A Reflection on Purple Congregations: A Foretaste of the Kingdom

In this divided world, there is something special about congregations where people from across the political spectrum gather to worship, serve, and grow in faith together. We often refer to these congregations as “purple”––blended communities of conservatives and progressives. These faith communities offer us a glimpse of what the kingdom of God looks like: a gathering of God’s people, diverse in perspective yet united in Christ.

The Way of Jesus is a call to live out the truth that every person is made in God’s image and are worthy of love and dignity. The centrality of the gospel is what holds these faith communities together rather than political unity. We know this is no small task––it requires patience, humility, and a willingness to listen. But when we do this work together, what we encounter is something sacred. In it, we experience a unity that is not rooted in uniformity but in our shared identity as God’s beloved.

A Welcoming Space for All

Purple congregations provide an opportunity to widen our welcome and reflect on what it means to follow Jesus. For LGBTQIA+ individuals, a wide welcome is an important aspect in the search for a safe and life-giving worshiping community. So many in this world have experienced rejection or harm, and the church has a unique opportunity to reflect God’s radical hospitality in ways that contradict the world’s norm. A purple congregation does this by creating a space where all are truly seen, heard, and valued.

When faith communities commit to a wide welcome, they do not ignore differences or avoid hard conversations. What happens is they commit more fully to walking together, even when it is uncomfortable. Commitment at this level allows us all to grow in love, and it is here, in the messiness of human relationships, that we encounter the grace of God. Congregations that welcome diversity at its fullest offer a truly authentic witness to what the inclusive love of Christ looks like.

Unity in the Midst of Difference

We fool ourselves when we believe the church is called to be a collective of people who all think, vote, and act the same way. The Apostle Paul reminds us that the body of Christ has many members, each with unique gifts, perspectives, and experiences. The world teaches us that there is something to fear in our differences. The church must push against this assumption and show how our collective differences offer opportunities for the Holy Spirit to work among us and teach us how to love more deeply.

It is in these purple congregations that we learn to embrace this kind of unity. Here we learn to honor the convictions of others, even when we do not agree. The church offers the space to listen with curiosity rather than defensiveness, learning to speak the truth in love knowing that God is at work in every conversation. And, in the process, we learn that our unity is not something we create––it is a gift from God.

Engaging Challenging Topics

This is where purple congregations are uniquely positioned to engage deeply with difficult topics. When a diverse community gathers, it is better able to see the complexities of the world around us. There, in that sacred space, we bring our different experiences, insights, and questions to the table. And when we approach these conversations with humility, we open ourselves to the possibility of transformation.

Not every conversation will be easy because living in community is hard work. But it is through this hard work we grow in faith. In the process, we learn to navigate our differences and are reminded of our shared need for God’s grace. Therefore, engaging in those challenging topics together, we bear witness to the hope and unity that is found in Christ.

A Reflection of God’s Kingdom

The world continues to feel fractured but in these purple congregations we are reminded that God is still at work, bringing people together in unexpected ways. These faith communities are not perfect, but they reflect the beauty of God’s kingdom––a Kingdom where people of every nation, tribe, and tongue will one day worship together as one.

As we live into this calling, the Spirit invites us to celebrate the gift of diversity among us. A celebration that commits to welcoming all people with the love of Christ. This is where the Spirit is leading us, even amid our differences, toward a deeper experience of God’s grace.

This is the work of the church. This is the unity we are called to embody. Thanks be to God.

In the heart of Jesus, Pastor Eric Randolph+