Barbara Krause has been a devoted Methodist since the early 1950s when she joined the MYF group in Indianapolis. A member of First Church since 1962, she’s served in various roles, including secretary of the Administrative Board, usher, greeter, liturgist, communion steward, women’s circle leader, and volunteer office receptionist. Barbara remains actively involved in Sunday School classes and church committees, embodying a steadfast commitment to her faith and service to others.
Once upon a time, in the 1960s and 70s, a new women’s circle was formed and decided to be different by meeting in the evenings. How daring of us! This was in the “old church” in the Village— two buildings before where we are now. Somehow, this circle became a Sunday School class to study some of the difficult problems facing our church. Whispers about the word “Reconciliation” came to be shouts that would either break us or make us stronger. We wanted to be welcoming, but how?
Our ministers helped us along, though we sensed they were troubled also. We brought in others to discuss what was going on. We wanted to find those who agreed but were hesitant. Each of us signed up to speak privately to two or three. Those I met with will remember, and I thank you here and now. We each wrote letters to ministers and other delegates to Annual Conference. We received a few polite answers but didn’t change any minds.
We had a dinner (when do Methodists turn down a potluck?). There, some of us spoke about our experiences as parents of LGBTQ+ young people. We arranged occasions for the whole church where we heard from people who had come out or had been come out to. Many hugs, tears, and some anger, but we all grew.
A few of us met one morning in the pastor’s office with a young person afraid to come out to his mother. I was able to give him some idea of how she might react because I was a mom who had been in that situation. It wouldn’t be easy, but maybe he could understand her feelings.
We distributed a church-wide survey designed by those who knew how to do such things and eagerly awaited results. Most answers agreed with reconciliation— we had learned a new word!
Yes, we lost some familiar faces from our congregation, and we love and miss them still. But we have many new dynamic members and are continuing to grow and become stronger. The United Methodist Church has changed much since 1962 when I became a member here. But we have grown and continue to grow. Maybe those of us old-timers can be a bridge to the newer generations on whom the church depends for a future in which we can all worship together.
I pray this is so,
Barbara Krause
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