I really have to share a positive experience with a local church leader, who actually responded – positively! – with a decisive answer to my Litmus Test.

You will likely remember that the Litmus Test is where I ask church leadership how well people with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and other (LGBTQ+) sexualities are integrated into their church.

Generally, so far at any rate, church leaders have avoided (and in some cases completely ignored!) my question.

In this case, however, I was thrilled to not only get a straight answer, but also, as I said, the answer was overwhelmingly positive. In that church, LGBTQ+ people are fully integrated – and I also got the impression that someone’s sexuality is no-one else’s business. Which is as it should be.

How do you like that?!

The church is an Anglican congregation and, as far as I can tell, the ethos behind it is an Evangelical one. Sure, there was the invitation to go for a chat and coffee – which I actually did! – but the massive difference was that my question was answered straight up, before I went to meet up.

So I went along for a chat with the church leader, and learned a bit about their history and what the church does. I have to say I was very impressed, and would have no qualms whatsoever about attending services at that church.

That’s so huge for me.

Now, I did glean that there are certain doctrines that I don’t agree with – like Hell, for instance – that are likely a part of their belief structure. But it was also explained to me that people are entitled to form their own opinions from discussion, research and the Scriptures, which is a really healthy way to do things. And differing beliefs are ‘allowed’.

What?, you might say. How can others dictate what beliefs are allowed and are not? Who even gets a say in others’ belief structures? Well, when you consider my faith background in my nearly half-century of walking with Jesus, with the near-culty medium-control congregations I have been a part of, then it should come as no surprise that some people actually do expect that others dictate their beliefs, on pain of ostracism or at least disapproval if they do not conform. Also, there is an expectation that strangers can correct other strangers ‘all done in love, brother’, and that this is seen as normal.

So, then, to find an environment in which that is not the ‘norm’ is indeed refreshing, and especially in a congregation that is likely Evangelical at its root.

I’m impressed, I have to say.

And it was lovely to meet that leader and to get to know them a little.

So I just thought I’d share this little nugget of good news and brightness, in my generally dark series on the Problems of Evangelicalism. Throughout the series, I have taken care to maintain the assertion that a) good stuff does come out of Evangelicalism, and b) that not all Evangelical congregations are cast in the same culty mould as those others I have queried with my Litmus test. And this congregation is a great example of those kinds of good congregations. And it’s right on my doorstep; more or less, anyway.

And I find that really encouraging!