Reconciling Congregation
Fairlington United Methodist Church proclaims without reservation God’s unconditional love and grace, and affirms the dignity and worth of every person as created in the image of God. We commit to extend Christ’s gospel hospitality, creating a place of safety and spiritual sanctuary for all people. Therefore, this community of faith welcomes into membership, participation and leadership all persons regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, family structure, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic background, political affiliation, physical or mental ability, faith history, or life experience. We recognize among us differences in theology and biblical interpretation, and covenant to accept, respect, and love one another along our faith journeys. As God loves us, so let us love one another.”
Reconciling Means Welcoming All
A Reconciling Congregation is one that adopts a public statement, which can be inclusive of many people, but specifically welcomes individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. FUMC crafted and adopted a reconciling statement on February 10, 2013 that recognizes and reflects the diversity of our congregation, and extends a wide welcome that includes many individuals and groups that may not always feel welcome at church.
10 Year Reconciling Anniversary!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 26, when Fairlington UMC will celebrate its 10th year as a Reconciling Congregation. Our guest preacher is Rev. Dr. Leo Yates. A deacon in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, Leo's specialty is deaf and and disability ministries and counseling, and he also serves as Coordinator for Accessibility & Inclusion in that Conference and as Adjunct Faculty at Wesley Theological Seminary. Following the 11am service, there will be a celebratory luncheon in the Fellowship Hall being organized by Lana Hurdle that you won't want to miss! (no rsvp necessary, just come); Pastor Janine and Mark Elder will share briefly about FUMC's place as a reconciling church in our denomination's future. Wear your rainbow stoles!
SMYAL Donations
To commemorate our 10-year reconciling anniversary, Fairlington will be raising funds to support SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders), a DC Metro based charitable mission that offers medical, mental, housing, and other support services to LGBTQ youth. We are asking members to make a $10 (or increment of $10) donation to support SMYAL; please make your check out to FUMC and put “Reconciling Anniversary” in the memo line.
Fairlington UMC became a Reconciling Congregation on February 10, 2013. This vote followed a nearly two-year planning and discernment process that began in May 2011, involving numerous educational events, small group meetings, personal stories, and other congregational engagement. The final congregational vote was 94% to 6% in favor. A Reconciling Congregation is one that adopts a public statement which, while inclusive of all families and individuals, specifically welcomes persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities who face explicit discrimination in the UMC Book of Discipline, as well as other marginalized groups who often are not fully welcome in churches.
Resources:
- 07.04.2021 Reconciling Ministry Report on Developments in the UMC CLICK HERE
- Timeline of Fairlingtion's Reconciling Movement: CLICK HERE
- Mark Elder's Blog, Virginian's for a New Thing: CLICK HERE
- Reconciling Ministries Network www.rmnetwork.org
- Many Voices Web Site (ecumenical): www.manyvoices.org
- Believe Out Loud (ecumenical): www.believeoutloud.com
- Parents Reconciling Network (extension ministry of the RMN): CLICK HERE
- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG): www.pflag.org