Still Working on Welcome

The Covenant Network's new website, A Season of Welcome, is designed to celebrate the blessings brought to the Presbyterian Church (USA) through the gifts of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons who have been ordained as deacons, ruling elders, or teaching elders.The stories highlighted on the site have also prompted others - not yet ordained, and not necessarily seeking ordination, but seeking a welcome in the name of Jesus Christ nonetheless - to share their experiences.  This story comes from North Carolina:

My partner and I are members of a local Presbyterian church but have not attended in about a year and a half.  I am afraid there are many churches where nothing has changed, and to a great extent because of the senior pastor's views.  My partner and I have been together for over 40 years, and when we were told by the new minister that our relationship was a sin we felt we had to find another church.  We are now attending an American Baptist Church in a nearby city.  We appreciate the changes the Presbyterian Church has implemented and hope one day they will trickle down to every church.  I want to emphasize we have many friends at the local Presbyterian Church who support us.

We still have a lot of work to do!  We treasure your support.