Editor’s note: The following letter from Chris Seay, pastor of Ecclesia Houston, responds to an action of the city of Houston subpoenaing sermons given by a group of local pastors who oppose a recently passed ordinance that provides protections to the LGBT community. Houston Mayor Annise Parker led the drive for the ordinance. The subpoena in question sought “all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO (the ordinance), the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession.” The move has sparked outrage from many Christians who feel the subpoenas violate religious freedom and free speech rights.
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Dear Mayor Parker,
I see you as a friend, so I choose to speak to you in the context of friendship. You lead the city that I love, and I want my church, Ecclesia, to continue working alongside you to make our city better. I’m a native Houstonian and a self proclaimed Houston Geek. I love our diversity, food, sports teams, history, entrepreneurial spirit, and most of all I love the people. I know we agree that all Houstonians are made equal in God’s eyes.
Despite our common aim to better this city, your administration’s actions over the last 30 days confirm that we are now formally at odds. It doesn’t have to be this way, but your decision to subpoena the sermons and communications coming from Christian churches in our city requires a clear and unequivocal response. These actions impede on the historic religious freedoms of America’s churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples, while equally being a breach of the relationship we share as citizens of this city. These efforts will only create further division and mistrust, bringing harm to the greater good of Houston.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “the church must be reminded that it is not the master nor the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “the church must be reminded that it is not the master nor the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state.” As pastors in our great city, we cannot and will not subject ourselves to the editing or approval of the content that comes from our pulpits.
As Christians, our wholehearted belief is that the Scriptures, which are interpreted in many different ways according to our traditions, serve as a guide and an authority for us. That means that our teaching will at times stand in stark contrast to the views of our culture when it comes to serving the poor, loving immigrants, protecting all children, and contentious topics such as sexuality and human identity. As religious leaders, if we begin to change our teaching to accommodate popular opinion, we have failed to practice faithfulness to what we believe is our God-given call. We cannot and will not walk that path.
Mayor Parker, I ask you to rescind these misguided subpoenas and let us do our job. I commit to gather the leaders of the church in Houston in order to oppose hatred that arises in any church and condemn any theology that is not rooted in the love of Christ for all people. The church has come a long way, but we cannot bow to the winds of culture. Instead, I urge you to lead us in a constructive and earnest dialogue, and seek out the many key influencers in our city who share a desire for the common good. Together, we can make Houston a better place for all people.
With sincerity and respect,
Pastor Chris Seay
Ecclesia Houston
