While May is not Pride month, we here at Woodland United Methodist Church are celebrating a little early this year.
For well over 40 years, the United Methodist Church has declared in its Book of Discipline (our governing document) that LQBTQIA people were not allowed to serve in ordained ministry, and the language surrounding this was truly discriminatory.
This past week in Charlotte, North Carolina, United Methodist General Conference delegates (the highest decision-making body) from around the world have been meeting to decide on all manner of issues related to the denomination.
With an overwhelming majority vote, all discriminatory language and exclusion of LGBTQIA people was removed from the Book of Discipline on May 1, 2024.
We at Woodland United Methodist Church are overjoyed to see our larger denomination come to a place that we as a local church have been at for many years. When we celebrate Pride with the rest of Woodland on June 22, we will have even more reason to celebrate.
We acknowledge that people of faith have not always been so welcoming and loving to those in the LGBTQIA community. Even now many churches would seek to judge instead of offering love, acceptance, and affirmation. United Methodist Bishop Karen Oliveto said it best this week when she said, "We can't be the Church if we choose to overlook some members of the Body of Christ. If we define who we are by who we are leaving out, it begs the question: have we ever let Christ in?"
As a local pastor, I want all to know that Woodland United Methodist Church is a church that is welcoming and affirming to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The Woodland United Methodist Church is a welcoming, open, spiritual community that affirms the sacred worth of all persons. Our hearts, minds, and doors are open to all of Humanity. We seek to be led by the Holy Spirit and are followers of Jesus.
All are welcome.
To all LGBTQIA+ people in our world who have felt unwelcomed, unloved, or less than, because of who you are and who you love, we at Woodland United Methodist Church want you to know that you are loved, that you are affirmed, that you are supported, and that you are wonderfully made in God's image.
We know that the church in this world has not always made you feel safe, loved, and welcome. For this, we are so very sorry. As a pastor I want you to know that I am praying for you as you navigate a world that does not always fully embrace who God made you to be.
Know, that in this church you will find a safe place to be who God made you to be, to worship a God of love, to be married to who you love, and to live life to its fullest. May you know the love of God and this community and may you be proud of who you are.
Below is a portion of our Church's Statement of Inclusivity. I pray it encourages you and gives you the knowledge that you are loved.
Woodland United Methodist Church declares the following:
- Woodland United Methodist Church has been and will continue to be a congregation that welcomes all people in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Woodland United Methodist Church is a church that is welcoming and affirming to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
- Woodland United Methodist Church supports and affirms that LGBTQIA people are welcome in all areas of our church. This includes support of same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQIA people.
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