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Zion FAQ’s
Real Questions We’ve Really Been Asked…
Is Zion really LGBTQ+ affirming?
YES! Zion really is LGBTQ+ affirming. In fact, Zion holds a “Reconciling in Christ” (RIC) designation. As an RIC church, we are committed to welcome, inclusion, celebration, and advocacy for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions – and work for racial equity and commit to anti-racist work and support the national program.
Why does it say "doing our best" in the mission statement?
Because we are. Since we are human, we won’t always get it right. There are times we fail to embody the gracious love of God. Hence the addition, “doing our best” – these three (3) words make our mission statement more authentic and true.
We are all doing our best to embody the gracious love of God… and it’s the gracious love of God that is the point. It is the gracious love of God that forgives us for what we have done and left undone. It is the gracious love of God that frees us to love and care self and neighbor as best we can.
My kids are high-energy... I don’t have a question, just a fair warning...
We love kids and welcome any level of energy they bring. We find that parents are more worried about their child’s behavior, while Zioners (young and old) delight in the sounds of kiddos being kids. We also delight in engaging kiddos with opportunities for learning and fun like our “Pray Ground,” Children’s Chapel, Godly Play, 1st Fridays, and more.
Links to these coming soon.
Do you do all the sit / stand "gymnastics" during worship?
Everything in worship has meaning – even the sitting and standing. We sit during readings and sermon in a posture of receiving. We invite the assembled to stand (as you are able – in body or spirit) when singing, during the Gospel reading, and prayers in a posture representing the resurrected Christ.
However, it is not a practice of the body as much as it is the posture of one’s spirit. As we invite you to “…please rise in body or spirit…,” we invite you to a spiritual posture of receiving and living forgiven and free with the risen Christ.
We invite you to experience an encounter with God during worship this Sunday at 11:00am.
Are there small groups at Zion?
Yes, there are small groups at Zion, but not cliques. Zioners find ways to connect – both inside the building and beyond our walls. Social connection is so critical in this big city – – and a sense of belonging is imperative for our health and wellbeing. Community is key at Zion.
Links to various small groups coming soon.
What if I’m not sure what I believe?
That’s a-okay. Lutherans are completely comfortable with faith and doubt. We don’t need certainty; instead, we appreciate pursuing and questioning that invites intimacy and deepens faith. For Lutherans, uncertainty is a gift. As the quote goes, “A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.”
Is Zion more liberal or conservative?
Lutherans care about government because it is a gift from God intended for the safety and flourishing of human life. As such, we believe we have a responsibility to engage it in a spirit of robust civic duty. For Lutherans, this responsibility is lived out as a calling from God, expressed in the discipleship described in our baptismal promises. Since the Spirit guides this, we do not tell anyone how to vote or what party / candidate to support.
Concerning the Lutheran denomination, Zion is congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This means that Zion is more theologically moderate-to-liberal than other Lutheran denominations. For example, the ELCA ordains women and LGBTQ+ individuals called by God.
Quick clip – Here’s Pastor Mindy talking about voting: https://www.facebook.com/reel/499507822984361
Zion Lutheran Church is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
congregation in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod
Zion Lutheran Church
3606 Beauchamp Blvd, Houston, TX 77009
Church Email: church@zlchouston.org
Preschool Email: jgarcia@zlphouston.com
Church Phone: 713-869-1493
Preschool Phone: 713-869-6844
Church Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9am-4pm