LGBTQ Discernment
In the last decade, our congregation engaged in a discernment process to affirm publicly the LGBTQ people in our community. This decision in 2015 led to our former pastor officiating same-sex weddings for people in our church the following year, which resulted in the censure of his ordination by our regional conference. His ordination was restored in 2018 after our congregation moved our membership to a Mennonite conference that allows pastors to conduct same-sex weddings.
The documents below show the process that led us to our decision, as well as our responses to the concerns expressed by our regional conference at the time. Lastly, included below are reflections by our former pastor, as well as several news pieces about our decision.
Timeline of events: LGTBQ Affirmation and Same-Sex Weddings
Isaac reflects on the decision to officiate a same-sex wedding: “Wife and Wife,” Bearings (Oct 2016)
Media coverage on our decision: Religion News Service 1, Religion News Service 2, The Mennonite 1, The Mennonite 2, The Mennonite World Review 1, The Mennonite World Review 2,