Reconciling Ministries Network
Living into our shared baptismal covenant, Reconciling Ministries Network equips and mobilizes United Methodists to resist evil, injustice, and oppression as we seek justice for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
As a reconciling congregation, Dearborn First United Methodist Church celebrates that all persons are created in God’s image and worthy of receiving God’s unconditional love and grace.
We invite and welcome people of all ages, races, ethnicities, socioeconomic situations, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities and religious backgrounds into the life and ministries of our church.
OUR COMMITMENT:
The congregation of Dearborn First UMC affirms and celebrates that all people are beloved children of God, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We want our church to be a place where everyone is welcome to experience the fullness of their faith in all its forms - including ordination and marriage.
We had hoped that the larger United Methodist Church would take important steps toward a more just inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the next year, but any discussions have been delayed yet again.
We are frustrated and disappointed by the position of our denomination, which limits our ability to be a fully inclusive church, especially regarding same-gender weddings and ministerial candidacy.
So why do we maintain our United Methodist affiliation?
Four years ago, our congregation voted overwhelmingly to become a Reconciling Congregation in affiliation with Reconciling Ministries Network, an organization mobilizing United Methodists to seek inclusion and equity for LGBTQIA+ persons in the United Methodist Church. We are committed to calling for change from within.
And because we still have hope.
Hope that the LGBTQIA+ community continues to accept our invitation to worship, serve, and create a caring, more complete community here at Dearborn First UMC.
Hope that through our voices and actions, we can make a difference and transform the world together.
Hope that our denomination will heed these voices and take necessary steps in 2023 toward a more equitable and inclusive church.
Until then, we will continue to build a faith community that loves all people, together.
