Rainbow doors
First United Methodist Church of Santa Barbara, Calif., has put up temporary posters declaring, "God's Doors Are Open to All." (First UMC Courtesy Photo)
Visible witness to inclusion of LGBTQ people in The United Methodist Church continued as the denomination prepared for the April 23-26 Judicial Council meeting that will formally determine the constitutionality of the petitions that enacted the Traditional Plan at the 2019 General Conference.
In Santa Barbara, Calif., First United Methodist Church has installed rainbow-colored banners on its front doors proclaiming "God’s Doors Are Open To All."
In a press release to local media, the church announced: "This display of solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ neighbors is in response to the decision by the global United Methodist Church to tighten the restrictions that do not allow openly gay persons to be ordained as pastors and do not allow clergy to marry same-sex couples or churches to hold same-sex weddings in their sanctuaries.
"The people of the First United Methodist Church of Santa Barbara congregation, along with a number of other United Methodists around the world, do not accept the decision of the global church and will continue to be in ministry with and for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity or sexual orientation."
Media Mentions
LGBTQ issues challenge church teachings, traditions – NOLA.com, New Orleans, La.
First United Methodist Church Shows Its Colors With Rainbow Doors – Noozhawk, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Faith and Values: Smudges, sneers and small gods – The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Local Methodist leaders discuss church's future – Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune Online
Churches should be welcoming (letter) – LancasterOnline, Lancaster, Pa.
It's an act of defiance. A Lansing church says it will ignore United Methodist's ban on same-sex weddings – Lansing (Mich.) State Journal
Regional Bishop talks about UMC policy changes – Sidney (Mont.) Herald Leader
US Methodists consider ways to resist new LGBT rules – The Presbyterian Outlook
Church will defy same-sex marriage ban – WSYM-TV, Lansing, Mich.