An Affirmation of Welcome
St. Matthew’s Church, Glendale, California
A Reconciling In Christ Congregation

As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people of the world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness, and we are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.

We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge that this reconciliation extends to people of all sexual orientations.

Because gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transexual persons/people are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:

• that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transexual persons/peopleshare with all others the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God
• that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transexual persons/people are welcome within the membership of this congregation upon making the same affirmation of faith that all other people make; and
• that, as members of this congregation, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transexual persons/people are expected and encouraged to share in the sacramental and general life of this congregation.