Church Encourages Gender-Neutral Language for Inclusivity
The Church of the Resurrection, with Kansas Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton at the helm, has suggested adopting gender-neutral language to ensure all children feel included. This initiative was shared in a message that referenced a transgender artist and LGBTQ activist as a source of inspiration.
“Hey! Following up from our conversation on Sunday about our words and striving to be more gender-neutral, here’s a list of words we can start using instead of boys/girls,” the communication stated.
The message included an image titled “Gender-Neutral Terms to Address a Group,” showcasing various alternatives to traditional greetings like “peep-a-doodles,” “homo sapiens,” “niblings,” “kiddos,” “kitties,” “comrades,” and “folks.”
At the image’s bottom, there’s an attribution indicating inspiration from @sara.levine1 and @themilajam.
The latter handle belongs to Mila Jam, whose full name is Jahmila Adderley. According to Wikipedia, Jam is an American transgender singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and LGBTQ activist.
Jam has recognized her milestone as the first Black transgender artist to co-headline Boston Pride and has expressed pride in identifying as nonbinary. During Non-Binary Awareness Week, she shared a message with her “Enby Fam.”
At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Jam praised Michelle Obama, remarking about witnessing her in person. In the lead-up to the presidential election, she showed support for former Vice President Kamala Harris, posting a photo with an early voting sticker and declaring her readiness for a female president. After the election, she expressed her desires for rights and protection, advocating for electing women over misogyny.
Meanwhile, Hamilton has publicly backed Harris for the upcoming presidential election, having voted for her and donated $500 to her campaign shortly after Joe Biden ended his reelection efforts.
The children’s ministry’s message is just one of the recent developments drawing attention to Hamilton’s church as he campaigns against incumbent Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) in the upcoming November election.
Previously, the Church of the Resurrection—known as the largest United Methodist congregation in the U.S.—partnered with Kansas City PrideFest, co-sponsoring a “Drag Queen Story Time & Gay Pride Festival.” Their advertisements associated the church with the event’s “Youth & Teen Tents,” promoting activities like performances, story time, and crafts.
Hamilton has also been an advocate for LGBTQ rights within the church, supporting same-sex marriage and advocating for legal abortion and Black Lives Matter. During a panel in 2015, he reflected on how congregants coming out to him as gay challenged his interpretation of scripture, questioning how much leeway there is to reinterpret traditional texts.
He later expressed during a January 2025 sermon that churches limiting women’s roles in preaching have misrepresented Paul’s teachings.
In a podcast episode, Hamilton explored whether belief in the Virgin Birth is essential to follow Jesus, suggesting that a focus on following Jesus might be more important than strict dogma. He mentioned that the Apostle Paul might have emphasized the Virgin Birth if it were vital to Christian faith.
In a separate sermon in 2022, he stated that those of other religions could find salvation through Jesus even if they don’t recognize him during their lives. Hamilton believes they will ultimately discover their faith in Jesus after death, expressing that he doesn’t fear they would end up in eternal damnation.
He also addressed church policy failures during a CNN interview, admitting they should have promptly contacted authorities regarding abuse allegations against a church camp volunteer, which had not been part of their prior protocol.
In a sermon in 2018, Hamilton related Jesus’ warning about harming children to the practice of family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border, urging listeners to empathize with the pain of affected children.
He discussed environmental concerns, particularly related to beef production and its role in greenhouse gas emissions during a sermon in January 2020, bringing attention to agricultural practices in Kansas, a leading beef-producing state, which he argued could lead to higher emissions compared to other food sources.
Hamilton’s financial disclosure revealed a net worth of up to $20 million, a substantial salary from the Church of the Resurrection, and significant earnings from publishing. These details have emerged amid his campaign against the influence of wealthy individuals in politics.
