Our initial gut reaction, unfortunately, was correct.

Before we dive into how shameful and harmful these “sermons” were, we want to validate all LGBTQ community members. Whether or not you choose to be religious, you deserve to be respected. You are whole and human. Any “church” that uses their position of power to make you feel bad, fearful or to tell you that you are going to hell for being who you are should be ashamed of themselves. That is not what following Christ is about.

If you are religious, at the end of this response we have included a list of local religious groups and organizations that are inclusive and welcoming (much thanks to the Prairie Pride Coalition and PFLAG for compiling them). We strongly urge you to share them with any LGBTQ members that go to Eastview or are questioning if they belong in church. They deserve better.

Let’s get into it…

Before the sermon was even started, Mike Baker began by addressing what he called the “church family” compared to everyone else that may be present or listening. It set an immediate us versus them mentality that continued through each of the three sermons presented. He also gave a “shout out” to the protesters outside (including several FIST members present - thank you from the bottom of our hearts for representing!), saying they were wonderful people and then immediately went on to threaten anyone interrupting the service with their security team. Very inclusive, Mr. Baker.

According to Baker, 97% of Americans identify as heterosexual. While this statistic may technically be true (with the group of people who completed a poll or survey - which can be largely inaccurate due to the survey’s class and race discrimination), what it doesn’t take into account is that (according to Gallup) 4.1% of Americans are now identifying as members of the LGBTQ community (nearly doubled from just a few years ago), and up to 20% of millennials self-identify that way. More and more, each generation is becoming more accepting of themselves and willing to “come out of the closet.” Sermons like this set that back immensely. We’ve come so far but still have so far to go. FIST refuses to let our society slide backward.

What struck us overall, though, was the amount of gaslighting that happened during the sermons. While he approached things from a “God loves everyone” perspective, he also made sure to point out that homosexuality was a sin (comparing it at one point to the fact that he wants to commit “murder” while driving down Veteran’s Parkway - both things that should only be thought about but not acted on). This is the most insidious part of this style of “Christian” church - they welcome you in with love only to turn that love against you, betraying your trust with a smile on their faces and a quote from the Bible. You’re stuck thinking it’s your fault - gaslighting by its very definition. Stating that 50% of LGBTQ members say that their sexuality is a choice is not only inaccurate (where are you getting your statistics from, exactly?), it is made to shame and guilt people who “choose” to be gay, bi, trans, etc. Shame on you, Mike Baker. Shame on you, Eastview.

In fact, at one point, Baker adds that the Bible actually does not have any direct quotes on homosexuality. Instead, he says, “there is a lot of stuff that Jesus said that we don’t know about.” Essentially, Eastview is making assumptions and using those assumptions to hurt members of the LGBTQ community. This is wrong on many levels. This is also the reason why the self-harm and suicide rates of members of this community are so much higher than any other group of people. What Eastview says, matters. They are abusing their position of power and actively hurting people. We can no longer afford to be silent about it. Recommending “Christian counseling” for LGBTQ members is conversion therapy. We will not sit silently by and let conversion therapy happen in our community.

Toward the end of the sermon, Mr. Baker brought out Eastview community member Eric Elder (who, conveniently, has written a book they had for sale at the gift shop). He spoke about having chosen the homosexual lifestyle after being brought in through the gateway drug… of theater. He later realized that he was only looking for “affirmation and acceptance” from men, something he had lacked, and fell in love with a woman. This fit well into Baker’s narrative - that anything other than a heteronormative/cisnormative same sex relationship is on par with an abusive relationship (both are harmful but people are tricked into thinking they are loving). It was heartbreaking (also, Mr. Elder, bisexuality exists).

But besides the obviously harmful and incorrect misinformation about homosexuality, it’s impossible to ignore the sexist implications of what Baker is saying. Children are best raised in a household with a mother and a father, he says, because they need a Dad to be strong and firm and a Mom to be nurturing. Talk about buying into antiquated gender roles while simultaneously shaming single parents and LGBTQ families. He also shamed anyone who watches pornography or masturbates (not quite a sex positive sex talk), saying that 84% of people involved in porn have been forced into it by their circumstances and masturbating, although not technically cheating, brought other people into the marriage. There isn’t enough time to address all the harmful inconsistency present today.

FIST refuses to sit quietly by while members of our community are having people in fancy suits with multi million dollar pulpits preaching intolerance, hatred, and bigotry with a smile. Passing the plate and collecting money so that you can fund a new cafe while harming people who trust you is unconscionable. Shame on you, Mike Baker. Shame on you, Eastview. And shame on all members of Eastview who sit by and don’t speak up, especially those with LGBTQ friends and family members. This is on all of you.

And, to our friends in the LGBTQ community, you are not broken. You did not make a choice. You are loved. You belong. You are precious. You don't have to change. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and don’t need to spend a second longer thinking that you are unworthy of belonging in heaven (if that’s your thing). Mike Baker and Eastview do not have a direct line to God.

Yours,

Feminists Instigating Social Transformation (FIST)

List of local supportive religious organizations (compiled by Prairie Pride Coalition) :

New Covenant Community: nccnormal.org, 309-454-7362

Unitarian Universalist Church of B/N : uubn.org, 309-828-0235

Hope Church : behopechurch.org, 309-532-0472, knowhopechurch@gmail.org

First Christian Church of Bloomington: info@blmfcc.org, www.blmfcc.com, 309-829-9327

St. John’s Lutheran Church: www.stjohnsbloomington.org, 309-827-6121

Wesley United Methodist Church: www.wesley-umc.com, 309-827-8046

HARE (Humans for the Advancement of Religious Equality) - find them on Facebook!