So many LGBTQIA+ folks have been hurt by exclusionary, hurtful words at church. It’s
understandable, after this has happened, that people may well be reluctant to show up at
another church, no matter how “welcoming” it claims to be (and don’t all churches say they are welcoming, often without specifying to whom that welcome is really directed?). So the people of Thanksgiving Lutheran and Knox Presbyterian Churches in Santa Rosa, California, two congregations that share a building and who worship and minister as one faith community, are aware of the need to be very clear and intentional concerning their welcome to LGBTQIA+ people.
After all, the welcome of Jesus is specific. Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me,” extending that expression even to offering “a cup of cold water to one of these little ones” (Matthew 10:40-42).
The Knox/TLC community has been reaching out through monthly Prayer Services for Healing that are open to everyone, but especially with the LGBTQIA+ community in mind, including anyone who has been spiritually wounded.
Their Welcoming Statement specifies that Knox and Thanksgiving are an “all-inclusive neighborhood church” where all of God’s children are celebrated. A pointed welcome and invitation is directed to the LGBTQIA+ community – because the people of this faith community, many of whom are themselves LGBTQIA+, know how critical it is to make their welcome crystal clear. They want their message of openness and affirmation to be heard and understood – and experienced as trustworthy!
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