Many of you may have seen in the Portland Press Herald the September 4th letter to the editor written by former members of our congregation. The letter was unkind and, in addition, implied an inaccurate picture of the process by which our faith community makes decisions. The Diversity Committee feels strongly that some kind of response should be made and has accordingly drafted a letter which we plan to submit to the paper this week:
Letter to the Editor
Portland Press Herald
September 10, 2012
In a letter to the editor September 4th, former members of our congregation misrepresented the facts and criticized our pastor for acting “arrogantly” and “pushing” for the freedom to marry for same-sex couples when “many of his congregation disagree with him.”
To set the record straight, we are a congregation of people who have agreed to wrestle with ethical issues in light of our Christian faith. Our strength as a diverse faith family is in our respect and regard for each other while we seek to discern the ways of justice and peace as followers of Christ Jesus.
At First Congregational Church UCC in South Portland, we spent six years studying the Bible, reviewing scientific literature, consulting with scholars, conversing with each other, and praying a lot. Finally, at a congregational meeting in 2000, we voted overwhelmingly (83%) to become an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons as equal and valued members of our church. Taking a further step in 2002, we voted (60%) to authorize our pastors “at his or her discretion to offer the blessing of the church to any couple which sincerely desires that blessing in the context of their Christian faith.”
True, not everyone agreed. A very few, uncomfortable with these congregational decisions, have regrettably chosen to leave our church family. Others, while also not voting with the majority, have stayed, in large part because of the integrity of our pastor and because we prayerfully try to make room for dissent and respectfully learn from our differences. At the same time, numerous individuals and families have chosen to join our congregation, aspiring in faith to live out an invitation we recite together every Sunday morning: “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
<s> Members of the Diversity Committee: Connie Baskett, Dolores Broberg, Joan Carrier, Kathy Cotter, Deborah Dagnan, Marvin Ellison, Mike Kasputes, Carol Scheffler, Karen Verdelli, Karen Westerberg