23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Grace and Peace to you in the Name of our Almighty and Gracious God!

At their most recent meeting, the General Conference of the United Methodist Church changed long-standing denominational policies regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ people in the life of the church. One outcome allows local churches to decide if their facilities will be used for same-sex weddings. On July 14, we held a town hall where people completed a survey to guide our Board of Trustees on how we would like the church used.

The results of the survey were that 53% of those surveyed strongly oppose/oppose same-sex marriages in our church, 34% strongly support/support allowing them, and 12% were neutral on the subject. The second question on the survey asked, “Can you be at peace in a church alongside others who do not necessarily agree with you on this issue?" The outcome was that 75% of respondents strongly agreed/agreed that they could be at peace in a church with others who disagree on this subject, 14% strongly disagreed/disagreed, and 12% were neutral. Question three asked if some wanted more conversation about the issues. I will be holding opportunities for coffee and conversation for those who would like further discussion within the next two weeks. These will be Q&A sessions, entirely driven by what the participants want to discuss.

I want to thank all of those who came to this conversation. The question for us becomes, “What now?” The church trustees will address the building policy at their upcoming meeting in August. I have every confidence their decision will reflect what the church has shared. Although LGBTQ inclusion may come up in future discussions, studies, or messages, I expect the Trustees' decision on the matter to be the last step in this conversation. The deeper question is how we will move forward together as a congregation. We need to navigate this challenging time, healing any wounds that happened among us and refocusing our energy on the work God has given us to do. During our Bible studies, I shared a quote that helped me, "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”1 The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, offered a similar thought in his sermon entitled The Catholic Spirit: “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.”2

These were difficult conversations. There were strong emotions on all sides on multiple points. People are passionate about scripture and its application. People are equally passionate about the inclusion of LGBTQ people. We all want to honor Christ by building a loving community, living holy lives, sharing the gospel, and joining His mission. The questions before us do not challenge who we believe our Almighty and Gracious Creator to be, what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for humankind, nor the empowering and guiding presence of the Holy Spirit among us. As we bring what God gives us to the table, we must show love as we listen to one another, share whatever wisdom we've acquired, and discern the next steps together. Christ’s teaching, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” remains in the face of our strong convictions.

Our goal is not to “get along” at the expense of faithfulness and truth. The challenge on this issue has been that people who genuinely love Christ are hearing God differently. As such, we must be people of love and grace as we continue to worship, learn, and serve together. My prayer is that we will embrace the words of scripture I quoted at the beginning of this letter:

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

Beloved of God, the One who calls us is faithful, and He will see us through this season. Let us go forward together in love.

Yours In Christ,
Pastor Scott

Downloads