I read with interest your Saturday story on the decisions of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Everett and Edmonds Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to become “open and affirming” churches. Monroe Congregational United Church of Christ, which I serve as pastor, as been officially open and affirming since 2003.
Our experience with accepting gay and lesbian people as fully equal, loved and valued members of the congregation belies one of the statements in your story. You quote Professor James Wellman Jr. of the University of Washington as saying that liberal churches tend to have fewer young people, and often wind up without strong teaching on any subject out of fear that it will be considered exclusive.
Although we are still a small congregation, Monroe Congregational UCC has roughly doubled in size in recent years, mostly through the addition of young families with children. We strongly teach and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, a gospel of God’s unconditional love and grace for all people. We teach our children the Christian values of love, compassion and respect for all of God’s people.
Becoming an open and affirming congregation, and proclaiming the understanding of God’s grace in which that position is grounded, has renewed and revitalized our church. I pray that the courageous decision of our fellow Christians at St. Paul in Everett and at Edmonds Christian Church will have the same beneficial effect for them, and I have no doubt that it will.
Rev. Dr. Thomas C. Sorenson
Pastor
Monroe Congregational United Church of Christ
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