Rev. R.L. Gundy: We’re too busy condemning people rather than loving people
On June 4th, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Colorado baker who had refused to create a wedding cake for a LGTBQ couple on the grounds that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which originally ruled against the baker, had not acted impartially when considering the case. Still, the Court’s narrow ruling did not change the long-standing rule that businesses open to the public must be open to all.
“We’re too busy condemning people rather than loving people,” said, Rev. R.L. Gundy, Senior Pastor at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville regarding the ruling. “I struggled with the LGBTQ community when I was younger. I just didn’t get it.”
The faith leader noticed a young man who had been a member of the church all his life would either be missing from the pews or come and disappear right after the sermon. He wasn’t sure why until he received a call that changed his life. He told a story of an 18-year-old who was kicked out of his home by his adoptive father because of his sexual orientation as a gay man.
“I had no clue that he was gay and had AIDs, and when I went to visit him in the hospital I asked him why he didn’t come talk to me. The boy said, “Pastor, I didn’t think I could.”
Wiping a tear from his eye, Gundy whispered, “I wonder if he would still be alive if he thought he could come to us.”
From that moment on, the pastor started building bridges from the faith communities and LGBTQ communities. He learned to become an ally and started opening his heart and doors to LGBTQ people of faith to create coalitions for the community.
“Jesus said to love one another. I don’t like to see people to be mistreated. There’s no reason to be discriminated against,” Gundy said. “Jesus would love people for who they are, we can’t say that we’re faith leaders and then say we don’t condone LGBTQ rights. There is no decree of sin.”
Rev. R.L. Gundy continues to be fueled by humanity and his faith to continue the work of Jesus on any form of anti-discrimination.