If you see this text then you need to update your flash player.

• Home
• About Us
• What's Happening
• Visitors
• Worship
• Family Ministries
• LGBTQ Welcoming
• Ministries
• Music/Arts
• Missions
• Weddings
• Meet the Staff
• Calendar
• Newsletter
• Resources
• Job Opportunities

Walnut Creek United Methodist Church
1543 Sunnyvale Avenue
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
925-934-4208
Fax: 925-934-1492

© 2010 CHURCH111

LGBTQ Welcoming

 

                                        

We march in San Francisco to the site of the United Methodist Judical Council hearings Oct 24, 2007

Walnut Creek United Methodist Church
 is a "Reconciling Congregation."
This means that we have made an explicit statement of welcome to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning persons.
________________________________________
 

                                                         

On June 5, 1994 Walnut Creek United Methodist Church voted to become a Reconciling Congregation. At the same time the Church passed a written affirmation to that effect. The Church has voted to update this affirmation twice in the last 15 years, the last time being in 2009 when we overwhelmingly voted to include support for same-sex marriage in our affirmation.
The current version of our affirmation is as follows:
“Believing that all persons are recipients of God's grace, the Walnut Creek First United Methodist Church makes these affirmations:
“We rejoice in the gifts and graces of all persons. No one will be excluded from participating in the body of the church because of age, race, ethnicity, culture, religious origins, sexual preference, or challenging conditions; therefore, we openly accept and welcome the participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning  persons in our midst.
“Acceptance for all can be a reality, if we as builders of the community make it so.  Fear, hatred and oppression reflect neither God's love nor God's intent for the community of faith.
“We pledge our efforts to advocate and address the concerns of all in our church and in society.
“We pray for all who find themselves in exile from the family of God. We pray that our church, the First United Methodist Church in Walnut Creek, will share the responsibility of moving forward to affirm the integrity and worth of all persons.
“We commit ourselves, as the body of Christ, to advocate for the right of everyone to have the freedom to marry the person of their choice, regardless of color, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity or challenging conditions.
“We affirm the teachings of Jesus that call us to move beyond judgment to love, and renew our commitment to one another and to this church to be faithful witnesses of the gospel. We believe that discrimination and intolerance are incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“As builders of the bridges of connectedness, we invite all to join with us in our gatherings.”
************************************************************************
What is a Reconciling Congregation?
A reconciling congregation in the United Methodist Church is a church that is part of the national Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) and which advocates for the full participation of people in the United Methodist Church regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Please visit their website at: http://www.rmnetwork.org/
************************************************************************
The United Methodist Denomination
The United Methodist Denomination is torn over the issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The Book of Discipline currently disapproves of openly homosexual ministers and prohibits same-sex marriages. But every year a greater number of United Methodist Churches and members are changing their minds and Walnut Creek United Methodist Church is at the forefront of that change. This year our Pastor, Eileen Lindsay, was elected to be the Chairperson of the Conference Committee on Reconciliation (http://cnumc.org/pages/detail/1200).
In 2009, Walnut Creek United Methodist Church voted to support same-sex marriage and in 2010, at an all-Church conference, we voted unanimously to support removing all discriminatory language from the Book of Discipline.
It distresses us deeply that any of God’s children feel unwelcome in God’s House.
************************************************************************
Come and join us
Walnut Creek United Methodist Church is home to a substantial LGBTQ population that is involved in every aspect of the Church’s structure, mission and life.
If you are looking for a Church where you will be welcomed and accepted regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity, please come and visit us.