Last Spring I visited Bay View United Methodist Church for the first time. I met in the Gathering Space with Pastor Kelly for what was, in some ways, an interview for me. It was also an opportunity for me to see if I thought BVUMC would be a good fit for me and my learning goals. There were a lot of clues in that first meeting that the church would be a good fit for me, but the one that really stuck out to me was a rainbow flag in the Gathering Space. I make a point when I visit a new church to look for what is welcoming or not so welcoming about the space. I asked Kelly about the flag and she told me that at the time the church was working through discussions about being a Reconciling United Methodist Church. I was excited to learn over the summer that the vote had taken place and Bay View United Methodist Church could officially be part of the Reconciling Ministries Network.
I was excited to learn of the church’s welcoming nature and its public stance for the inclusion of ALL of God’s children. I was excited because one of my learning goals was to find out what happens next. How does an open, inclusive church live their statement of welcome? Who are we to be as a community of faith that opens its doors to the broader community of Bay View? How is our commitment to love our neighbor reflected in our witness?
Let us continue to explore what it means to be a reconciling church and to offer welcome to ALL those who may pass through the doors of the church. If you have thoughts on how, as a community of faith, we can live our words of welcome, speak to me before or after church or email me at pastoreddie@bayviewumc.org
Pastor Eddie