Before moving to Lynchburg last summer to begin my duties as the senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), like most people who move here, I went online to learn as much as I could about the city. The city’s website entitled “Lynchburg Loves You” made me smile as I had been planting a new church in the greater New Orleans area called “Just Love Your Neighbor.”
While I was visiting the city prior to moving to meet with the church’s search team and a real estate agent, I went for a run on the beautiful Blackwater Creek Trail, and took a selfie by the big “LOVE” sign down by the river and another selfie by the mural at the trailhead which reads: “You Matter.”
As a Christian pastor I could not wait to move to a city which really seemed to be all about what Jesus said was the greatest commandment: to love God and to love our neighbors.
I cannot begin to tell you how incredibly disappointed I have been since moving here, not by my church, not by the wonderful organizations that we have here whose mission is to love our neighbors, like Park View Mission, Lynchburg Daily Bread, Miriam’s House, Bright Beginnings, the Free Clinic, HumanKind and Interfaith Mission, and many others, and not by the many citizens I have met here, but by some of the members of our city council.
Last week, I talked with more than one pastor here in Lynchburg who expressed the same sentiment.
One minister suggested that to avoid disappointing other newcomers to this beautiful city, perhaps the city council should think about changing the city’s website to: “Lynchburg Might Love You,” or “Lynchburg Loves You, If…” or “Lynchburg loves you, unless…unless you are queer, unless you have children who are queer, or unless you are the parent of any child who needs public education which this city council is going to continue to underfund.” “Lynchburg loves you, unless you do not have the same political beliefs that some of us do. Because not only will we not love you and welcome you ‘with open arms and invite you to be part of our story,’ we are going to threaten you, hurt you, and even scapegoat you.”
However, I am praying that instead of changing the website, we might change our hearts. And if our hearts do not change, then hopefully we we will change this city council come November.
Just Love 
Amen
Sent from my iPhone
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I wish you could have experienced the city council in years past! You would have been pleased and witnessed what a city council should be.
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That is what I understand! I believe we will get back there because love always wins!
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Rev. Banks: I hope you read the letter posted by the Lynchburg For A Free Palestine with regard to the cancellation of the International Festival thereby denying not only freedom of speech but also economic benefits to food truck owners. That action by the City Manager and/or City Council was disgraceful.
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Yes! The cancellation is what prompted my statement.
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