Three national associations of Baptist, Disciples, and United Church of Christ congregations have entered an historic partnership to further their missions of welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Representing over 700 churches in the U.S., the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists, the Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciples Alliance, and the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns have agreed to collaborate in leadership development and community organizing. The three groups will hold a joint national gathering in Indianapolis June 26-29, 2006, to celebrate their partnership.
"This collaboration is a significant development in the welcoming movement, and a sign of God doing a new thing in the free church tradition," says the Rev. Dr. Mike Castle, pastor of Cross Creek Community Church in Dayton, Ohio, a congregation affiliated with both the UCC and the Alliance of Baptists.
Castle and other leaders have been at work since 1995 in forging a partnership between the national bodies of the UCC, Disciples and Alliance of Baptists. The partnership calls for joint public witness, theological conversation, and collaborative ministry. Now the welcoming programs in each of these communions have identified a common agenda.
"Over these past few years, we discerned in our partnership conversations that the point at which at our communions intersect most powerfully is around welcoming issues," Castle says.
Leaders of the welcoming programs met in February in Columbus, Ohio, to explore the possibilities for collaboration. They discovered a shared passion for youth ministry, clergy support, and new church development.
The groups are now discussing the formation of a national LGBT Clergy Network and joint training for community organizing beginning in 2006.
In many ways, the national programs are following the lead of their congregations who are already partnering at the local level. For instance, 11 churches in the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists are dually aligned with the UCC.
All three groups expressed delight at this new friendship.
"There was an immediate camaraderie between the leaders of our groups when we met in Columbus. I also experienced a shared sense that our future as welcoming Christians in the free church tradition lies together," says the Rev. Daniel Pryfogle, interim director of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists.
David Nickell, Moderator of the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples (GLAD) Alliance said, "This partnership is an exciting opportunity for us to live into the partnership between our denominations. The joint gathering next year in Indianapolis promises to be an historic moment for our groups."
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