When the Bigots Came for Us: the LCMS Youth Gathering, Protests, and Bigotry

The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Youth Gathering took place from July 19-23, 2025 in New Orleans, LA. Apparently Westboro Baptist Church–the one that is infamous for its hateful rhetoric, signs, and general awfulness–protested at the gathering. An LCMS pastor, reacting to this, added “Hate Has No Home Here” to official LCMS Youth Gathering imagery, apparently trying to point out that Westboro was in the wrong here for varied reasons.

I was once in the LCMS myself, and attended a youth gathering. If I had had such a protest at my gathering, I suspect I would have been, like the few reactions I saw from current LCMS youth, mostly confused. Why is this radically fundamentalist group showing up to protest the LCMS, itself a conservative organization? Apparently, according to Westboro’s own release about the protest (quoted by an LCMS person reacting to it here), it is in part because the LCMS isn’t pure enough: “This organization is filled with creepy, “voluntary humility” (Colossians 2:18) about the less popular sins of sodomy and transgenderism, while you whitewash fornication, adultery and idolatry.” So, according to Westboro, the LCMS basically condemns LGBTQ+ but doesn’t do so regarding “fornication, adultery, and idolatry.”

What to make of this odd protest? First, I wonder if this can be leveraged to have discussions with LCMS persons about how awful it was to have this nonsense at their youth gathering, literally targeting children. I saw some comments on Facebook like “but we agree with them on LGBTQ+ issues” from LCMS people. Not only is that awful–since the WBC preaches that God quite seriously hates queer people [God manifestly does not hate queer people, btw] and anyone saying they agree with that is agreeing with their god-forsaken stance–but it also opens a door for discussion: Purity tests for doctrinal or moral excellence can always get more stringent, and someone will always be left out.

Here, we had the LCMS Youth getting left out by the WBC. Not just left out, but seen as actively sinful to the point of needing to be protested, shouted at, and condemned publicly as much as possible. To the WBC, the LCMS is enabling “fornication” and divorce, among other things. It was probably quite shocking for LCMS members to be on the “wrong” side of such a protest. But, imagine discovering that you’re left on the outside of heaven or outside of God’s love because of something you believe or who you are! This is time for reflection. These LCMS youths now see that a purity test for doctrine/morality can get more and more extreme. The narrower and narrower one gets with God’s love and inclusion, the narrower the gates of heaven, and the more limits we place on God’s mercy and love. Hopefully this will lead some to question their stance.

Second, the addition of “hate has no home here” to the LCMS youth gathering logo was controversial in the limited comments I saw. It should spur -some- reflection that simply saying “hate has no home here” is controversial. Do you want hate to have a home amongst your church, amongst your youth? Hopefully the obvious answer is “no.” Now, I do understand making it look like it was official if it wasn’t released officially could be an issue, but that’s a different discussion.

Third, and finally, I hope it spurs some within the LCMS to think on their reaction of “but we agree with you” regarding WBC’s stance on queer people. Look at the vitriolic hate being spewed at you because you don’t fully come into line with everything they believe! Do you really believe it is Christlike to have that same thing done to LGBTQIA+ people? Is that the standard you want for your Christianity? I pray others would come to see God’s love as open and inclusive for all people, not just for whatever narrowing of the path we prefer.

Disclaimer: I am not endorsing any of the words of LCMS persons or Westboro Baptist in this post. LGBTQIA+ persons are fully loved by God and should be fully included in the activity and work of the church.