111 LGBTQI clergy wrote a letter to General Conference

On the eve of General Conference 111 LGBTQI clergy and candidates have come out in an open letter. Here is one paragraph:

We are coming out as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, and Intersex persons at this moment for several reasons. Foremost, we want you to know we still love you and seek to remain in relationship with you. Even if we should leave and you seek more restrictive language against LGBTQI persons, know that God will continue to move mysteriously in the hearts of LGBTQI young people and adults and will call them to serve within this denomination. You cannot legislate against God’s call. The “LGBTQI issue” is not one that can be resolved through restrictive legislation but instead by seeing that all persons are made in the image of God and welcomed into the community of faith.

I know some of the names on the list. Some have been out for some time and are no longer serving churches (some of these are on the staff of Reconciling Ministries). The letter was first posted on the Reconciling Ministries Network website, but the volume of traffic crashed the site. The Believe Out Loud site is now hosting the letter. Believe Out Loud is a consortium of organizations like the Reconciling Ministries Network for United Methodists. These related groups include Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, More Light Presbyterians, and Integrity of the Episcopal Church.