Last Friday, Every Thought Captive – a Christian nonprofit known for hosting debates and discussions nationwide – brought its annual conference to Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs.

ETC 2018, as it is called, drew a modest crowd of a hundred or so guests, as well as a group of Evangelical scholars who delivered presentations about sexuality and gender studies and the rapidly degrading relations between certain Christian and LGBT communities. Topics ranged from how to best have those awkward conversations with your children, to the science and psychology behind transgenderism.

Ryan T. Anderson – author, editor, and senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation – opened with an introduction about the general rift between Evangelicals and LGBT activists. He spoke honestly, mentioning the history behind the relationship and how certain ministry partners have been named as “hate groups” because of how they portray their beliefs. Some, he noted, have earned that title – the Westborough Baptist Church,for instance – but the rest owe it to themselves to make a change in the name of healing and to be mindful of what it feels like to be on the receiving end of their message.

What followed was some talk about the psychological effects of gender transitioning and a comparison of past and present definitions of family. Recent incidents were discussed as examples of how people on both sides have gotten at least some things right, and a Q/A session offered advice on how churches can actively make adjustments to counter growing animosity.

Then Glen Stanton came to the podium, the author of “Loving my (LGBT) Neighbor: Being Friends in Grace and Truth.” Drawing inspiration from John 1:14, he spent 60 minutes speaking on how to bridge the aforementioned proverbial chasm.

His words echoed his writing, listing cases where churches and activists have come together to close the gap between the Christian and LGBT worlds. He also took a moment to dispel some of the myths about his faith and about the LGBT community at large, tossing out presuppositions and striving to point his audience towards the truth.

Stanton’s and Anderson’s presentations, as well as those of the other four speakers, represented a consolidated effort to persuade modern Christians to build bridges and to bring a bit of unity to their neighborhoods. In a world – and in an America – where such unity is increasingly difficult to find, ETC 2018 offered a welcome breath of fresh air. One that has empowered those who are willing to extend an olive branch amidst the ongoing war of words and beliefs.

The Gazette editorial board