Blake begins his article and places the question – and I believe the opportunity for understanding, perspective and acceptance where it belongs – in a local church, or I would add within a family or community. How should a local church, family or community respond to one of its own daughters or sons, no matter the human difference? What is the proper Christian response? And, to the question the Rev. Kim Smith King, pastor, North Decatur Presbyterian Church and Co-Moderator, More Light Presbyterians, offers in the article, what did or would Jesus say?

The observation Blake offers that churches are weary of the gay clergy debate I believe is fueled by those few, and getting fewer, loud and squeaky anti-gay wheels who seem by their statements and actions obsessed by homosexuality. And, their obsession keeps them on the defensive --- trying to defend God, the Bible, church and society from gay people and our families. Prejudice and discrimination are a waste of energy, poor stewardship for Christians and sadly, they hurt everyone in their path.

Just who are these "dangerous" gay people and their families? In the "it's a small world" category, I know the Rev. Bradley Schmeling, the Lutheran pastor featured in the article who is on trial in Atlanta for being honest, for being gay, for being in love and in relationship with another man. I met Brad's parents through the Cincinnati PFLAG Chapter, they helped me in my own coming out process and with my own family. Cincinnati's PFLAG* Chapter holds its meetings at Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, a More Light Church. I remember how proud Judy and Gene were of their son, Brad, and his call to ministry. The Schmelings are a family that love God and each other. They are all good, loving and faithful Lutherans.

Blake rightly identifies the weariness in the Church – and I would add, society – with the battle over the recognition of whether LGBT persons are going to be understood as equal human beings, citizens and children of God to their heterosexual sisters and brothers or not? This is really the question, even though it gets played out in the tug of war over the Bible, human sexuality, and who gets to define what is normal, loving, Christian and moral.

I would extend Blake's observation about those who are "weary" to the question of their location, identity, or place of privilege? If some heterosexuals are weary of the "gay clergy debate," imagine for a moment what this might feel like for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender persons to be the subject of such debate?

Presbyterians value imagination, it is even part of our call and commitments to ministry as deacons, elders and pastors. So, whatever your perspective is on faith, the Bible, what it means to be church and family, love and sexuality ... imagine for a moment what it is like to be Brad Schmeling, his partner and family right now?

I am deeply grateful for all of you who get it, who trust God to be about God's own divine work of creating, unconditionally loving and embracing all of God's children. While Blake's article suggests that a solution is elusive, I respectfully disagree with that observation and those who are so worried about what to do with LGBT persons in their own families, churches or communities.

The solution is simple, really. It is about faith and trust. It is about believing in a God who is infinitely more creative and more loving than our own limited creations of doctrines, beliefs and church laws. It is about trusting ourselves and others to work out our own salvation, our own lives, who we fall in love with, how we create family, how we do church and follow God's call in ministry and service.

The solution to the debate is about faith and trust, in God and in one another. It will require us to let go of old notions and for some of us, the letting go of deeply held views of homosexuality or the Bible in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the God who is not limited by us or own vision at any particular moment in time.

I am deeply grateful to all of the churches out there who get it, who are willing to risk, stretch, trust God and each other. You are, of course, the churches, members and pastors who are willing to cross the line, to take a stand, to live, minister and witness as More Light Churches. You seek, you do not claim to have "more light."

For you, the debate is over. For me, the debate is over. Heterosexual persons cannot, and should not, claim a special place or design with God any more than whites or men in my view. Either all of us are created in the image of God, unconditionally loved and embraced by God, or none of us are. I happen to believe that all of us are equally created, loved and embraced by God, no matter the human difference or condition.

Ironically, possibly providentially, Rev. John Robinson offered the solution to this current debate and others, in his statement in 1620 to our American ancestors seeking a new life and religious freedom in what was then the New World: "God hath yet more light and truth to break forth from His word."

with hope and grace,

Michael