Calico Beans

Ethan describes his experience growing up in a strict church in Hong Kong as “not that pleasant.” “God was the church,” he shared. “I was told that my religious values should be based only on what the church said. There was lots of bigotry, misogyny, and judgment.” As a transgender person just beginning to find his identity, he knew he could never be his full self in his home church.

After high school, he chose to attend the University of Washington in Seattle. For that first year, he stayed away from all things church-related. “I began to realize that God was bigger than the church and I still believed in Jesus; he’s a pretty cool guy.”

When Ethan walked by the Lutheran Campus Ministry table on campus, he saw our rainbow logo and affirming messages. He attended Wednesday night dinner and even remembers the calico bean casserole our dinner volunteer made that first night. “Free food?” he thought. “I gotta be here!” He has been a regular attendee ever since and now serves as a club officer and student intern.

For Ethan, LCM provides a space to relax, tap into spiritual life, and put aside the worries of the day for a few hours. But it’s more than that. “For the first time ever, I have found a church community where I can fully belong as a trans person. I’ve made friends. I can say what I honestly think and believe. I can ask any questions I have. And I really like that we learn about social and community advocacy. We learn about issues in our community and our role in them. It has strengthened my faith and made me realize that people in church aren’t all bad. They are welcoming, kind, loving people. I have a new view on Christian people as a whole.”

Ethan has also begun attending Sunday morning worship at University Lutheran, LCM’s host congregation. “Getting back into the routine of Sunday worship is a comfort. And the people are really nice.” No matter where life takes him after graduation, he plans to find a welcoming, loving congregation to call home. “Religious beliefs are personal, but having them shared with a bigger group and a sense of community and belonging is great.”

Your generosity to Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Washington makes it possible for us to keep providing for students like Ethan and reach out to more students who need to know about God’s welcoming, inclusive love!