Today I spoke in front of the entire gathered body of General Synod 32, a body of about 700 delegates and a few hundred more gathered onlookers. I spoke in favor of Resolution 9: Break the Silence Sunday. I had not planned on doing that!
 
You see, I have a friend from seminary who is a friend and supporter of the Rev Moira Finley, who wrote the resolution. The resolution calls for all UCC churches to dedicate one Sunday a year to recognize the impact of sexual violence on us as humans, as congregations, as communities. It literally asks us to Break the Silence about these things.
 
I couldn’t help but draw a parallel between my experience and understanding of the process of coming out as LGBTQIA and the experience of Breaking the Silence about sexual violence. I know how coming out liberated me in a myriad of ways. I can only imagine how Breaking the Silence about sexual violence could liberate so many more. And so I said so, in front of hundreds of people, and I asked them to vote yes. Guess what? They voted yes by 98.5%!
 
Our God knows we need to Break the Silence. Our God knows that love wins! Love heals! More love can save us, I know because it saved me. So consider preparing your churches for Break the Silence Sunday (#btss). Take a bold step. Talk about something that’s hard so you can have the opportunity to expand this great love from God that never runs out, this great love that overflows all of our cups!