Affirming Congregations
Affirmation Scotland encourages and invites congregations of any Christian denomination to publicly declare themselves to be ‘Affirming Congregations’ and to be listed on our website.
Many congregations will say that they are inclusive of lgbt persons but perhaps the Kirk Session or Church Council has never discussed this. Ministers might say that they are affirming of lgbt people and their relationships – but has this been said from the pulpit? Does a congregation know that its leadership wants it to be welcoming and affirming of same-sex couples, for example?
Some of the congregations listed below had produced statements of welcome and inclusion without being invited by us to do so! We are glad to include them here.
If you are looking for a Christian congregation in which to worship, be involved and find a welcome we hope that this list of congregations will be useful.
St James’ Pollok, Glasgow (Church of Scotland)
At St. James’ we seek to affirm the dignity of all people.
We welcome into the life of our community of faith people of every age, gender, race, country of origin, ethnic heritage, sexual orientation, mental or physical abilities or condition, education, marital or economic status, cultural, or religious background.
ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED AND AFFIRMED
at the Lord’s Table and at ours.
The minister is The Revd Dr John Mann
www.stjamespollok.co.uk/index2.html
Drumchapel St Andrew’s, Glasgow (Church of Scotland)
Drumchapel St.Andrew’s is a caring and supportive church family, where everyone is welcome.
For us, this means that you are valued and affirmed for who you are, and encouraged in being all you can be. Our church is open to all, and rejoices in its diversity.
The Kirk Session enthusiastically (and unanimously) supports the minister in offering services of blessing to those who wish to celebrate their relationship, regardless of sexuality.
The minister is The Revd. John Purves.
http://drumchapelchurches.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=39
Ibrox Parish Church, Glasgow (Church of Scotland)
We seek to affirm the dignity of all people.
We welcome into the life of our church people of every race, gender, age,
sexual orientation, mental or physical ability.
Let us build a house where love can dwell.
All are welcome in this place.
The minister is The Revd. Elisabeth Spence
Langside Parish Church, Glasgow (Church of Scotland)
Worship is about bringing our faith and our doubts - our honest selves.
It is about seeking God in the middle of life's adventures,
believing that God wants to be found.
It's about finding companions on the journey of faith.
We seek to affirm the dignity of all people.
Believer or unbeliever, old or young,
gay or straight, you are welcome here.
The minister is The Revd. David McLachlan
Wellington Parish Church, Glasgow (Church of Scotland)
Love one another, as I have loved you (John 15:12)
We welcome into the life and worship of our congregation all people
whatever their ethnic origin, gender, background, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability.
We affirm our diversity and the dignity of each person.
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)
The minister is The Revd. Dr. David Sinclair
Polwarth Parish Church, Edinburgh (Church of Scotland)
Learning in the light of knowledge.
Moving in the Love of God.
Polwarth is a safe place for all people regardless of race, creed, age,
cultural background or sexual orientation.
St. George’s West Parish Church, Edinburgh (Church of Scotland)
St George’s West strives to be an open church, a safe and welcoming space for people seeking friendship, acceptance and affirmation and a creative space for the sharing of hopes and fears, visions and concerns.
At the heart of our church life you will find our worship and our outreach, both of which we declare to be inclusive of all and exclusive of none. Our welcome is unconditional.
We therefore declare ourselves to be an "open and affirming" congregation made up of and welcoming all people into full participation in the life of the church, regardless of race, colour, gender, age, nationality, economic circumstance, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability or emotional condition.
Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church, Edinburgh (Church of Scotland)
Worship lies at the centre of the life of this community.
Our doors are open to all:
those sure in their faith, those living with unanswered or unanswerable questions,
those creatively living with doubt,
those who have been to a church before, those never before over the door of a church,
those who are happy in their lives, those who live with pain or sorrow,
and those who are rich and those who are poor.
No matter creed (or none), sexual orientation, colour or ethnic background: you are welcome!
The minister is The Revd. Scott McKenna
Invergowrie Parish Church
We affirm the dignity of all people.
We welcome into the life of our community of faith
people of every age, gender, race, country of origin, ethnic heritage,
sexual orientation, mental or physical abilities or condition,
educational, marital or economic status, cultural or religious background.
All are welcome in this place.
The minister is The Revd. Robert J Ramsay
St Andrew’s, Inverurie (Church of Scotland)
At St Andrew’s we affirm the dignity of all God’s people.
We welcome into the life of our church:
People of every age, gender, race, country of origin, ethnic heritage, sexual orientation, mental or physical abilities or condition, education, marital or economic status, cultural, or religious background.
ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED AND AFFIRMED
at the Lord’s Table and at ours.
The minister is The Revd T Graeme Longmuir
www.standrewschurchinverurie.org.uk
If your congregation would like to be listed on this page please contact the Affirmation Scotland Convenor. We can offer support to a congregation as it considers whether it would like to be identified as an Affirming Congregation. We can help you to make this affirmation of inclusion real in the life of the congregation.
www.AffirmationScotland.org.uk