By guest writer Kathy Cheney-Egan on behalf of the Reconciling Congregation Task Force
On February 9, 2014, FUMC Evanston made a somewhat formal but very important decision. We decided to become a Reconciling Congregation in the United Methodist Church which by polity has excluded and persecuted LGBTQIA+ persons since 1972. It was a public act of justice and inclusion, a statement of faith in a gospel of love. We stated:
“We are a Reconciling Congregation and welcome all, inclusive of age, race, education, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity and special needs”
This decision a decade ago was somewhat formal because the congregation has long exuded a spirit of welcome and inclusion. However it was important, because it is critical to make an outward statement of who we are and whose we are. As a Reconciling Congregation, First Church Evanston is a part of a broader network of United Methodist congregations advocating for LGBTQ+ justice in The UMC. Additionally, we are publicly declaring our support for the LGBTQ+ community and our knowledge that we cannot fully be the Church of Jesus Christ without everyone being included.
Besides the decade since our official vote, the Reconciling Ministry Network, now extending beyond the United States, is celebrating 40 years. In 1984 a Caucus group Affirmation of gay men and lesbians, as they identified then, handed out leaflets at the General Conference inviting Churches to become Reconciling Congregations! General Conference had just voted to restrict ministry in the church by LGBTQIA+ persons even more. The Church needed to reconcile with its LGBTQIA+ siblings. Persons from Evanston were part of that movement to call for Reconciling. Wheadon UMC became one of the first 4 declared Reconciling Churches, but several members of First UMC were also intimately involved. In 1986 the Northern IL Conference, of which First UMC is a part, declared our Conference a Reconciling Conference, the first in the nation. The flame was lit long before 2014.
Hopefully, our beloved denomination will soon remove some of the official restrictions to the full participation of the LGBTQ+ community. Our participation in this movement has helped to make this moment in time possible. This movement will continue to work to move the cause for justice forward. We have the privilege of being a part of that progress.
How did we get here? When my family joined FUMC Evanston, we were thrilled to know that the church was very welcoming. Still, it felt as though it was time to take the next step. As part of the work of what was then the Social Justice Task Force, the suggestion to explore becoming a Reconciling Congregation was made. We designed a process through which we could engage the entire congregation in the discussion. Margaret Ann Crain led several informational meetings and Dr. Cheryl Anderson led us through Bible studies. After that, it was suggested that we survey the congregation. There was an overwhelmingly positive response to the survey, and so a congregational meeting was scheduled to take an in-person vote. The meeting was very well attended and again, support was overwhelming.
Shortly after the vote to be an RC, the congregation also voted to include an “Altar for All”! No one would be excluded from marriage ceremonies and blessings. Our pastors continue to be a beacon of support.
First Church has moved forward in building our activity as advocates for the LGBTQ+ community in our congregation and in our broader community. We are part of Evanston Pride, and Chicago Welcoming Churches, and of course the Northern IL Conference. We have been one of the few churches to support the first ever Reconciling Congregation on the African continent and in Kenya, the First United Methodist Church of Moheto. We have much work to do. If this is an effort you would like to participate in, please get in touch with Rev. BJ Birkhahn- Rommelfanger at bjbrpastor@gmail.com. You are welcome to join us!