Tulsa is often referred to as the “Buckle of the Bible Belt.” It is home to Oral Roberts University and for decades has been one of the various national epicenters of evangelical charismaticism. Oklahoma itself ranks within the top ten states for church attendance (and the furthest state west, not counting Utah), and Tulsa is especially known as a home to the faithful. There are more than several thousand congregations serving the Tulsa metro-area of approximately 960 thousand people. There are at least 20 Tulsa-area churches with more than a thousand members, some with as many as 12 thousand. In the midst of all that religiosity sits the Fellowship Congregational Church, affiliated with the United Church of Christ. And that church believes that God is gender-fluid.
The church’s website says, “We are an open and affirming, progressive church, growing in spirit and working for justice! We are all ages and races, sexes and genders, friends and family – working together to build God’s beloved community!” The church is listed as “ONA” – standing for “Open n’ Affirming” to the LGBTQ(XYZLMNOP) Community. The church made a public statement in 1995 to “welcome into their full life and ministry persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.” The website welcomes everyone – regardless of their unrepentant sin – to take part in Baptism and Holy Communion.
A reader of Pulpit & Pen noticed the sign and forwarded the photo to the publication.
The church’s pastor is Chris Moore, a graduate of the University of Oregon and Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa. The church’s associate pastor is “Gina” Woods, a female who graduated from California State University and Phillips Theological Seminary.
Their church’s calendar dedicates Monday evenings to discussing social justice issues in small groups, Tuesdays to practicing with the local “Gay Men’s Choir,” and volunteering for PFLAG (a homosexual support group), Wednesdays to serving a vegetarian meal (obviously) at the University of Oklahoma, Thursdays to feeding the homeless, and Fridays to protesting immigrant deportation at the county jail and participating in “Gay Bingo.” While the full schedule of busy weekly activities is posted online, there is no mention of Bible study, prayer, or worship. Sundays are devoted, the website says, to meeting in the Sanctuary and “telling their stories.”
Interestingly, the church is also involved with supporting the terrorist finance and front group, The Council on American and Islamic Relations (CAIR).
They also have “Buddhist Meditation” at 6:30 on Wednesday evenings, according to their calendar.
In terms of what the church means by “God is Gender Fluid,” Pulpit & Pen has reached out to Fellowship Congregational Church for clarification but has yet to receive comment at the time of publication. Earlier in the week, Polemics Report posted a podcast episode dealing with this subject, entitled, God Ain’t a Woman, People. That episode was in relation to claims made in an article at Baptist News Global by Christy Edwards, entitled, Continuing to Cast God as Male Does a Disservice to Us All – Women and Men, Sons and Daughters.
A growing argument is being made, in defense of transgenderism, that God himself is transgender or “gender-fluid.” If anyone has a right to self-identify their gender, however, it is God. And God has very clearly chosen to identify himself to humanity explicitly as male.
