Oriented to Love

Pursuing Unity that is Deeper than Agreement

This post was written and recorded in October 2023.

Part of my mission is to elevate good work that matters, to tell the stories of behind-the-scenes ordinary heroes building and rebuilding Christian community across deep divides and stark differences.

One such program on the front lines is Oriented to Love, a program of Christians for Social Action. Oriented to Love (OTL) helps faith communities connect across difference in sexual orientation, gender identity and theological conviction; pursuing unity that is deeper than agreement.

What a powerful mission statement, and one that goes to addressing a source of deep divide in churches today! I had the opportunity to participate in an OTL weekend dialogue many years ago, and it was a transformative experience for this Southern Baptist girl and an opportunity to engage at a heart-level with people who share a common faith and yet different theologies and different sexual and gender identities.

As someone who works with individuals and communities to find tools for dialogue and community building, OTL has been a go-to recommendation for me. I have referred friends and colleagues to OTL and recommended OTL to churches and organizations looking to have deeper and healthier dialogue around these deep-seated parts of our identity.

I had the opportunity recently to interview Kristyn Komarnicki, Director of the Oriented to Love program, as a way to introduce OTL to a broader audience. Here is a brief ten-minute conversation that explores what Oriented to Love is, why this work is important, and how you can get involved.

If your church or community or family has been ripped apart by theological differences around sexuality and gender identity, please know you are not alone, and there are resources to help. We do not have to lay down our convictions or our identities to create space for others in our hearts. We can love God and love each other across all of our differences and our shared identity in Christ. In fact, we are called to do just that.

I hope you are as inspired as I am by this conversation. Thank you, Kristyn, for helping us see the body of Christ in each other.

Here are several upcoming OTL dialogues:

• September 26-28, 2024: Phoenix, AZ

• March 6-8, 2025: Malibu, CA

• May 8-10, 2025: Philadelphia, PA

To learn more about these retreats, host a fishbowl, or access the wide array of resources, visit the Oriented to Love website at: https://christiansforsocialaction.org/programs/oriented-to-love/.