welcoming our lgbtq+ siblings
Walking into a new church for the first time can be daunting. You never really know how you will be welcomed until you arrive. But we recognize there is an added dimension of concern for people in the LGBTQ+ community, many of whom have had negative experiences with various churches. We want everyone to feel welcome and safe as they step through our doors.
a work in progress
At CUMC, we’re known as a welcoming congregation.Formally stating our support of the LGBTQ+ community could be a new, vital step in expanding our ministry of hospitality. A hallmark of the Methodist Church is that we have members with many different viewpoints on many different issues. We are continually working on what "welcoming" looks like; please check back periodically for updates.
charting a way forward
As part of our effort to communicate that our church is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, Clinton UMC is exploring the development of a "Way Forward Covenant." This covenant is an agreement that defines who we are and who we will serve as a local church. Main questions we will explore as we develop the covenant include:
o Are we fully welcoming to LGBTQ+ individuals (as visitors & members)? How will we communicate this?
o Are we open to hosting same-gender weddings on the church grounds?
o Are we open to the appointment (in the future) of openly LGBTQ+ clergy?
In January 2024, we held an all-church meeting to discuss the need, the process, and the broad timeline of covenant development. Please see the February 2024 newsletter for details.
