We often talk, or hear others talk about “the LGBTQ+ community”. So, today I wanted to look at the idea of community. What is a community? What are its strengths and weaknesses? How does the Bible view community, and finally, getting more personal, what is my community?
A community is a group of people who share common values, interests, goals, or maybe share a geographic locality, whether that be now or sometime in the past. It may be bound by a shared identity (such as culture, faith, or language), mutual support (perhaps brought together by tragedy), or social connection. Communities can be formal (like religious congregations or neighbourhood associations) or informal (like online forums, shared housing areas or friendship/religious groups). In bygone centuries we would have seen monastic communities where groups of individuals, usually monks or nuns, separate themselves from the world, to focus their lives on prayer and communing with God. This still happens but is far less common, and from the occasional articles I have read around the subject, seems to involve fewer people.
We see communities based on national groups living in parts of our towns and cities, so here in Glasgow, we have communities representing Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Polish, Farsi speaking, and several others, with growing African and Caribbean communities along with Asylum Seeker communities often centred around youth, LGBTQ+ and cultural associations. Glasgow is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in Scotland and is Scotland’s only dispersal city for asylum seekers.
Looking back, when I was growing up in South London, many immigrant families would move into specific areas, where other people from similar parts of the world to the immegrant, already lived. You’ll probably be aware that many people from the Caribbean lived in Brixton, because you’ll know about the riots, but on the positive side it still hosts the Brixton Market. There are many similar areas, but you’ll probably also be familiar with Shepherd’s Bush and Notting Hill – because of the carnival each year.
In my area of South London, we had communities of Indians, Pakistanis, West Indians, Africans and others. It’s a similar phenomenon to what we see when British people emigrate to a place like Spain and create little ex-pat communities where they can speak English! Communities should be treasured because they bring huge opportunities for social enrichment and understanding, blending different cultural traditions that enrich the cultural fabric of the country. Sadly, sometimes they are treated with suspicion, and the far right in this country seem to be very much against immigration but fail to recognise that Great Britain has had a huge contributory role in creating the very environment that created the immigration they object to. In 1947 there was Partition in India where, under the rule of the British, the territory was divided to create a Muslim Pakistan (East and West Pakistan) and a Hindu India. Because of the hurried nature of creating the new territorial borders there were huge massacres of fleeing refugees caught on the wrong side of the border – somewhere between 200 thousand to 2-million people died. There were Moslems fleeing from India to Pakistan, along with Hindus and Sikhs fleeing for their lives from Pakistan to India. Many from both sides, left the country and came to Great Britain, creating communities of support here. The Empire podcast series with Anita Anand and William Dalrymple covered the horrors of Partition in their series on the creation of Pakistan (Episodes 14-16, especially 16) in late 2022. That series helped a lot to remove my own blinkers, and improved my understanding of the issues.
Around the same time as Partition, the British Government allowed and encouraged thousands of African-Caribbean migrants to come to the UK, and many of these got jobs on public transport, in the steel and coal industries and the National Health Services, travelling here as part of the Windrush generation.
By the 1980’s, in the church I spent my first 50 years, Afro Caribbeans made up just over half of the large congregation (180/200+) on a Sunday morning. Culturally speaking it was fascinating that the evening services reversed the ethnic difference, because the 30-40 who attended were largely white-British (60%-40%). Even though we mixed pretty well — most of us had close friends from diverse cultures (for me it was John from Sri Lanka, and Rosemary from St Vincent, then more as the years went by)— the Afro-Caribbeans largely had their own culture, whether that be the food, or the music, or their costume. It was always great to be invited to a meal and be presented with huge amounts of food. I was introduced to artists like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, and so many others. However, I’m still a rocker at heart! There were times my friends would talk about Linton Kwesi Johnson or Benjamin Zephaniah. This all meant that the church community was made up of several sub-communities, with people often being part of more than one at any one time.
For a few years, I led a home Bible study group of around eight people (sometimes it dropped to around five and at other times over a dozen), where, for periods, I was the only white person. As part of each home group, we always included a period of worship and praise, before turning to the Bible Study for the evening. The worship and singing with African rhythms and harmonies was at times heavenly, feeling like we were in the presence of God. That small group of mixed nationalities, ages, differences of interests, and different experiences of God, became a community where we enjoyed being with each other and caring for each other’s needs.
So, it is with the LGBTQ+ community. In the main, people can be very different, but there is a shared experience of feeling rejected by parts of society, that draws us together. For those with a faith, this rejection can be even more acute, because so many have felt rejected by the very churches where they had previously felt were “home”. On top of that, many were told that even the Person of God had rejected you. This happens when a church preaches that homosexuality is wrong, and that you either need to repent, or ask God for healing – and then, nothing happens! Too often they are then told they don’t have enough faith, so it’s always their fault and the church leader can rock off home with a clear conscience, while their victim cries tears into their pillow and sometimes looks for a way to end life. They aren’t told that they are fully loved and embraced by God exactly as they are, and that there is nothing for God to heal. Instead, they are given to believe that God too has rejected them – so, so wrong! Nearly half (45%) of young LGBT people who are left homeless after coming out, are from religious backgrounds. To contextualise that statistic, one in four homeless are LGBT, and of those, nearly half are from faith backgrounds – the majority being Christian and Muslim.
