Reconciling Community

All are welcome, ALL means ALL

We believe every human being is created and gifted by God; therefore, people of every race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, age and background, ability and disability are invited to be part of the church. 

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Our Statement of Reconciliation:

Because we believe that all persons are of sacred worth [¶161 F];
Because we believe that all persons—including those who are LGBTQIA—are made in the image of God [Genesis 1:26-7; 9:6];
Because we believe that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation [2 Corinthians 5:18];

We therefore join our sisters and brothers in the Reconciling Ministries Network in their efforts to extend the love of Christ to all and to work toward the full inclusion of LGBTQIA persons in the life and ministry of the United Methodist Church.

As a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, we will:

  • Listen to the stories of LGBTQIA persons and seek to grow in wisdom and understanding of the grace of God;
  • Welcome LGBTQIA persons as full members and, as they seek to use their gifts and graces for ministry, as leaders and teachers in the church;
  • Welcome the children of LGBTQIA persons without reserve and include their families in all the ministries of the church;
  • Provide for the pastoral care of LGBTQIA persons, including weddings for couples that have indicated their desire for a Christian wedding and have completed the required premarital counseling;
  • Proudly display our welcome on our church signs and publications and intentionally extend our welcome to the LGBTQIA community;
  • Renew our commitment by celebrating a Reconciling Ministries Day once a year;
  • Pray for a change of heart while advocating for a change in the policies of the United Methodist Church, because we do not believe that the Christ-centered love of LGBTQIA persons is incompatible with Christian teaching.

We acknowledge that we cannot live out this commitment without personally living into a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and so we pray for the grace to receive the new birth that we are called to share.

RM Stories

Our Welcome Statement

In Jesus Christ, God reaches out to everyone to call them home, and here at Willow Glen UMC, we open our hearts and intentionally welcome you into our home, into our church family, and into a closer relationship with God.

No matter your race or cultural background, age or abilities, sexual orientation or gender identity, marital or legal status, family situation, financial circumstances or personal challenges, the Jesus we know already loves you and that is what we are here to do.

So honor us with the opportunity to get to know you, worship with you, listen, share and grow in God’s love with you. The wider we draw the circle of grace, the more we know and experience the love of God.

We’re like you.

  • Looking for community in a hectic busy world
  • Seeking a faith family for our family
  • Wanting real friends in Christ
  • Struggling to make a living, yearning to make a difference
  • Trying to take ourselves less seriously and God more seriously
  • Wanting to put our best to work for something other than ourselves
  • Searching inside ourselves to be more outside to others