CLGS Responds

CLGS Marks the Death of Rev. Jerry Falwell
By The Rev. Jay E. Johnson, PhD
CLGS Acting Executive Director

19 May 2007

Jesus called on his followers to love everyone, even those who act or speak as our enemies. For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, that kind of love is particularly difficult to muster toward those who, like Rev. Falwell, have caused so much hurt and pain in our communities.

Quite understandably, news of Rev. Falwell’s death will likely spark relief if not jubilation among some LGBT people. But our energy would be better spent in refuting the misperceptions and distortions of the Christian Gospel that Rev. Falwell promoted.

Public religious leaders have a special responsibility to gauge the impact of their preaching and teaching in the wider society. Those who preach, for example, that HIV/AIDS is a "punishment" from God, or that natural disasters are the result of same-sex relationships, or that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 were the price of sexual immorality – as Rev. Falwell did – must understand how such preaching influences the behavior of others. Indeed, such preaching can lead to hate crimes and violence.

CLGS mourns the passing of anyone who did not come to see in this life the liberating and healing potential of religious faith. We are deeply saddened that Rev. Falwell did not embrace the radical acceptance and love of the Gospel he claimed to preach. And we are especially troubled that his brand of Christianity has hurt so many, divided countless families, and helped to delay and derail progress on basic civil rights.

Perhaps Rev. Falwell’s death will mark the passing of an unfortunate era when Christianity fell prey to divisive politics. Now is the time for all Christian ministers to stand with their LGBT sisters and brothers, fighting bigotry and injustice in American society. Throughout this country CLGS is training faith communities for precisely that kind of work and equipping those communities to proclaim and to live the message of justice at the heart of their faith.

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