In 1997, a young man came to me in fear and trembling.  He had started coming to worship but was afraid to commit to membership.  We were an open and affirming church and spoke of God’s extravagant welcome.  Nevertheless, this young man was worried that we “were not for real.”  I told him “What you see is what you get.  This is really who we are.”  

After a long conversation in which we laughed and cried about his life journey he asked, “Will you baptize me?”  I hesitated, knowing that he had been very active in his last church.  He had been baptized.  But he had been driven out of church by the pastor.  One Sunday during worship, the pastor “outed” him in front of his wife and children while preaching the sermon.  The pastor then threw him out of church.  He said, “My pastor told me I was evil and that my baptism wasn't real.  He threw me out of church and took away my baptism.” 

I was shocked.  I could not imagine being thrown out of church, especially the way it had happened.  Moreover, I was angry at the audacity of a pastor to “take away” baptism.   Baptism is a graceful gift from God.  It is not “owned” by the pastor of any church.   I believed this man's baptism wasn't "true" because of the baptizer, not the baptizand.  Shortly after this, we welcomed him into our church through the sacrament of baptism.  

Since then, I have heard too many other horror stories about men and women being cast out of church by pastors who are anti-gay.  In the United Church of Christ, we claim to be extravagant in our welcome. For many of our churches, this is true. However, it is not true everywhere in our denomination.   Not every UCC church is open and affirming. 

First Congregational UCC is a special community of faith.  At First Church, we do our best to live into our open and affirming statement.  We welcome people no matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey.  In the coming year, we will lift up and celebrate our 160 years of extravagant welcome.  We will celebrate our 10 years as an open and affirming church in September.  

Be joyful and celebrate God's glorious welcome in our community in of faith.  Bring your friends.  Bring your family.  Bring your neighbors.  Bring yourselves to our church.  If you know anyone who has been thrown out or felt left out of church, bring him or her.  We have a place for them in our family of faith.    On February 12 and 19, I will preach on homosexuality in the Bible and in the church.  The series is called “It’s About Time.” 

Everyone is welcome here!   I cannot wait to see you in church! 

Tim Ahrens