A viral video of a pastor reading “Sparkle Creed” at Edina Lutheran Community Church sparked criticism and led to an online debate.
The clip was live-streamed on the official YouTube page of the church before part of the footage made rounds on Twitter and other sites. The reading drew controversy on social media after the pastor said she believed in a “non-binary god” with “two dads”.
Pastor reads “Sparkle Creed” at Edina Lutheran church
Pastor Anna Helgen from Edina Lutheran Community Church recited the “Sparkle Creed” during a service on Sunday (June 25, 2023), a reading that focuses on LGBTQ inclusion and diversity.
“I believe in a non-binary god, whose pronouns are plural. I believe in Jesus Christ, their child, who wore a fabulous tunic and had two dads,” the pastor said in the live stream.
She continued: “I believe in the rainbow spirit, who shatters our image of one white light and refracts it into a rainbow of gorgeous diversity. I believe love is love, so beloved let us love.”
The “Sparkle Creed” reading was originally created in 2021 by reverend Rachel Small-Stokes, a pastor at the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Louisville, Kentucky.
In a Facebook post, Rachel revealed that she came up with the version when she voice-texted the “Apostle’s Creed” to a colleague, and her device translated it to the “Sparkle Creed”.
HITC and GRV Media have reached out to Edina Community Lutheran Church for comment.
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.
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) June 28, 2023
“Sparkle Creed” video sparks debate
After the video was posted on the ECLC’s YouTube page and other clips circulated on Twitter, the reading drew criticism and led to a huge online debate.
Patrick Miller shared a snippet of the reading and offered his thoughts, tweeting: “Remember when everyone was debating whether they’d want someone to go to a church like this or no church at all? This is, without qualification, idolatry. It is liturgical malpractice. It is… “the sparkle creed.”
“And this is considered spiritual and moral guidance these days,” another user under the video above commented.
Someone else wrote: “I actually like the Sparkle Creed and think a lot of the strong negative feelings towards it are basically rooted in the fact it uses the word ”sparkle’.”
Another said: “This is going against the Bible. God is stated as a He”, as another comment read: “You understand the Bible isn’t written in English right? Like in what possible way could the God of the universe relate to human gender?”
Where is the Edina Community Lutheran Church?
According to its website, the church is a “progressive Lutheran congregation” based in St. Edina, Minnesota, and has served local communities for 70 years.
“We welcome all people without exception, and reach out to our community with serving hands and voices raised for justice,” a statement on the website reads.
The church was founded in 1948 and is an “open, energetic and inclusive congregation” which emphasizes on social justice and anti-racist congregation.
