Open Minds Discussion Groups
The definition of us: We are those who at one time were trained to believe that members of the LGBTQIA+ community are in one way or another unacceptable to God. We seek to understand God’s love in new ways that are true to the nature of God, faithful to Scripture, and inclusive of all people as God’s beloved children created in the Divine image.
About our destination: We are people who are on a journey of faith. Perhaps we’ve left where we came from permanently, perhaps someday we will return to it, but today we journey together into the unknown, hoping God is more gracious than we ever imagined “he” could be, hoping God is not male as we once may have thought “he” was, hoping God accepts all people including those we once were certain were rejected by the Holy One.
This group is a place where we can:
- Be honest about where we came from, where we are, and where we want to go
- Be sad about the ways where we came from may have hurt us
- Grieve the things we once loved about our pasts or perhaps still love about our pasts
- Acknowledge in the midst of our grief that we may also feel relief that we’ve moved on
- Talk about new ways that we are discovering God’s goodness and the words of Scripture
Here we are honest in hope that our honesty will lead to a greater knowledge of God, ourselves, and each other. Interested in joining? In order to keep the groups emotionally safe, times and dates will not be advertised and, if Pastor Laura doesn’t know you, she will meet with you prior to your decision to join. This is to prevent anyone from showing up to taunt or argue rather than engage in honest reflection. Anyone and everyone is welcome to join as long as they are interested in honest reflection. Please call or email Pastor Laura with questions or your desire to join.
