A Note from Pastor Jason About Our Church Conference Vote

Last Sunday, something holy happened in our church.

With smiles, tears, and a rising chorus of Praise God from whom all blessings flow, our congregation unanimously adopted the Commitment to Welcome, Inclusion, and Belonging. It was more than a vote—it was a testimony. A moment when the Spirit moved among us, confirming what had already taken root in our hearts: that every person who walks through our doors deserves to be seen, valued, and embraced as a beloved child of God.

I am deeply grateful for each of you—for the conversations, prayers, listening sessions, Bible studies, book studies, personal stories, and honest questions that shaped this journey. I am especially thankful for your openness, grace, curiosity, and hope. Your willingness to walk this road together has been a witness in itself.

I want to offer a special word of thanks to our Inclusion Discernment Leadership Team—Blane Baker, Sabra Boyd, Amy Duncan, Kim Kankiewicz, Jeff Langford, Alena Vaughn, and Rolland Yoakum—for their thoughtful, sustained, care-filled leadership across these past two years. Their work was steady, prayerful, and courageous. I’m also grateful to Pastoral Resident Rachel Mumaw-Schweser for her key role in shaping and coordinating our Imagine Groups, helping us listen well to one another and to the Spirit.

This statement is not a finish line. It’s a beginning. A starting place from which we can grow deeper in Christ, love more fully, and practice a welcome that is wide, real, and ongoing.

Together, let’s keep becoming the kind of church that reflects the heart of God—never closed, always open.

With gratitude and joy,

Jason Edwards

Senior Pastor

We now have a QR code in the worship guide that is linked to a new page on our website, which lists the statement. The statement is also linked on our website in three places: the home page, the what we believe page, and the first time visit/FAQ page (in the "What kind of church is this?" question).