All means all

At the United Methodist Church of Geneva, everyone is welcome to share in the life of the church.

ALL ARE WELCOME. Period.

At the same time, we recognize that we aren’t perfect as a local church and our denomination -the United Methodist Church- is still sorting out the extent LGTBQ persons are to be included.

In 2017, the UMCG All Means All Team approved the following statement in response to our struggle for inclusion as United Methodists. 

The All Means All Team of the United Methodist Church of Geneva acknowledges the spirit of Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors and embraces the words of John Wesley, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.” John Wesley Advocated a time-tested approach: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”

We believe that the language contained in the Book of Discipline (paras 161.B; 161.F; 304.3; 341.6) on the issue of hetersexualtiy/homosexualtiy is divisive and is not an essential tenet of the Christian faith and should not have been included. LGBTQ persons are the only group singled out in the Book of Discipline, and this is a form of exclusion and oppression which offends our sense of justice and love for all people. We feel that all persons are created in the image of God, and we respect everyone’s faith journey as we form a community together of diverse individuals.