What are the strengths of any Community?
We have touched on this a little, but there are huge strengths by being part of a community. A community doesn’t have to live together, but “members” regularly meet and interact with each other usually quite informally.
- People in communities can often provide emotional, practical and sometimes financial, support to one another, and this often fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose. I alluded to this just now when talking about that small Bible study group meeting in South London.
- Communities can share resources—time, money, skills—to accomplish common goals that individuals might struggle with alone. Going back to a Bible I used in my teenaged years, I always remember the illustration used on the page beside Galatians 6: 2, where it says: “2 Help carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.” This was the old Good News for Modern Man New Testament — the precursor to the Good News Bible:
- Communities help preserve, maintain and pass down traditions, language, and heritage. My friends would talk about “Roots Music” and identity was important – much more so for them, than I felt for me at the time. I have become more interested in my own family history only in the last 15-20 years. Late developer!
- In times of crisis or hardship, strong communities often adapt and recover better together. They stand together, support each other and help each other heal. In this regard, I may have painted an overly positive image of racial harmony in the church. In the church I think it WAS pretty good at the time, although there have been struggles since, but outside the church it really wasn’t great. I have never been stopped and searched by police (because I’m white?), but black friends experienced it on a regular basis. In school during the late sixties/early seventies, I remember the my racist Games Teacher who directed racist slurs black kids. It was different times, and very sad. Having people to talk to, and share hardships with, is a huge help.
What are the weaknesses of Community?
At the same time, we also need to be aware that there are potential problems we need to avoid:
- Sometimes it is difficult for others to feel a part of the group, maybe someone who almost fits, but doesn’t quiet, and they feel left on the outside. The community has become a sort of clique and too excusive.
- There might be a pressure to change where some might resist that necessary growth, or new ideas, from fear of disrupting tradition.
- When thinking about protests that turn violent, there can be a sense of strength in numbers, and that we can get away with things we couldn’t when alone – and probably wouldn’t even think about.
- Individuals may feel pressured to conform to group norms, even if it goes against personal beliefs and this can lead to tension and conflict.
Generally, in my experience, I would argue that the positives for community vastly outweigh the negatives, and if you remain alert, listening and sensitive, you can turn the negative symptoms to positive. But we are humans who all fail at times and won’t get everything right.
How does the Bible view Community
Throughout the Bible there is a strong emphasis on community— in both the Old and New Testaments.
- Created for Relationship: One of the strong arguments I have always used in the context of marriage, is that in Genesis, God says, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18), suggesting humans are made for relationship and interdependence. In my view God does not expect LGBTQ+ folk to remain celibate, because celibacy is a calling of God to specific individuals, not to whole groups, and Jesus makes a comment on how difficult singleness can be. In my original Essay I write towards the end of the chapter on Celibacy: In Matthew 19 Jesus has just been talking about divorce, and goes on to talk about eunuchs, and he says:
11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 “For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others have been made eunuchs; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” [PJ – Verse 11 not in original essay]
The clear implication is that not everyone can, and that he doesn’t expect everyone to accept it, but a few will. The context here clearly sees his own followers on both sides of that fence and note: their salvation is NOT being threatened if they can’t accept it. Singleness/celibacy is a gift, not a punishment – it is not enforced as Jesus taught in that last passage – and must not be seen as an obligation.
Although that is largely in the context of sex, Relationship is about so much more, in fact, everything else about how we behave towards, share with, and trust each other.
- The People of Israel: Much of the Old Testament is about God’s relationship with the community of Israel, not just individuals. Consider all the Laws of Moses in Exodus through to Deuteronomy. They are all to do with how we treat each other in a way that respects, protects and values each other.
- The Early Church: Acts 2:42–47 describes the early Christian community as sharing everything, praying together, and supporting each other daily. In the New Testament, the early church met in each other’s homes, and at times it sounds like the need for any written behaviour code wasn’t necessary, though shortly afterwards, given the excitement of the new direction of the church, it led to excesses and Paul had to deal with those in his letters.
- Welcoming strangers. This is something taught throughout the Bible. When newbies appear, they’re probably feeling a bit vulnerable in a new situation where they don’t know anyone. It is therefore important to welcome anyone who comes, but also to be fair: James 2: 2-4. Other passages: Leviticus 19: 33-34; Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13: 2; and Matthew 25: 35-36!
- Body of Christ: Paul teaches that believers are parts of one body, each with unique roles (1 Corinthians 12). No one part is self-sufficient. Some are hands, some feet, some eyes and others the mouth, etc.
- Mutual Love and Service: Jesus commands, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). This love is central to Christian community.
- Accountability and Restoration: Communities are encouraged to correct one another in love and to bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:1-2 – as we saw earlier). Also if someone in the church has gone wrong, talk to them (Matthew18:15-17)
Who is my Community?
