Early last Wednesday morning I drove in the dark from Stamford to Norwalk where the gym I belong to is located. After exercising, I left the gym to find that a light rain had fallen and frozen. The four-lane Merritt Parkway, the main route back to Stamford, was closed due to the icy conditions. Google Maps offered an alternative route through the two-lane backroads, which I took. Two minutes in, after driving up a slick incline, I began proceeding down a similarly slick hill. Even at a low rate of speed, my car started skidding. Thankfully, I was able to steer into a driveway near the top of the hill and stop. I opened my car door and felt the road–solid ice. Looking in my rear view mirror, I could tell Google had guided other cars to this same route, and, after they watched my near-free-fall down the hill, those cars stopped behind me, flashers on.
Together, we waited. We waited for the temperature to rise. We waited for the freezing rain to stop. But we were waiting for something else — the first one down the hill. We were waiting for that first brave soul to pull out and attempt the decline. If they made it without a wreck, we knew we’d be able to make it without a wreck. But if they crashed, we knew we’d better wait a bit longer.
I’ll summarize the rest of the story … after two hours, I made it back to Stamford. But the experience made me think about the Stamford Church of Christ (SCC). When it comes to issues of gender inclusivity and LGBTQ+ affirmation, most churches in our tribe have been waiting. Flashers on. Not confident in the safety of the path ahead. But SCC bravely pulled out. SCC was one of the first ones down the hill. We’ve been able to show others that this path is secure and one worth travelling.
That’s a vital role to play. It may be one of SCC’s most important roles among the larger fellowship of churches. When it comes to a host of issues and theologies and practices, many churches spend generations waiting. Stalled. Panicked about any progress forward. But I hope we’ll continue being one of the first ones down the hill.
