Two Churches Join Open & Affirming Ministry Program in May

First Christian Church Bellingham, WA, and First Christian Church Medford, OR, joined GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program during the month of May.

First Christian Church Bellingham has been welcoming LGBTQ people for a while. In fact, they began their study and began opening up their welcome as far back as 1999. This past January they voted to be named an Open & Affirming congregation. In order to get on the list, they needed to make a few more changes, and the congregation felt strongly enough about their Open & Affirming commitment that their welcome of all is now a part of the church constitution.

First Christian Church Medford has been a welcoming and affirming place for a long time, and has now added itself to GLAD’s list of O&A Ministries as one more way to be Open about its Affirmation. As part of this process, Bill and Mary Jacobs, the co-interim ministers, led the congregation in classes on the issues and gifts of making this covenant, taught a curriculum for children and youth on hospitality and welcome, and preached on the meaning of living out a covenant of welcome and affirmation.

During Advent, the congregation was invited to sign their welcoming covenant and nearly 100% of the congregation has signed, children, youth, and adult. The hope is to renew their covenant each Advent with an opportunity for new members to sign.

Is your congregation Open & Affirming? Contact Rev. Mark Johnston, Ph.D., at mark@gladalliance.org for resources and information, and consider attending our Building an Inclusive Church Training at the General Assembly in July.