The Saint Mark's Lutheran Church
Affirmation of Welcome

As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in our 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. 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 3:38). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge that this reconciliation extends also to those whose affectional orientation is toward a person of the same gender.

Because gay and lesbian persons are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this reason that we, as a congregation, affirm the following:

That gay and lesbian people share with all others the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;

That gay and lesbian people are welcome within the membership of this congregation upon making the same affirmation of faith that all other people make;

That as members of this congregation, gay and lesbian people are expected and encouraged to share in the full sacramental and general life of this Church.


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