I could ask who your communities are, but this is me, so, who is my Community? This is an interesting question, and I have been watching my answer changing over time. I hadn’t given it much thought until recently. I am, and have always been, part of a church, so I am part of a church community, as well as the church community nationally and globally.
I also work as a conservation volunteer working in different Country Parks over the time I have lived in Glasgow. We clear litter from the park and from the river (known as a ‘burn’ here in Scotland); trim and clear pathway vegetation including trimming the trees that overhang them; remove invasive species, which at this time of year is Himalayan Balsom (we’ve also had a lot of London Pride – and sadly, not the beer!); we plant trees, create and repair ponds; plant willow on river banks to reinforce them, site bird and bat-boxes; and do occasional wildlife studies. So that is another community I am part of.
As my specific church is largely run by and for LGBTQ+ people, I am also clearly part of the LGBTQ+ community as well. However, I have always struggled to really define myself in that context though, because I can’t put my hand up to any of the typical LGBTQ+ labels and so I sometimes feel like a spare wheel. That is just my mind playing tricks on me. Obviously as a straight ally of the community I have a flag I can wave around – the Rainbow coloured ‘A’ against black and white horizontal lines. However, it’s a strange feeling, because it’s a kind of almost, but not quite belonging. During the holocaust, when the SS rounded up all the homosexuals they knew about, and took them to concentration camps, where so many died, frequently of starvation, would I have stood with my gay friends and allowed myself to be taken away, or would I have said, “No, not me, I’m straight”. It’s a troubling question. I do know there is enough evidence in these blogs to get me into a lot of bother if history repeated itself, but I pray God that it doesn’t.
However, I know that I am fully embraced by both my local church and more generally, the LGBTQ+ community, and I will utterly defend their rights from Scripture – indeed there have been times at Pride where non-affirming church groups have assumed I am gay, call me an abomination (it’s a shame they don’t know it’s scriptural meaning!), and then get taken aback when I say I am straight.
However, that raises a related niggle for me: I’m not sure whether I should even say that I’m straight, for fear of placing my friends who are, but who have no choice—at arm’s length from me. Do these accusers need to know whether I’m straight or gay? No, but sometimes it’s good to get them on the back foot and off balance. Even using an expression, like “their rights”, as I did in the previous paragraph, doesn’t sit comfortably, because maybe I should be saying “our rights”. It’s probably like being the only black person in a church. Before I moved to Glasgow, I once went with my wife to a service at an exclusively black church in South London, and that felt very odd literally being the only white people and being visitors. But the boot is usually on the other foot and we don’t think about it.
Part of the strangeness is that while chatting with, say, someone visiting the church for the first time, how can I truly understand the experiences they have been through, but I, not? Yes, I have read loads of stories, lots of books and talked with many people, all whilst listening to their stories and emotions – but everyone’s experience is different. As a kid I was rejected and bullied because of my asthma and eczema and was aware of people sniggering at me behind my back. Even today, if I hear people sniggering behind me I get anxious, very uneasy, and must check. But whilst that hurt, my family hasn’t forced me to marry someone for the sake, or “honour”, of the family. So many particularly African LGBT Asylum Seekers have been through that, and when they get the chance to escape, they bring their children with them. I also haven’t been forced to hide who I am, for fear that my church would ask me to leave.
In Summary:
So, as I wrap up, Community is a foundational aspect of human life and spiritual growth. Its strengths lie in shared support and purpose, but we must also remain aware of the dangers of failing to be welcoming, because the hurts people have experienced already may become rubbed raw again. Biblically, community reflects God’s design for human connection—where love, unity, and service flourish under divine guidance. So, whatever community/ies you identify with, treasure it/them, for the value they offer you, and for the blessing you can be to them. I am deeply thankful to God, and I greatly appreciate my own local church community who took me in, and gave me a role to play in the Fellowship, displaying their commitment to diversity.
Addendum
As I finish, I want to take this opportunity to commend a brilliant new LGBTQ+ Podcast that started a little over a month ago called: This Was Always Me. The first four episodes gave me a lump in my throat, and I’m sure I got dust in my eyes at times! Rich Clarke interviews someone each week, to talk about their experiences. The first one was an interview with Dame Kelly Holmes about hiding her sexuality when she was in the army, and why she came out only after her Athletic career ended. He then interviewed Isobel, a trans woman who transitioned in her 80’s – if you are curious about trans issues, I strongly recommend it. A week later he interviewed Richard Martin a gay man who after having a passionate relationship at university, but then went on to hide his sexuality until his sixties, when he eventually came out. The final one to refer to in this blog, was an interview with Gail Rose a young Christian who had been hiding her identity from the church, and how she had to undergo very traumatic experiences like exorcism, being told she was “Created perfect, but made flawed”, how she lost her place in the church, and suffered family breakdown. Ultimately though this is “a story of faith, love and finding peace after years of hiding”.
Changing Minds 