Reconciling Statement

“Jesus spent his ministry among the tax collectors, lepers, widows, poor, and others that lived their lives on the margins while proclaiming that God loves all people. John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, was most at home preaching to the poor, the Native Americans, prisoners, and women and children, while also proclaiming that God loves everyone, even as that witness excluded him from some local parishes. Likewise, we are called to minister with those who are marginalized and oppressed in our day, including the poor, our unhoused neighbors, those struggling with addiction, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual individuals, as we proclaim that God loves all people without exception. 

We celebrate God’s gift of diversity and value the wholeness made possible in community equally shared and shepherded by all. We welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status, and so much more. We acknowledge that we live in a world of profound social, economic, and political inequities. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed.

Good Shepherd United Methodist Church strives to emulate radical love and hospitality for all people in our congregation and community and to incorporate all persons into the life and ministry to which we are called.”