What's New » Cedar Park Becomes an Affirming Ministry
After a lengthy, thoughtful process in which all members of the congregation were invited to participate, members of Cedar Park United Church indicated overwhelmingly (94 percent) on Sunday, September 21, that they believed God had led them to become an Affirming Ministry of the United Church of Canada. The congregation made its feelings known after a “discernment process” in which the congregation carefully considered all aspects of the issue and then asked God for direction in this undertaking.
In the United Church of Canada, Affirming Ministries are local churches that
• Welcome bisexuals, lesbians, transgendered persons, gay men and their families in all aspects of church life
• Promote reconciliation of bisexual, lesbian, transgendered and gay people in church and society
• Minister to and with gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgendered persons.
On November 30, Cedar Park held a celebration of becoming an affirming ministry and was delighted to welcome as its guest preacher James Loney, who is the first recipient of Craig Chaplin Memorial Award from United Theological College and who was held hostage for four months in Iraq for his work with Christian Peacemaking Team.
Photo by Charlie Scott
