Being an Affirming Ministry is not merely about welcoming gay, lesbian, and transgender people. Words like welcoming or inclusion suggest those on the inside have the power to choose to accept those on the outside. This makes it sound like an act of charity to welcome those who are different or marginalized. However, it is not our place to welcome anyone because church is not a private club and we are not the gatekeepers. As soon as one new person comes through the doors, the community becomes a new community!
Used with permission, excerpts from “Open Hearts: Resources for Affirming Ministries in The United Church of Canada”
(Affirm United/ S’affirmer Ensemble, 2011) http://ause.ca/wp-content/pdf/OpenHearts.pdf