Decorah First United Methodist Church Announces Becoming a Reconciling Congregation

As a newly approved reconciling ministry, the Decorah First United Methodist Church happily celebrates the stance of offering Christ’s Love to all regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We wish to proclaim our affiliation with the other churches who are seeking to resist evil and oppression in whatever (any) form they present themselves.

We’ve heard the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  It is suggested that a way to move beyond thinking about how we’d like to be treated is to use the more empathetic Platinum Rule: “Do unto others as they  would have us do unto them.”  The further suggestion is for us to utilize the highest level of treating others,  the Titanium Rule: “Jesus says, “Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another more.”

As followers of Jesus, we acknowledge our human frailty sometimes causes us to pause in being the strongholds of uncompromising love that our Lord exemplifies.  With our newly acquired status as reconcilers, we now step forward to proclaim the message of God’s Love and Peace being meant for ALL.

Our congregation recently voted overwhelmingly to accept the following statement, therefore becoming a Reconciling Church: We celebrate God’s gift of diversity and value the wholeness made possible in community equally shared and shepherded by all. We welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status, and so much more. We acknowledge that we live in a world of profound social, economic, and political inequities. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed. In this effort we stand in solidarity with other Reconciling churches, groups, and individuals seeking to change UMC discriminatory practices.

Our congregation is planning a service of celebration and recognition of becoming a Reconciling Church on Sunday, March 20 at 9:00 AM. As always, our doors are open to anyone wanting to celebrate God’s Love with open hearts and open minds.