Edina Community Lutheran Church, a progressive congregation in Minnesota, recently captured attention as its service incorporated a unique ‘sparkle creed’, know its meaning explained
Professing a belief in a non-binary God, the Church continues its commitment to inclusion and social justice, tracing back to the early 1990s.
What is the meaning of sparkle creed as Edina Lutheran church advocates for inclusive beliefs
The Sparkle Creed is a version of the Apostle’s Creed modified to include the LGBTQ+ community and the incident took place on Sunday, June 25, with co-pastor Anna Helgen leading the congregation. She recited that God is “non-binary,” that Jesus Christ had “two dads”, and that “love is love.
Professing faith in a non-binary god at Edina Lutheran church
Pastor Anna Helgen led the congregation at Edina Lutheran in a recitation of the ‘sparkle creed,’ a symbol of the Church’s progressive theological approach. “I believe in a non-binary god, whose pronouns are plural,” stated Helgen, adding, “I believe in Jesus Christ, their child, who wore a fabulous tunic and had two dads.”
Edina pastor Anna Helgen reads the "Sparkle Creed," saying she believes in a "non-binary God" and that Jesus had "two dads." She also invokes Taylor Swift's lyrics during a prayer. pic.twitter.com/bE4DPsklqW
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) June 28, 2023
The ‘sparkle creed’ was originally created by Rachel Small-Stokes, a pastor from Louisville, following an intriguing translation of the Apostle’s Creed. Small-Stokes had since endorsed this contemporary rendition of faith that embraces a rainbow of diversity.
An embrace of diversity and love
Echoing Small-Stokes, Pastor Helgen further invoked the creed, stating, “I believe in the rainbow spirit, who shatters our image of one white light and refracts it into a rainbow of gorgeous diversity.” The creed concluded, “I believe love is love is love, so beloved let us love.”
The Edina Community Lutheran Church’s ethos extends to various social justice issues. The Church endorses ‘ecofaith’, advocates for abortion rights, and hosts monthly “anti-racism vigils.” These efforts reflect their mission to become a long-term anti-racist congregation.
Commitment to social justice
The Edina Lutheran church’s commitment to social justice is not recent. According to their documents, the church has been leading in these areas since the 1980s, offering classes on protesting and hosting seminars on anti-racist children’s literature. The commitment continued recently, with the initiation of anti-racism vigils during the trial of former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin.
Furthermore, Edina Community Lutheran Church has partnered with the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a group working towards bail system reform for systemic equity.
A journey towards inclusion
This recent service marks another milestone in the Church’s journey towards an inclusive, diverse belief system. The ‘sparkle creed’ serves as a testament to the Church’s aim to adapt religious teachings to resonate with contemporary society, valuing love, inclusion, and justice above all.
It stands as a striking example of religious institutions embracing change and creating space for diverse perspectives within their theology. As the Edina Community Lutheran Church continues to trailblaze with its progressive faith stance, followers can expect more milestones on its journey towards complete inclusivity and social justice advocacy.