The best use of visual illustrations for the General Synod LGBTQIA+ Debates?

 

In the Church of England General Synod debates on Monday 13th July, those present discussed LGBTQIA+ lives, and how the church might affirm that a committed, faithful, intimate same-sex relationship can be entirely compatible with Christian discipleship.

What follows is an entirely personal reflection by me, and not in any way representative of any group with whom I work within the church or wider society.  Important to be clear about this.  Equally important to be clear that I'm aware of the deeply held prayerful, Biblical, theological views held by many parties on this topic, and how important it is that we listen with love to one another wherever we can.

I'm an autistic Christian, who has served the church as best I can for many decades now.

Like many who either are part of the LGBTQIA+ communities, or caring allies to those communities, I take a gentle and prayerful interest in such debates.

Part way through, a speaker held up the illustration you can see at the top of the post.  It's the old optical illusion where a black and white line drawing could be a rabbit's head, or a duck's head, depending on the perspective of the viewer.  Or, could be seen as a strange and rather alarming ink depiction of goodness knows what.  It was meant, in its original context, to be visually confusing and to stir debate as to its meaning.

The speaker hoped that it was a good analogy for the subject matter of the Motion and whether it did or did not infer a particular thing.  He held it to the camera for some time during his speech.  

I can only say that I was dismayed when I saw it.  

Ours is a faith rich with powerful symbolism, carefully cherished from one generation to the next.  Imagery representing all that is most of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, as well as other key and cherished Biblical figures.  

Ours is a faith where imagery could be as simple, and powerful, as a plain cross, or as breath-taking as the biggest of Cathedral stained glass windows. It serves to encourage, inspire, teach, and so much more.

So, what does this chimera of a line drawing say to us of how our loved LGBTQIA+ people are viewed, in our church?  As cherished people of God?  As those journeying in fellowship with one another, following in Christ's footsteps?  Or as a confusing 'neither one thing nor the other' disembodied object?  I know that for too many, it felt rather uncomfortably towards the latter possibility.

Please, may I urge us to be as gentle and thoughtful in our use of imagery as we are attempting to all be in our choice of wording?  No matter how inadvertent the end message, (and I am sure it may fall firmly into that category here), the impact may be far from minor, for many.

Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin responded, a little later in the debate, indicating that she did not see a duck nor a rabbit.  

She saw human beings, made in the image of God. 

A personal Amen to that, from me.  

My prayers continue.

"You knitted me together in my mother's womb"

 

One of an occasional series where I reflect on faith, in my roles as an external adviser to the Church of England on neurodiversity.

In Psalm 139, we have the famous verse, often written as, "You knitted me together in my mother's womb".

Often used by disabled and neurodivergent communities of faith, the verse speaks of God creating us just as we are, from the very beginning, in the womb.  For so many, it has been a sign of our belonging, rather than something that needs fixing before we are fit for purpose.

Yet, the word it uses has many meanings, in the Bible.  It doesn't just mean 'knitted'.  It can also mean 'covered' and 'sheltered'.

https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5526.htm is a useful link for anyone wanting to see the translations and how they appear in the different Bible texts.

It changed how I think about this verse.  Not just knitted together, but sheltered, protected, covered.  Kept safe from life's storms.  

It speaks of a love that cares deeply about each and every one of us, cherishes each and every one of us.

Next time you hear the verse, it may be useful to reflect on what it means for you.