A Different Church

It started when one of us mentioned what we once called foul language and is now a fairly acceptable litany of descriptive words showing chagrin, anger, frustration, or simply additional color. It is language— once never even whispered or language that rarely appeared in books —now routinely read or heard without a tut tut.

But from the pulpit or in a house of worship we draw or drew the line. There we assumed that a civil tongue prevented slips into a murky quagmire.

Tonight I received a clip that referred to Nadia Bolz-Weber — ex comedian, present day Lutheran minister, confirmed outsider to outsiders— wearer of a clerical collar along with body tattoos, minister who sprinkles liturgy along with salty words. Several years ago I read her book about how she wanted to minister to people who didn’t fit comfortably into your Sunday best, whose language was peppered with colorful words, who wore tattoos rather than button down shirts.

Incidentally, the church she founded is The House for All Sinners and Saints. And in that church they don’t need to get together to decide to be Open to LBGTQ folks because it is truly a welcoming church—I imagine that Jesus is a frequent visitor. As for salty language— the minister sprinkles it around when it fits.

Nadia may not be your stereotype of a minister. She is no stranger to language not often heard in a church, sports an armful of tattos,and occasionally may be sarcastic —but she’s real and she knows the gospel and truly believes that it doesn’t only mean white gloves and Boston accents.