The Good Samaritan UMC Faith Community is proud to be a reconciling congregation!  
 
  • What: After nearly a year and a half of congregation-wide, intentional discussion and discernment, the Church Council of the Good Samaritan United Methodist Church held an All Church Meeting to vote on a motion to become a reconciling congregation in 2010.
  • Our Church Statement: The Good Samaritan United Methodist Church believes all persons are created in God's image and are of sacred worth. We seek to include all God's children in God’s church and vow to respect and intentionally embrace our common belief in the Word and Light embodied by Christ Jesus. We celebrate our diversity and welcome all into the full life of the church regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental capacity, education, religious background, family configuration, and marital or economic status.
  • How We Got There: After one year of study of scripture, society in the first century including pagan temple practices and the original meaning of the Greek words in 1 Cor 6 and other passages, our Church Council voted February 28, 2011. We stand against evil but seek to embrace God's grace. We then called an All Church meeting to administer a vote of the congregation on Sunday April 10, 2011. Our church backs this journey and intentionally seeks to become a church that includes ALL of God's children into the full life of our church. The motion ratified on April 10, 2011 was to:
    • Adopt the welcoming statement of inclusiveness (see above statement in italics)
    • Adopt and implement the plan (see below) to live into this statement in accordance with the Discipline and Doctrine of the United Methodist Church and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
    • Make this welcoming statement public.
    • Dedicate one service a year to celebrate God's fully inclusive welcome.
    • Use the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) logo in our bulletins, newsletters, websites, other publications using GSUMC name, thereby joining the RMN.
  • Plan to Implement Welcoming Statement
    • At least once a year, we will dedicate a service to celebrate God's fully inclusive welcome
    • Designate a group or team with responsibility to ensure our church is "living into" the inclusive vision of the welcoming statement. Team members should be familiar with the Reconciling Ministries Network and its mission
    • This same group is responsible for coordinating one or more educational programs per year so the congregation will continue to grow in its understanding of true inclusion. These can be forums, workshops, film, book talks, etc.
    • New members will be advised of the history and meaning of our welcoming statement and how we live out this vision.
  • Our RMN Status: The Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love. http://www.rmnetwork.org/