Simon’s Says
Who doesn’t like love? Who could possibly hate hope? The UCC’s Southern New England Conference discovered the answers to these questions the hard way earlier this month, when they rolled out a new initiative called Find Hope Now. It is a combination advertising campaign and church tool intended to spread the word that the UCC is a place of radical welcome, where every one of God’s children can find love and hope. As our own United Church of Chester attests, No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at the UCC.
The push-back has come from some who don’t, or won’t, grasp the idea that God’s love is for all of us. Find Hope Now appeals in particular to the LGBTQ community that has found itself marginalized by other churches and faith communities, and reminds them that they too are beloved children of God. As a result of the campaign the SNEUCC has been the target of toxic and hateful messaging from folks who apparently believe they know the mind of God better than God does. Rev. Darrell Goodwin, our Executive Conference Minister, has this to say in response: “What this means is that we need to be louder. We need to be bolder and we need to be clearer about who God has called us to be in 2024. Who God has called us to be as a collection of churches is unabashedly and unashamedly welcoming of all God’s people.”
On a related note, last month marked the 20th anniversary of marriage equality, when the State Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled that refusing to sanction same-gender marriages is unconstitutional. On Sunday morning I will reflect on my own experience of shepherding a congregation through that brave new reality, and its bearing on what it means to be an Open and Affirming Congregation of the UCC.
Here are the links to Sunday’s bulletin and service: