On CBS Mornings, contributor Lisa Ling (a former cast member of The View) self-identifies as a "die-hard feminist," which CBS thinks is a great reason to assign her stories on "The State of Spirituality." In September, Ling championed the notion of female priests in the Catholic Church, and on Thursday, Ling promoted a "transgender man" who's a pastor in Hollywood for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Co-host Tony Dokoupil set the tone in a tease: "Coming up, Lisa Ling talks spirituality with a pastor trying to expand inclusivity in the Christian church."
Dokoupil later introduced the segment: "Many traditional religions are trying to make progress toward being more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community. But for some groups, it`s been a very slow journey on that front. Today, Lisa introduces us to a pastor in California who wouldn`t be welcome to preach in many American churches."
'CBS Mornings' continues it's 'State of Spirituality' series by celebrating transgender pastors and pro-trans churches, lamenting how many churches aren't like the Evangelical Lutheran Church by allowing trans clergy and implying those opposed do so by sending threats. pic.twitter.com/VVzhjYVzDZ
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 3, 2024
LISA LING: Stever is a transgender man and he's also an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
DREW STEVER: Do we stand on the side of fear and hate or do we stand on the side of curiosity and awe? -
LING: Some Christian denominations have evolved to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community, but the acceptance of trans clergy has been much slower. According to Pew Research, the majority of Christians still feel whether a person is a man or a woman is determined by their sex assigned at birth. Do you believe that the Lutheran Church is a safe place for queer people?
STEVER: It is trying so hard.
LING: In 2015, the Lutheran Church ordained its first trans priest. Trans clergy also serve in other denominations, but most still forbid LGBTQ+ clergy.
Those troglodytes who "still" hold to what the Bible teaches were not interviewed for this story. But they are brought up as hateful people who believe the Bible isn't outdated.
LING: Because there are a lot of people who say that according to the Bible, God made man and woman and that couldn't be more clearly defined. How do you respond to them?
DREW STEVER: It's hard to relate it to modern day times because it wasn't written for 2024, it was written for then. When we read in the scripture that God created man and woman, yes, and God created everyone else as well.
The God of the Bible wasn't "compassionate" or "inclusive." But God has apparently become wiser and more compassionate for our modern times, because Stever claims God encouraged his "transition."
LING: Stever credits a homeroom teacher for first introducing him to a more compassionate Christian theology, accepting of everyone. This eventually helped him realize he was being called to become a pastor. You went into seminary as a woman. How did you come out of seminary?
STEVER: Not a woman.
LING: It was summer 2016 and leading up to the election, anti-trans rhetoric was ramping up. But Stever says he could no longer deny who he's always been.
STEVER: There was a moment where I woke up in the morning, and the words that came to my mind was, you don`t have to be angry anymore. And I almost felt like God just took a snowball and just threw it at my face.
LING: So you think that voice was God?
STEVER: I think so, yeah.
LING: But after Stever transitioned, he began receiving hate, mostly online.
The opponent isn't conservative views, it's just "hate," whether it's online messages or in-person vandalism. Ling concluded: "Pastor Drew has had a pride flag hanging outside of Hope Lutheran. And shortly after we filmed there, someone ripped down the flag and damaged it. The flag, though, is back up. And he told us he is, quote, "not deterred by one person's small worldview." Or, as Ling confessed, "still the majority of Christians."
