WESTWOOD—LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals and their allies of all ages are invited to join Parkside Community Church “in a worship service celebrating the ‘Ecstatic, Expansive and Elastic’ gospel that proclaims there is room for all in God’s church and Kingdom.”
The service is Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Participants can join live (masks required) or watch on Facebook Live at facebook.com/RoomforAllRCA.
Parkside Community Church, at 3rd Avenue and Park in Westwood, adopted its welcoming statement in 2018, asserting that persons who identify as LGBTQIA+ are welcome, affirmed, and included in all aspects of their church life.
According to the Rev. Rodney Haveman, Parkside’s pastor of 20 years, “Our welcome statement makes it clear that we believe that all people — body and soul, are created in the image of God. As such, we affirm that people of all races, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities can worship, serve, and advocate in our church as God’s humble servants.”
Haveman said that statement of welcome is part of what makes Parkside a proud rostered congregation with Room for All, a national non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community within the Reformed Church in America.
He said the service will specifically celebrate that inclusive view of Scripture and is “meant to create a safe space for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ to worship freely without worries of being stigmatized or judged.”
For more information contact the Rev. Haveman at (201) 666-8998 or pccwestwood@gmail.com.