shouldn’t feel like their only option.”