Wilkens, Randall

Randall Wilkens is Associate Pastor of Worship and the Arts at Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon, Washington.

My journey to “Finding Common Ground” (Fall/Winter 2018)

I’m grieved to admit that not long ago I viewed gay and lesbian people as my enemies. What they stood for seemed opposed to all I was taught in my conservative Christian upbringing. Back in my college days I was often outspoken in my critique of the “homosexual lifestyle.” I now realize with great sadness that my words caused others harm. I believed I was just trying to rescue people from behavior that was contrary to the word of God. But all the while, my own behavior was contrary to the word of God, because I failed to love my LGBTQ brothers and sisters as Christ taught by his words and example.