A Larger Circle

During World War II a U.S. patrol in France was ambushed by the enemy. When the skirmish was over one of the American soldiers was dead.

The dead GI's buddies noticed a small church next to a graveyard. They carried their colleague to the church and asked the priest if they could bury their friend in the cemetery.

The priest asked whether their friend was Catholic. They didn't know. "He could've been," they said, "but we don't know for sure."

"This is a Catholic cemetery," replied the priest. "Unless you can assure me that your friend was Catholic, I can't allow you to bury him in the cemetery."

The soldiers found a spot just outside the cemetery fence, dug a shallow grave, buried their friend, and went into the village to find shelter for the night.

They returned the following morning to pay their final respects before catching up with their unit. When they looked for their friend's grave, they couldn't find it. The priest, noticing their confusion, approached them and said, "I apologize for not allowing you to bury your friend in the cemetery.  I moved the fence last night so that his body could rest inside the cemetery."

In case you don't know, or maybe you've forgotten, Kinship's ministry is to make a larger circle, so that our queer Adventist friends and allies can find sanctuary. While the church and some of society's institutions often practice judgment and exclusion, Kinship's reason for existence is to demonstrate grace and inclusion.

What better reason to attend Kampmeeting in July? Visit Kampmeeting.com for details. Attend for a few days of inspiration and support. Our theme—"Thriving in a Complex World"—may be just what you need to feel unconditional acceptance.

I love these lines from American poet Edwin Markham:

"He drew a circle that shut me out—

heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had the wit to win:

we drew a circle that took him in."

Stephen Chavez, Director of Church Relations

churchrelations@sdakinship.org