Open & Affirming Presence at Central Rocky Mountain Region Spring Feast

At the Central Rocky Mountain Region Spring Feast this last weekend, April 25-26, Mark Johnston, Executive Director of GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program, joined with Fireside Christian Church to present a workshop on How to Be an Open & Affirming Church. More than 40 people from 14 congregations participated in this workshop.

During the workshop, members of local churches told stories of why it has been important to them that churches be Open & Affirming, and Dr. Johnston presented the resources that GLAD recommends churches use when moving towards becoming O&A.

Also at the Spring Feast Dr. Johnston was available at a table with information about GLAD and Open & Affirming Ministries to speak with pastors and members from throughout the Central Rocky Mountain Region. Dr. Johnston reports that he spoke to people across the region, spanning Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, and spanning the spectrum from conservative to evangelical to progressive congregations.

While in Colorado, Dr. Johnston preached at Cairn Christian Church in Lafayette, CO, on Being the Visible Body of Christ. You can read the sermon on GLAD’s website here. On Sunday afternoon Dr. Johnston visited with the members of Fireside Christian Church in Aurora, CO. Fireside and Cairn are currently the only two Open & Affirming Congregations in the entire Central Rocky Mountain Region.

The primary resource GLAD recommends to guide churches interested in becoming Open & Affirming is the Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit which guides a small group of congregants as they grow their understanding of the congregation and build community before designing a grace filled process unique to the congregation. The Toolkit was developed by an ecumenical group of Welcoming Congregation Programs and has been used by many congregations across the country.

There are also many other excellent resources linked on GLAD’s website under the Resources tab.