Dubuque Lutheran church celebrates same-sex marriages, LGBTQ+ community can be ministers

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) - A Lutheran church in Dubuque proclaims it welcomes, affirms, and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.

Saint John’s Lutheran Church is designated as a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation, meaning the church welcomes same-sex marriages and members of the LGBTQ+ community can be ministers.

“Our call is not so much to be a big church or have many, many more members, but to speak the truth as we understand it, speak it with conviction, and proclaim God’s love for all people, always, no matter what,” says St. John’s Pastor Chuck Peterson.

Before getting the Reconciling in Christ designation, Peterson says church leaders decided to let the congregation vote. He says more than 90% of the congregation voted in favor of the designation.

“None of these prejudices, this bigotry against sexual orientation, made sense to me,” says Michael Knock, vice president of the church council at St. John’s Lutheran Church. “Jesus is all about love, all about acceptance.”

Knock notes not everyone has felt that love from the church.

“I would say a lot of folks have been burned by religion in the past, and so we would really like to send a message that this is a place where you can be welcomed,” says Knock.

DBQ Pride co-founder Chuck Harris grew up Catholic, but says staying in the Church grew difficult because of his sexual orientation.

“It’s going to take the communities of faith to drive the conversation for wider acceptance within the community because for a lot of people, that’s the basis of their understanding of the world,” says Harris. “When faith communities come together and say, we’re no longer going to other these people, that’s when I think you can start to see real progress forward.”

For Knock, accepting everyone is the right thing to do.

“In the four books of the Gospel, there’s no condemnation of people’s homosexuality or their sexual orientation,” explains Knock. “This is a place you can find a home.”

St. John’s Lutheran Church is celebrating the new designation with a special worship service and open house on Sunday, June 1.

Peterson says Saint John’s also adopted the following statement:

“Jesus has called us to love God and one another, to practice radical hospitality, and to serve all without exception. We invite you to join us, no matter your race, culture, ethnicity, age, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, socio-economic position, family status, background, or where you are in your faith journey.

Saint John’s is committed to welcoming and affirming all people as beloved children of God, including those in the LGBTQIA+ community who express their gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation in ways that buck societal norms. We also commit to welcoming Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Latino, and White Folks who are committed to allyship and racial equity. We invite you to join with us that together we may grow as followers of the Lord Jesus.”