Such phrases signify that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are accepted in the church with the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities as heterosexuals. Many more churches are equally open to sexual minorities and every variation of humanity, but don't list categories on their front door. We are all broken by sin. They were allowed to stay under the national denominational roof only if they could find another association to offer them a philosophical home. Thus, First Baptist Church of Berkeley, Calif., led by the Rev. Esther Hargis, a lesbian who welcomes all kinds of families, is now associated with the American Baptist Church in Wisconsin.
People can scream and threaten.
They can push the church to the edge of involvement. But they can't really tell them no. Critics say such planks are anti-ecumenical and devalue believers' personal spiritual experience of God and the Scriptures. Pick your sin. The church has never said only the perfect are welcome.