Part of our congregation's core identity is living into the teachings of Jesus as a community that welcomes all people. Throughout the Bible we see God favoring the poor, marginalized, and outcast, extending holy hospitality to the last and the least. We seek to do the same. 

Over the last few years, with help from the urging of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference to be in conversation regarding issues of sexuality and inclusion, we gathered for a process of listening and discernment. Together we considered how we might state our beliefs and understandings concerning welcoming all God's children to gather around the table of Christ, our Center.   

In November 2011, at our fall congregational meeting, those gathered unanimously adopted a commitment to welcome and inclusion, the centerpiece of which is this statement:

Following the example of Jesus, the Richmond Church of the Brethren welcomes and invites the full participation of every person. We embrace diversity in age, nationality, race and ethnicity, marital and family status, gender identity and sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, educational background, socioeconomic situation, and faith experience.

We also adopted a statement relating to the larger church on LGBTQ inclusion. Additionally we affirmed joining the Supportive Communities Network of the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Interests.

You can read the full statements here:

Commitment to Welcome and Inclusion (PDF)

Relating to the Larger Church on LGBTQ Inclusion (PDF)