As we follow in the steps of “What We Believe” as Episcopalians, St. Edward’s is taking the opportunity to invite people who may have abandoned their faith because of prejudice they may have faced in other congregations, and to offer a local “safe space” for people of any identity and/or orientation by opening our doors to welcome and affirm the LGBTQ community members.
On Sunday, July 21st we will be part of the Pride Week Open Houses in partnership with Embrace, a local organization supporting Lancaster’s LGBTQ people of faith. We will be joining many other churches in the Lancaster County faith community in the hopes that we can connect members of the LGBTQ community with open and affirming worship and fellowship, especially at St. Edward’s.
As is highlighted on our The Episcopal Church website:
We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As constituent members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, we are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church, and are part of the third largest group of Christians in the world.
We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world.
We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God, and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of sexual identity or orientation.
We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.
On June 12, 2019, during Pride Month, our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offered his statement that honors LGBTQ Episcopalians, which you can read by clicking this link below or visiting the St. Edward’s website on the “What We Believe” page.
Presiding Bishop’s Pride Month statement honors LGBTQ Episcopalians
We hope you will join us on July 21st at your worship service of choice – 8 AM or 10:15 AM and coffee/fellowship hours, and show our brothers and sisters of the LGBTQ community what a welcoming and faith-affirming parish St. Edward’s is and will always be.