Adventist Peace Fellowship Creates Petition to Apologize to LGBTQ+ Members
14 April 2023 |
Ahead of the April 2023 Adventist Peace Fellowship (APF) Summit titled LGBTQ & Adventism: Peace, Truth & Reconciliation, APF has created a petition to invite fellow church pastors, leaders, and members to sign a statement of apology to LGBTQ+ members.
According to the petition description at Change.org, APF’s goal is to:
invite our fellow church pastors, leaders, and members to join us in this statement of apology—and to express it in the life and mission of our church. We also invite pastors and local church leaders to share this statement in their church, read it in a worship service, vote it at a church board meeting, or share it as part of a website, newsletter, or bulletin.
The goal is 500 signatures and, as of Friday, April 14, 2023, signatures have reached about 225. Signees include pastors, professors, editors, members, and other church leaders.
Parts of the apology petition include statements such as the following:
We recognize that our denomination, entities, and churches have often failed to live up to the calling of Jesus and the faith we claim. We have preached when sometimes we should have listened; we have been silent when we should have spoken up; we have asked you to change when we needed transformation that would bring greater insight and sensitivity.
To see the full statement or sign the petition, go to this website.
