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Lizzie Lowe was 14-years-old when she took her own life. It, like many other suicides, never should have happened.
Before her death, Lowe had confided in friends she believed she was a lesbian, but feared she'd be rejected by her family and her church as a gay Christian. She didn't realize that parents loved her no matter what and only wanted their daughter to be happy. They never would have rejected her.
Now the church, St James and Emmanuel, in Didsbury, England, where Lowe and her parents attended service has made a radical change. Although they say they were always inclusive to the gay community, they'd stayed silent for fear of causing controversy. The church will no longer remain silent and is making inclusion a part of policy, even going so far as to organize the first Didsbury Pride event on church grounds.
Although some members have left in protest, Rector Nick Bundock says the death of a teenager puts the true work of the church in perspective.
You can watch the heartbreaking story below.
The parents of a teenager who took her own life as she believed she wouldn't be accepted as a gay Christian, have s… https://t.co/QQHu2AOwtR— BBC North West (@BBC North West) 1537719982.0
Some wondered why it had to happen at all.
@BBCNWT Why does shit have to happen on people’s own front door before they start taking account— pampeliška (@pampeliška) 1537788373.0
@BBCNWT Too bad it her life to change but at least you opened the door for others even though she died at such youn… https://t.co/liYvTAqtj4— MIMI (@MIMI) 1537786627.0
@BBCNWT That got to me, I’ve always wished there was a way to take on other ppls fears and burdens when they can’t… https://t.co/TpOERpVcuA— YAHKIN (@YAHKIN) 1537792325.0
@BBCNWT Why does it need to be one death for the Christian Church to accept diversity in sexual orientation? RIP Lizzy.— sjcNKOTB (@sjcNKOTB) 1537788150.0
@BBCNWT @ElaineYoung94 @naomi_long very sad story and one that should be a wake-up call to certain churches in Northern Ireland 😥— Fiona Norris (@Fiona Norris) 1537796413.0
@BBCNWT It's a shame it took a young girl to take her own life before the church realised it was living in the dark… https://t.co/m0iznpVxhH— Gav (@Gav) 1537796188.0
@BBCNWT So heartbreaking to loose a child at any age for any reason .... this world MUST change!!— CBD4Charity▪︎CBD & CBG Hemp Oil SWFL (@CBD4Charity▪︎CBD & CBG Hemp Oil SWFL) 1537793929.0
Terribly sad to read about Lizzie Lowe, and hugely disappointing that after @stjamesemmanuel’s embrace of LGBT incl… https://t.co/St6Gg9nmr0— Jon Holmes (@Jon Holmes) 1537746348.0
The church reached out on Twitter.
St James & Emmanuel are being featured on BBC North West & Inside Out today. To find our more about Lizzie, the chu… https://t.co/MWoCOM07Bt— St James & Emmanuel (@St James & Emmanuel) 1537785046.0
The church is being overwhelmingly supported.
@stjamesemmanuel WOW i love y’all- i SO appreciate how y’all reflected and learned to do better!!!! THIS action is… https://t.co/mPKukgYvCC— #generalstrike dandelion (@#generalstrike dandelion) 1537793581.0
@stjamesemmanuel I applaud the fact that you all asked yourself “Whar would Jesus do” and you found the right answe… https://t.co/8GXFgFzcNt— Jodi Simmons (@Jodi Simmons) 1537797579.0
@stjamesemmanuel You and Lizzie will never know how many souls that have come back to God or how many lives have be… https://t.co/j3wzH5a0Jl— Your Average Thea (@Your Average Thea) 1537800035.0
@stjamesemmanuel What you're doing takes courage. You're doing the right thing, though. And with the act of inclusion, you honor Lizzie.— MaxVaxxed (@MaxVaxxed) 1537793149.0
@stjamesemmanuel Totally supporting you. Sending love! 💜— Scotpaulabear v2021 (@Scotpaulabear v2021) 1537794395.0
Our hearts go out to Lizzie's family.
H/T: BBC, Manchester Evening News