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Fair United Church celebrates Pride Sunday
If the last year has taught people anything, it is how to make the best out of difficult circumstances. United Church of Rockville Centre did just that as members celebrated Pride Sunday on June 27, only a few days after their LGBTQ+ flag was torn down.
More than 100 people packed the church for the 9:30 a.m. service, which focused on inclusiveness within the United Church of Christ.
"Our church believes in being an open and affirming church," Chairwoman for Christian Education Lori Dunne said, "which means we accept LGBTQ+ people into our church." United Church is part of the United Church of Christ, which allows full participation in the church for LGBTQ+ people.
Dunne and United Church's pastor, the Rev. Scott Ressman, said they were excited to provide institutional support for the LGBTQ+ community, especially after the last year forced people apart. "We have a unique message that hopefully will continue to spread as people realize that God's love is for all people," Ressman said.
Pride flags and rainbow balloons adorned the interior of the church, which was nearly full. The turnout was encouraging for a parish that recently encountered a hate crime and had to have a police vehicle stationed outside the church to prevent further vandalism during the service.
Seventeen years ago, the leadership at United Church started conversations about welcoming the LGBTQ+ community and lost some members as a result, but the decision has also gained the church new parishioners. Ressman, who has been at the church for more than two decades, said he hoped it would continue to be a place to celebrate, rather than tolerate, all people.
"We want to claim our message without apology," he said. "I think it’s important to have a message, not necessarily to counter the other messages that are out there, but to offer an alternative and start a conversation that is perhaps difficult for some to have."
Emma Travers, co-founder and co-president of RaisingVoicesUSA, a Rockville Centre-based community organization, and several other members of the group came to support the church and its message. "We wanted to be part of a positive response," Travers said. "I think anytime you can bring people from diverse groups together to learn a little bit more about each other, you're doing something wonderful."
Other institutions in the Rockville Centre community also stepped up to offer their support for the church. Members of the Central Synagogue Beth Emeth attended the service, and Rabbi Michael G. Cohen offered his support in a Facebook post.
"Unity and love are the best response to violence and hate," he wrote. "I would personally like to assure our members that we at CSBE did not remain silent and indifferent."
Additionally, Ressman and Cohen said they planned to have an interfaith pride service for Pride Month 2022 and will invite all area religious organizations to take part.
