Church vote welcomes gay, transgendered

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 6:08 AM EST

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo, Naugatuck Valley Bureau Chief

SHELTON — If you are a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person, members of the Shelton Congregational Church want you to know you are welcome at their church.

The congregation voted in late February to be an “open and affirming” church, the culmination of a two-year program of discussions, guest speakers, personal testimonies, movies and retreats.

“Our main purpose is to let folks know we believe no one should be excluded,” said the Rev. Shepard Parsons. “It is a manifestation of God’s love to all people.”

According to Parsons, about two years ago, there was a discussion at a Bible study meeting about the Apostle Paul “turning the world upside down,” and how the congregation could do so, too. A congregant suggested being an open and affirming church, he said.

The man who made the suggestion, Glenn Wells, said he has a daughter who is a lesbian.

“The church is a very welcoming church anyway, but this is because we wanted to let people outside know it,” Wells said. “I don’t see why people can’t just get along, all people, no matter what.”

Parsons said, “We do have congregants who are gay or lesbian — they are in everybody’s congregation. Whether or not this (vote) means an increase or a decrease in our membership, that is not what it is about. It is about saying what we believe. The congregation felt it was important to make this declaration.”

The congregation voted to affirm the equal rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

“We have taken a stand for the civil rights of people who have been marginalized and maligned in society,” Parsons said. “This is a statement of where we want to be, and the journey we plan to take.”

Betty Ogden, a clerk at the church and superintendent of Sunday school, said about 90 percent of the congregation was in favor of the move.

“I think it is probably one of the most uplifting, inspiring and exciting things I’ve participated in, in the 12 years I’ve been a member,” Ogden said. “I know we do have gay members of the church, so we felt to do this now would be living our faith. This is something we are very proud of as a church.”

According to Ogden, the congregants who didn’t vote in favor had questioned whether it was needed.

“Their concerns were that since the church is already very welcoming and friendly, they wondered if it was something we needed to do,” she said. “They didn’t see it as necessary.”

David Irvine, the church’s choir director, said he hopes the vote will inspire more people to join.

During discussions about how to be open and affirming, the congregation also identified another need, and that was to make the building itself more accessible to people who are disabled or frail.

In January, after a fundraising campaign, the congregation installed a lift, a chair to help people get up and down stairs in the building. According to Parsons, the lift cost about $15,000 to install. Anne Stanback, executive director of Love Makes a Family in Hartford, called the church’s vote “wonderful news for the congregation.”