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More O&A News Than Fits in a Headline

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More O&A News Than Fits in a Headline

The Open & Affirming Ministry Program has welcomed the first O&A church in Georgia, has welcomed a congregation in Washington DC which recently affiliated with the Disciples in response to GA-1327, welcomes another Disciples seminary to the O&A Ministry Program, and has news to share from Mesa AZ.

Six congregations have joined the Open & Affirming Ministry Program in the first three months of this year. There are currently 131 congregations and 6 other organizations in GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program.

For more information about how your congregation can increase welcome and join GLAD’s O&A Ministry Program, see this page about The Welcoming Journey and this page about Becoming An Open & Affirming Ministry.

First Open & Affirming Congregation in Georgia

Johns Creek Christian Church in Johns Creek, GA, is now the first congregation in Georgia to join GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program. The congregational vote to affirm their Open & Affirming statement was unanimous. You can read their welcoming statement here. Pastor Rich Voelz tells us that “This process has been a blessing and this day has been historic.”

CTS Joins GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program

The board of trustees of Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis voted unanimously to declare CTS an Open & Affirming Seminary, and just last week Matt Boulton, President, and Mary Harris, Dean of Students, let us know that the school was ready to take that further step of being open about their affirmation by joining GLAD’s O&A Ministry Program.

DC Congregation Joins DOC as an O&A Ministry in Response to GA-1327

Bethel Christian Church was founded in August 2008 by 5 committed followers. They gathered as people who share a burden for the hurting, rejected and oppressed of Washington DC and the world; as people who share a passion for ministry to provide a refuge for all people.

The Senior Pastor & Founder, Darren Phelps, tells us that “our church has always been progressive and open.”

Pastor Phelps also points out that the passage of Disciples General Assembly Resolution GA-1327 “Becoming a People of Grace and Welcome to All” was a major factor in the congregation’s choice to affiliate with the Disciples.

Just last year Pastor Phelps met Mark Johnston, Executive Director of GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program, at Creating Change in Houston. After that conversation, Dr. Johnston connected Rev. Phelps with the Disciples Hope Partnership and with the Capital Region. The rest, as you can now see, is history.

Bethel Christian Church is currently a Congregation in Formation with the Capital Region. “This will only strengthen how we extend the love of Christ to All” Pastor Darren tells us.

News from FCC Mesa

Pastor Bill Jacobs of First Christian Church in Mesa, AZ, recently sent an email outlining some of their activities in the past several months. Here are some highlights:

  • The congregation is working with the Mesa City Council to bring forward and pass a non-discrimination ordinance in the city that guarantees a wide range of protections.
  • The congregation is supporting a high school senior in her efforts to help the Green House, a housing alternative in the East Valley for LBGTQ teens shunned by their parents.
  • The congregation is in active conversation on a daily basis with young people who continue to struggle with their own sexual shame and engage in thoughts of self-harm.
  • The congregation is encouraging a high school junior from another congregation in her effort to establish a Gay-Straight Alliance at her school and has written letters of support to the principal.

Pastor Bill writes that “All these things are a result of the encouragement and example of GLAD Alliance and all of our LGBTQ friends and allies in the Disciples of Christ.” FCC Mesa joined GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program at the end of last year.