An Atlanta-based progressive congregation is making headlines this Lenten season by offering what it calls “glitter ashes” during its Ash Wednesday service, describing the ritual as an expression of remorse for what it characterizes as historic mistreatment of LGBTQ individuals by Christians.
The Church at Ponce and Highland, located in Atlanta, announced on its website that worshippers attending its Ash Wednesday service will have the option of receiving either traditional ashes or ashes mixed with purple glitter. According to the church, the glitter ashes are intended to symbolize regret for “Christian cruelty to our LGBTQ siblings” and to serve as a reminder to LGBTQ individuals that they should “shine — not hide.”
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent in the Christian liturgical calendar, a 40-day season of prayer, fasting and repentance leading up to Easter. Traditionally, ashes are placed on a worshipper’s forehead in the shape of a cross as a sign of penitence and mortality, often accompanied by the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
On its website, The Church at Ponce and Highland frames its approach differently. The church states that “Christianity has gotten off track” and says it seeks to return to what it describes as the life and teachings of Jesus. It identifies itself as “diverse, pro-LGBTQ, member-led, inclusive,” and notes that it does not require adherence to a shared statement of faith. Instead, it says the congregation unites around shared practices, which include encouraging doubt, rejecting eternal punishment and placing greater emphasis on “Jesus’s teachings” than on traditional doctrines concerning salvation.
The church also argues that historic expressions of Christianity were shaped by empire and associated with colonialism, slavery and oppression. It presents itself as part of what it calls an alternative tradition centered on liberation and solidarity with marginalized communities. While historically connected to the Baptist tradition, the church is no longer affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, having left in 2010 over the denomination’s stance on female ordination.
In describing its Ash Wednesday service, the church says the glitter ashes are meant to express both remorse and affirmation. “We will have both traditional and glitter ashes available,” the website states, adding that the glitter mixture reflects both regret and support for LGBTQ individuals.
The move has prompted debate over the meaning of longstanding Christian rituals and the extent to which churches should reinterpret them in light of contemporary social concerns. Critics argue that Ash Wednesday is historically centered on repentance before God and preparation for Easter, not on public statements about social issues. Supporters contend that churches have long adapted liturgical practices to address present-day moral questions and to acknowledge harm done in religious contexts.
By offering both traditional and glitter ashes, The Church at Ponce and Highland is presenting congregants with a choice between two symbolic interpretations of the day — one rooted in historic Lenten observance and another intended to reflect the congregation’s stated commitment to LGBTQ affirmation and inclusion.
READ NEXT: Don Lemon Arrested For Church Stunt
That “church” isn’t a Christian church any more than I’m the King of England. If it’s any kind of a church at all, then it’s a church of Satan. In fact, Satan has a much better claim to be a Christian than they do. We have it on the authority of the Word of God that Satan believes in God and trembles. These chuckleheads don’t have enough sense to do even that much.
This is why Christians feel this way. Taking something sacred and turning it into a circus. Disgraceful!