From the Pastor - Summer 2019
I believe that Trinity Church is “a welcoming community of compassion and faith.” Earlier this year, I reasserted that vision as part of my pastoral response to the Traditional Plan approved by the General Conference in February, which requires harsh penalties for same-sex weddings and LGBTQ ordination. Trinity’s Church Council has reaffirmed our commitment as a reconciling congregation and the welcoming statement we adopted: “Our welcome and compassion extend to all who seek God, regardless of race, age, ethnicity, economic status, education, family structure, religious background, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.” However, being a church that welcomes people requires something more than having a list of people who we do not judge or would not turn away. According to Robert Schnase, Christian hospitality refers to the “active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for those who are stran...