Church Welcome Statement

Sometimes you come across a welcome statement so broad and beautiful it’s impossible not to share!  That’s exactly what happened when we stumbled across this one.

Brentwood Christian Church (affectionately known as Springfield, MO’s bible belt alternative) is an open and affirming Disciples of Christ congregation striving to become a community where all God’s children are welcome regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, physical or mental ability, political stance or theological perspective.

And, thanks be to God, they share the following welcome statement:

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here:

If you are young or old, you are welcome

If you have brown skin, black skin, white skin, or any color of skin, you are welcome

If you are married or single, you are welcome

If you are gay or straight, you are welcome

If you are transgender, you are welcome

If you are a man or a woman, you are welcome

If you cannot hear or see, you are welcome

If you are sick or well, you are welcome

If you are happy or sad, you are welcome

If you are rich or poor, powerful or weak, you are welcome

If you believe in God some of the time or none of the time or all of the time, you are welcome

You are welcome here

Come with your gifts, your pain, your hope, your fears

Come with the traditions that have helped you and hurt you

Come with your experiences that have made you and broken you

Come with a mind, ready to engage, and a heart, open to discern

Come and listen for the Sacred Spirit that calls you to love your neighbor wholeheartedly, seek justice, create peace and practice compassion

You are welcome here! 

+ Adapted from a welcome by Gordon Brown, published in Shaping Sanctuary

Thank you, Brentwood Christian Church and thank you Rev. Dr. Phil Snider for throwing the doors of your church and your hearts wide open and singing all the while with Jesus, “Whosoever will may come!”