Next Steps

Now that our elders have stated the position our church will take, it’s time for our work to begin. We invite you to join us in the work it will take to be the kind of church who welcomes and loves all people, who repents of harms done, and who creates safe space for people too often on the margins. We even need to exemplify how to disagree with one another in love. Our hope and prayer is that Jesus’ presence in our church will be plainly seen in all we are and all we do. Here are the next steps we invite you into.

Have a Conversation

April 2022

If you’d like to talk about this paper with our leaders, book an appointment before April 10, 2022. Appointment times are first-come-first-serve.

In these conversations, usually a staff member and an elder will meet with you (or you and others in your household) to answer any questions you may have about this decision and listen to your responses to this paper: what worries you and what excites you.

Alternatively, reach out to any of our pastors or elders you feel comfortable speaking with if you would like a one-on-one conversation at another time.

Join a Book Study & Discussion

May/June 2022

Many of us are unaware of the harms done to our LGBTQ2I+ siblings, and the burdens they carry with them in the church. In the summer of 2022, we invited people to group book studies reading Heavy Burdens. We’re grateful for those who participated and encourage all to read through this resource.

Ask for Support

If this paper raises anything that you feel speaking with a counsellor about would be helpful, our pastoral staff can help you connect with a counsellor. Our church is able to support you with the cost as needed.

In addition, we’ve set aside funds for the 2022-23 ministry year to specifically support those in our church who identify as LGBTQ2I+. These funds may be used for additional counselling, resources, conferences or spiritual retreats, or other things that may later come to our attention.

Training for Leaders

One of the key pieces of feedback we received from Listening Committee participants is that if staff and elders were trained on caring for the needs of LGBTQ2I+ parishioners, our church would feel a lot safer for them. Our pastoral staff and elders have now taken the Posture Shift digital seminar. Our next step is to schedule a time for a follow-up intensive training session with Posture Shift.

Join us in Prayer

Last, but certainly not least, we invite you to pray.

• Pray for the LGBTQ2I+ members of our church who have shared their stories with us (and those who continue to harbour secret hurts).

• Pray for the capacity of each one of us to love and serve our LGBTQ2I+ neighbours as Jesus would have us do.

• Pray for the unity of our church even in the midst of differing convictions about sexuality and marriage.