I do not oppose the Christian Fellowship Center’s purchase of a building in Canton. I welcome them into the community. Yet, I would like to know their stance on people who identify as LBGTQIA. According to a WDT article from December 6, 2018 my question was deemed “distraction” but I think it is valid concern for many people in the community. Mr. Sinclair said there were “some mistruths” when I said, “I fear a church coming into Canton that does not believe that LBGTQ people are already full of dignity, worth, and love as they are.” I hope he elaborates publicly on what some of the mistruths are. LBGTQ people have been hurt and harmed again and again by religion and I want to know CFC’s stance:

Do their clergy officiate same-sex marriages? Unitarian Universalists do. We have performed Holy Unions here since the 1980’s and I can attest to the sacred bonds of love between the same-sex couples I have officiated during my time in Canton.

Does the CFC think same-sex attraction and acting on their attractions is a “sin”? We do not. Unitarian Universalists celebrate the multiple, beautiful, and wonderful ways of being a sexually healthy human being.

Can their pastors be out and gay? Here you can. A previous minister here was an out gay man. Can CFC leaders be out and gay? We have out lesbian, gay, and people identifying as transgender in leadership positions.

Do they have any history of gay conversion therapy or have any of their children been disowned by their families for being LBGTQ? Not here. We teach our children a comprehensive age-appropriate justice-centered sexuality curriculum, Our Whole Lives.

Are people that don’t fit into the gender binary welcome at the CFC? They are here.

We are out and we side with love.

If the CFC is truly out, I invite them to march with me during the annual Pride Parade in Potsdam, take pastoral care phone calls from youth who have come out as queer or transgender and are ostracized by their families, friends, and their faith communities for it, host transgender support groups, come to the UU Church for our LBGTQ film series. I invite them to proudly display rainbow colors on their building and work together with me in celebrating what a beautiful thing it is be out and open to radical love in the North Country.

The Rev. James Galasinski Minister,

UU Church of Canton