Other "Thinking Drafts" and writing by Keith Drury -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .

I desperately need your advice. What would you do if you were pastor here?

It's about a guy who started coming to our church a little more than a year ago. Brian (not his real name) is a single guy, 26 years old, who works at our local hospital. He showed up here at church one Sunday toting his (pretty well worn) Bible, reporting he'd moved here from out of state a few months before. Our church is a loving church, and our people quickly embraced Brian. He is easy to like -- he came to both morning and evening services, occasionally even showing up at our "midweek prayer meeting" though it was populated mostly by older people. Our older ladies loved him immediately.

Brian was a real "catch" for our small church. A younger professional guy with lots of connections. Soon he brought his roommate Jared along too (also not the real name). In fact, over the next six months Brian brought several other friends to church, and they have become a sort of "band" of young professionals in this rather stable older congregation. Our older ladies started calling them, "Brian's bunch."

Brian and his friends are amazingly faithful. They come every Sunday morning and most Sunday evenings. They've plunged right in to our fellowship and even attend our carry-in dinners. They always bring their Bibles and sit near the front on the left-hand side. The guys invariably are the first to show up and set up for our monthly carry-in dinners, and they always stay to tear down. Their most moving participation, however, is in our worship. They often quietly lift their hands during our (occasional) praise songs and I've seen Brian singing quietly, eyes closed and a tear rolling down his cheek.

Anyway, to shorten the story, "Brian's bunch" have became a solid part of our fellowship here. They've brought new life to our young adult Sunday school class (which hasn't had a real young young adult for some time). And each one of these guys now tithes faithfully to our church, even through they are not members.

Which brings me to the reason for asking your advice. Last week I approached Brian and Jared about considering membership in our church. They chuckled, looked at each other and demurred. I (mistakenly?) pressed them. Finally, and very reluctantly, Brian spoke for them both: "You wouldn't want us to join, to be honest with you -- we're gay," he said. I could have fallen into a hole in the ground. I suppose I had fleeting thoughts of it, but I dismissed them based on their faithful involvement. "If they were homosexuals would they tithe?" I figured. After I caught my breath Brian continued. "We just want to attend your church if you'll let us. We're not pushing anything; we're not asking you to change your views; we're not trying to become members or leaders in your church; we don't want to cause any trouble. We just want to come and worship, that's all. Can we keep coming?"

I don't know if I answered right. That's why I'm writing to you. What should I have said?

And, what are the implications I don't see for the future in that answer?

So what do you think?

To contribute to the thinking on this issue e-mail your response to Tuesday@indwes.edu