Care for Others
As Christians, we're concerned about the well-being of others. Jesus commands us to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31). Care for our neighbor isn't an option, it's an obligation.
The care for the well-being of others is a crucial reason why many United Methodists work for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and their families and friends in the life of the church.
Full inclusion of LGBT people isn't just an "issue"—it's about people, it's about fellow Christians. No matter what the policies or rules about LGBT people are, no matter what the opinions, discussions, or controversies are, it's important to recognize that LGBT people are already in our families, in our neighborhoods, in our churches—our pews, our youth groups, our classrooms, our choir lofts, and our pulpits—and we care about them.
Everyone should be able to be part of our church without fear of being hurt or being "discovered." The exclusionary practices of the United Methodist Church hurt LGBT people when they're denied membership, excluded from ordination, denied baptism for their children, denied the blessing of relationships or marriages, denied leadership roles in the church, or expected to keep silent about their relationships.
