One day we’ll realise that this was the moment we finally recognised our calling as the church was to imitate the glorious breadth of the heart of God.
Rev. Dr. Sam Wells, inclusive-church.org
Affirmation and Inclusion at Faith Church
Symbolic of resurrection and transformation the butterfly has long been an emblem of Faith United Methodist Church.
Displaying a butterfly in rainbow colors in a heart
full of Faith's diverse people indicates our
affirmation and inclusion of everyone.
We believe every person created by God's hands
is an individual of sacred worth.
We embrace our differences as a gift of God,
we embody love and justice for all God’s children,
and we bear witness to Christ's inclusive love and grace.
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We encourage open and honest conversation
between all members of our congregation and offer the following resources as tools to promote education and build understanding. We know that the resources listed below do not represent all that is available,
but we hope to add meaningful information over time.
Local Community Resources
The UP Center was founded in 2009 as an organization to advocate for the equality, wellness, advocacy,
and visibility of the LGBTQ+ communities
in Champaign County.
University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL, 61820
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Other Resources
Reconciling Ministries Network
is committed to intersectional justice across and beyond the United Methodist connection, working for the full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the Church​​​​.​​
United Methodist Insight, sponsored by St. Stephens UMC in Mesquite, TX, seeks to provide information and perspectives for concerned United Methodists and decision-makers who will shape the future of The United Methodist Church and the communities in which they live and serve. All view points expressed on this website are those of the author.
A Bible-based, Christian organization, that honors Scripture and fully affirms LGBTQ people.
Articles, Books and Videos
The United Methodist Church I Hope to Serve (by Adam Hamilton)
On his blog site Adam Hamilton, Pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Kansas City, MO, shares his personal thoughts on current inclusion and unity issues facing the United Methodist Church.
Kathy Baldock: Untangling the [LGBTQ+] Mess - The Reformation Project in Los Angeles
A video looking at various timelines related to how the world and the United Methodist Church ended up misunderstanding the LGBTQ+ community.
"No Innocent Bystanders: Becoming an Ally in the Struggle for Justice" by Shannon Craigo-Snell &
Christopher J. Doucot Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (October 11, 2017) 144 pages. ISBN-10: 0664262627 ISBN-13: 978-0664262624
Fighting for LGBTQ inclusion in the United Methodist Church | UnUnited Documentary -
The fight for and against LGBTQ inclusion in the United Methodist Church leading up to and
through the conclusion of the 2019 General Conference. Created by Brian Rose of Movoly
Productions with support in part from: Restoration Church, Floris United Methodist Church,
Virginia Annual Conference and the Reconciling Ministries Network. (WARNING: Parts of this
documentary may be very disturbing.)
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The Widening of God's Mercy: Sexuality Within the Biblical Story (Christopher Hays & Richard Hays)
The authors—a father and son—point out ongoing conversations within the Bible in which
traditional rules, customs, and theologies are rethought. They argue that God has already
gone on ahead of our debates and expanded his grace to people of different sexualities.
If the Bible shows us a God who changes his mind, they say, perhaps today’s Christians should
do the same. The book begins with the authors’ personal experiences of controversies over
sexuality and closes with Richard Hays’s epilogue reflecting on his own change of heart and
mind.