On Sunday, May 18, 2014, the Glenview Community Church ( GCC ) will celebrate "Rainbow Sunday" recognizing and giving thanks for the LGBT ( Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender ) community and emphasizing God's gift of diversity in the 10 a.m. service. An outdoor ceremony with prayer will be held at 9:50 a.m. with a rainbow symbol added to the church outdoor signage. GCC is located at 1000 Elm Street in Glenview.
Since 2010, Glenview Community Church, a member congregation of the United Church of Christ ( UCC ) denomination, has been "Open and Affirming," embracing diversity in its congregation and community and affirming that every person has equal worth as God's unique creation. As GCC members seek to live out a mission living Christ's compassion that promotes inclusion and justice, GCC welcomes into its community persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and physical ability, age, race, nationality, economic and social status and faith background.
"On June 1, 2014, Illinois will legally recognize marriage equality," states Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Charles E. Mize. "Glenview Community Church congratulates all those who worked to pass this important legislation and celebrates their victory.
"In 1985, the UCC's national organization, the General Synod, began a national effort to reach out to gay, lesbian and bisexual church members through its Open and Affirming movement. 'In the words of The United Church of Christ's identity initiative: 'No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.'"
The United Church of Christ, a mainline Protestant denomination with about 1.1 million members, has been one of the pioneering religious groups for the dignity, equality and full inclusion of the LGBT community. The UCC ordained the first "openly avowed homosexual person" in modern times to Christian ministry in 1972, and the church's General Synod endorsed full civil and religious marriage rights for same-sex couples last year.
The GCC Spiritual Council has created a Diversity Committee to be made up of volunteers with a passion for embracing each child of God with God's amazing love at GCC. They will shape the policies and practices that will lead the church to continue its growth as an Open and Affirming congregation. Members will develop a charter for the Committee to address diversity of all types in the church. The Committee will be responsible for identifying and implementing best practices for creating an extravagant welcome to all and for promoting a positive image of GCC's Open and Affirming environment in the larger community.
For more information about "Rainbow Sunday" or to become involved with the Diversity Committee or Glenview Community Church, please check out www.gccucc.org or call 847-724-2210.
