AllianceQ

Menu

Chestnut Ridge Christian Church Becomes O&A

By /

Chestnut Ridge Christian Church Becomes O&A

Chestnut Ridge Christian Church in Marietta, GA, has become the second Open & Affirming congregation in Georgia. Pastor Byron Wells tells us that the congregation began the process after a member attended a workshop offered by Mark Johnston, Executive Director of GLAD’s Open & Affirming Program, at the 2015 Columbus General Assembly.

The church used the Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit and sent a few members to to a training on the Toolkit offered by Dr. Johnston at John’s Creek Christian Church last January. The Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit provides tools and guidance for churches moving towards becoming Open & Affirming. Pastor Wells shared that “The workshop at Johns Creek C.C. was life-changing for our team members who attended, and these were folk who were already supporters of the Open & Affirming process and LGBTQ issues.”

Two families did withdraw membership from the congregation early in the process, before they experienced the discussion and education engaged in by the church. However, once the process was complete, the congregation voted unanimously to become Open & Affirming. The people of Chestnut Ridge felt that this change was important enough to include in their church constitution.

Moving forward, the congregation has formed a “Welcoming Team” to lead the church forward into their life as an Open & Affirming Congregation. This team is charged to engage and educate the congregation and community on LGBTQ issues.

Pastor Wells told us that “As pastor of Chestnut Ridge, I have proudly watched as this process has been lay-driven and led. The faithfulness of the members of CRCC throughout this process, which was difficult at times, has touched my heart and soul, and I am blessed to have been on this journey with them. We look expectantly to the future for what God has in store for us as we live into our Open & Affirming ministry where all are welcome and celebrated as children of God. Throughout this process, we have been blessed and encouraged by God and a great cloud of witnesses who have accompanied us on this journey.”