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The Association of Welcoming |
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WHO WE ARE |
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To find out more, click on the links below: |
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| Find a Welcoming & Affirming Church | |
| W&A Chapters and Member Organizations | |
| Membership Information | |
| Bible Studies | |
| The InSpiriter | |
| Resources | |
| News | |
| Contact AWAB | |
| Meet the AWAB Council | |
| Related Links | |
| Make a Donation | |
| Return to AWAB's Home Page | |
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| Who we are... | |||
| Gay-affirming
Baptists?
No, this is not an oxymoron! Ten years ago, after the lgbt community had been dealt yet another blow by members of their denomination, a group of American Baptist pastors decided that it was time to stand up and declare their affirmation of glbt people. The network of churches they founded, the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB), has now grown to more than 60 churches and organizations. AWAB members are Baptist churches, organizations, and individuals who have gone on record as being welcoming and affirming of all persons, without regard to sexual orientation. |
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| We know that much abuse of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons has been fostered and encouraged by the rhetoric of the church, leaving many people feeling that they must choose between their faith and their sexuality. AWAB members have joined together to advocate for inclusion of lgbt persons within Baptist communities of faith. Initiated at a gathering of pastors in 1991 at the American Baptist Biennial Meeting in Charleston, West Virginia, the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists was formally organized at the 1993 Biennial in San José, California. (For more on our formation and developments within the ABC, read our brief history.) | |||
| Currently, the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists consists of 48 congregations, several local support chapters, church groups and pastoral counseling centers, an international ministry, and individuals. See our current membership list for a list of Welcoming & Affirming congregations and ministries. | |||
| Our Ministry... | |||
| AWAB has developed a strong presence in American Baptist, and Alliance of Baptists circles, sponsoring workshops and discussions, distributing rainbow ribbons, challenging church leaders, and proclaiming in many other ways that lgbt people are in the pulpits and pews of Baptist churches. In addition to the network of affirming places to worship and serve for lgbt people, their families and supporters, AWAB provides congregations with resources for education in sexuality and gender identity issues; produces a quality publication, The InSpiriter; works collaboratively with other groups both ecumenically and within other Baptist bodies; and seeks to encourage church leadership to welcome & affirm lgbt people into full participation in faith community participates in the oppression and marginalization of persons with differing sexual orientations and gender identities. | |||
| Our Relationship With the ABC | |||
| AWAB was began an an organization rooted in the tradition of the American Baptist Churches, USA. Over the ten year history AWAB's membership has grown to include individuals and churches from different Baptist backgrounds, including the Alliance of Baptists. If you would like to engage in a dialogue about the ABC and outreach to the greater Baptist family, please join in a Yahoo Group Discussion. | |||
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| © The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptist Churches, 2006. All rights reserved. |