Pastor opens dialogue on Christianity and LGBTQ+ in Rockford
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Rockford pastor is working to bridge Christian theology with the LGBTQ+ community by hosting a conversation on Biblical scripture and sexuality.
'Just because it's not listed [in the Bible], that there are others within that spectrum, it doesn't mean that they're not God ordained,' said Zion Lutheran Pastor Mike Thomas, who led a conversation on Christian scripture and its relation to sexuality on Tuesday afternoon at Katie's Cup, 502 7th Street.
Thomas said it took him 30 years to become an LGBTQ+ ally.
'I wasn't advocating. I was spineless,' he said.
Today, Thomas is using Pride Month to open a conversation on how Christianity and sexuality intersect.
'We celebrate having conversations like this one today here, as well as at church on Sunday, to talk about what does the Scripture say about people who are in the gay community,' Thomas said.
In many denominations, views interpreting homosexuality as a sin or aberration have softened, with recent studies showing a growing number of Americans support the LGBTQ+ community.
71-year-old Debbie Raymond said attitudes toward gay people have come a long way.
'At the beginning, it was very tough. You basically lived in a closet, you know, you didn't talk very much,' she recalled.
Now, she's a proud member of the Lutheran church. Raymond credited events such as the one at Katie's Cup for helping to bring her and others back to religion.
'Go talk to pastors, go talk to congregations. You know, do your research, understand the first rule: I was born this way,' she said.
'It's wonderful to be able to change people's perspective on understanding what Scripture says, as well as what the central message of God's grace and mercy, through Christ. In the Gospels, that's the emphasis that we focus on,' Thomas said.
Thomas also said he saw more Christian denominations than ever before at this year's on Saturday.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
2 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
46 People Who Were So, So Wrong
This may come as a shock to some, but Mario's Italian. Also, Chinese and Japanese are not the same thing. person forget about the American Revolution? This person forgot other countries exist. How can anyone be this dumb? no. Oof. Do people really think Jesus wrote the Bible? Pretty sure you learn dolphins are mammals in primary school. In case you didn't know, thermodynamics is a branch of physics. The '90s: famously, a time when race-related issues and discussion didn't exist. I'm no Christian, but isn't that one of the most famous parts of the Bible? I think we've failed our children. This person probably should've looked up "cisgender." Sorry to include one from lockdown times, but that time brought out the WILDEST anti-vax rhetoric. Where did this person even learn this??? This parent was really, REALLY wrong about what the slang "salty" means, and should probably get their mind out of the gutter. This parent was also wrong in so many ways. I hope the person who sat down and typed, "it's not like there's a place called Spania full of Spanish *people*" was trolling. You gotta love when someone is so swiftly and completely proven wrong. This person thought Mount Everest was in South Dakota. This person might want to open a dictionary. Along with this person. This person got a little confused about flags. This person was reallyyyyy wrong about what a hamburger was. This person thought eggs were dairy. In case you didn't know..."reed" is not the past tense of "read." Neither is "red." What school did this person go to??? Maybe leave scientific terms to scientists and doctors if you have absolutely no idea what they mean. The person who sent this article may go down in history as one of the "most wrong people ever." This person forgot about other languages. This person needs to take a geography class. Same with this person. Aaaand this person. I don't think this person has ever had a sex ed lesson in their life. Neither has this person. *Ben Wyatt voice* I don't even have time to explain how wrong you are. Actually, it's gonna bug me if I don't... These people were both wrong. The second person here really wanted to look smart, but ended up being dead wrong. ...Yeah, that's not right, bud. Oof. This person was real confused about compasses and directions. This person thought rubber trees were fake trees made of rubber. This person was also have a little trouble with math. This person thought ducks aren't birds. This person thought plants don't produce oxygen. This person made a really head-scratching statement. And finally, this person seemed to think Tesla was founded by Nikola Tesla himself.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hawaiʻi state flag derives from King Kamehameha I
HONOLULU (KHON2) – In the ahupuaʻa of Honouliuli, which lies in the moku of ʻEwa here on Oʻahu, stands a roadway which brings our attention to our flag. We are speaking of Puwalu St. The story behind statue of King Kamehameha I In Hawaiian, the word puwalu can mean 'all together or in unison,' but it also means 'flag, as on a pole.' The first flag to Hawaiʻi was around 1794 when Chief Kamehameha voluntarily ceded to Great Britain. He was gifted the red ensign, an all-red flag with the Union Jack in the canton used by the British Merchant Navy. From then, for over two decades, it was the Union Jack of Great Britain that was flown as the national flag of Hawaiʻ 1816, the King Kamehameha I then adopted a flag with nine horizontal stripes alternating from red, white and blue, and the Union Jack in the canton. The flag of the Hawaiian Kingdom adopted in 1816 by King Kamehameha I was similar to the Hawaiʻi State flag today. It was the Paulet Affair, which led to Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea recognized here at Thomas Square, which led King Kamehameha III to redesign it. Being convinced that he needed to rebuild his defenses, King Kamehameha III altered the Hawaiian flag in 1845. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news He reduced the number of horizontal stripes from nine to eight, reflecting the number of major islands in the Hawaiian Kingdom. This was the pattern that became the flag for Hawaiʻi as a US Territory and then became the State flag after 1960. Rumors share of a popular modern flag reflecting nine stripes alternating from green, red, and yellow as the original Hawaiian flag. Those rumors are false as there is no historical evidence found of to prove that claim. Did you know? Now you do! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rockford residents battle through hardship to get a high school diploma
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Several Rockford residents who were enrolled in an online high school program received their high school diplomas at the Nordlof Center on Wednesday. The Adult High School Program is offered by the Rockford Public Library to support those in the community battling hardship who want to earn their high school diploma later in life. Over 30% of Rockford residents do not have diplomas because of personal hardships, according to Loomis. The program's Development Director, Brook Loomis, said there were over 175 people enrolled this year. 'I feel like every time we come to these ceremonies, it almost feels more like a pep rally,' explained Loomis. 'Yeah, it brings you to tears because, you see, multi-generational families graduating together.' 'I think it really takes away those barriers that they might have had before,' Loomis continued. 'That's really what we've found with this program is that we allow students to do it on their terms.' One of the program's academic coaches could not be prouder of his students. 'I've been with this program for about eight years, and to see a lot of our students come from where they were to actually getting a diploma,' said Academic Coach Gibson Garcon. 'Some of them didn't even think it was possible.' The program will continue to provide Rockford residents a second chance, with 100 people already enrolled for next year's classes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
