First Christian Church of Lynchburg

06/11/2026

https://revdrjarrettbanks.substack.com/p/the-church-must-be-more-than-inclusive

Pride Month’s Invitation to the Church

06/07/2026

We apologize for the disruption of the Youtube live stream. We are taking steps to ensure this doesn't happen again. Thank you for your patience everyone!

06/07/2026

Today’s sermon:

How Religion Can Lose Sight of God’s Dream for the World

06/07/2026

Join us for worship this Sunday live on Youtube!

First Christian Church, Lynchburg, is an Open and Affirming congreg...

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

If you’re not getting any pushback from religious people, then you’re probably are not following the way of Jesus.

06/01/2026

🌈 Happy Pride Month! 🌈

This year, Pride Month arrives at a time when LGBTQ+ people are once again finding themselves at the center of political attacks, culture wars, and fear-driven rhetoric.

As followers of Jesus, we believe it is important to say clearly and without apology: God's love is not up for debate. The worth of a human being is not determined by legislators, pundits, courts, or religious gatekeepers.

In a moment when some are using faith to exclude, condemn, and divide, we choose a different way. We choose the way of Jesus: the Jesus who consistently crossed boundaries; the Jesus who welcomed those others rejected; the Jesus who challenged religious leaders more often than he challenged society's outcasts; the Jesus who taught us that love of God and love of neighbor cannot be separated.

Pride Month is not about asking for special treatment. It is about affirming a truth that should never have been questioned in the first place: every person is a beloved child of God and deserves to live with dignity, safety, equality, and joy.

As a church committed to following the unconditional love and justice-seeking way of Jesus, we celebrate the gifts, leadership, faith, and courage of LGBTQ+ people.

And we reject the misuse of Christianity to justify discrimination. We reject the fear that tells us diversity is a threat rather than a gift. We reject any notion that God's grace belongs to some people more than others.

And we recommit ourselves to building the Beloved Community, a world where everyone has a place at the table and no one is treated as less than God's beloved.

To our LGBTQ+ neighbors: We are grateful for you. We celebrate you. We stand with you.

Happy Pride Month!

And always remember:

Love is still stronger than fear.
Justice is still stronger than exclusion.
And God's welcome is still wider than the walls we build.