The church I now attend, has the following WELCOMING STATEMENT
printed in EACH weekly worship bulletin, and on their website :
ALL ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FULL LIFE OF OUR CHURCH, INCLUDING:
ALL RACES
ALL AGES
ALL ABILITIES
ALL CLASSES,
ALL GENDER IDENTITIES
ALL SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS
This inclusive, compassionate and loving statement was initiated and voted upon by the full church membership, many years ago, and is regularly ratified and endorsed.
It was not imposed nor dictated by the pastoral staff, nor the conference administration…
More recently the word ABILITIES was added, so that handicapped people would not feel excluded .
This all encompassing welcome would rarely exist in an Adventist congregation. God forbid that gays/lesbians would feel welcomed !!
Needless to say, this UNITED METHODIST congregation, my current church home, offers a splendid role model to all Adventist congregations.
PLUS, it has a FULLY ORDAINED, senior woman pastor!
The Methodists have been ordaining their women pastors since 1956 !!
Response to Billman who asks:
Does your church also welcome troublemakers ??
Well, my senior woman pastor, whom the whole congregation adores, is a superb preacher, a splendid administrator and a very strong lady who would not tolerate troublemakers…
Two Adventist congregations I am acquainted with, have resorted to getting a restraining order from the local police department to prevent a troublemaker from accessing the church campus!
Response to PLBDEL3
I left Adventism not merely because of its abject and abysmal absence of inclusivity, biut for its woeful war on women.
I am male, but my deceased wife was a physician, and my three daughters are professionals.
The festering WO issue broadcasts a bitter, bilious brush off that blacklists female members as being “less than”, and therefore not worthy to PARTICIPATE IN THE FULL LIFE OF THE CHURCH (see my current congregation’s welcoming statement above )
RESPONSE TO CHRIS BLAKE:
You state:
THE OFFICIAL SDA STANCE IS TO WELCOME ALL PEOPLE TO PARTICPATE IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES.
Sorry, Chris I have to disagree.
Most Adventist and ex Adventist gays/lesbians are in committed,monogamous LEGAL same sex marriages—Australia is now the latest and umpteenth country to legalize SSM.
These same sex couples are NOT accepted in “the official stance” ,
they are EXCORIATED.
Ted Wilson’s recent damning diatribes against homosexuality, plus the TOXIC transgender report from the BRI, not mention the notorious CAPE TOWN conference would emphatically endorse that the Adventist LGBT community is NOT welcome, at the GC level.
While the growing number of inclusive Adventist congregations are to be applauded, this hateful hierarchical homophobia does NOT send a welcoming message to our Adventist LGBT members.
Adventism continues to be TOXIC to LGBT’s.