FCC Binghamton N.Y. — An Open and Affirming Congregation
“As a gay man looking for a new church, I checked out both the rules and the culture for quite a few churches and found none of them open and accepting of me. That is why I left my United Methodist Church. But I had seen a commercial for United Church of Christ where other churches were shutting their doors to various types of people, and UCC was opening theirs to everyone. Of course I took this with a grain of salt and thought “YEAH RIGHT!” Having nothing to lose, I searched around and found that First Congregational Church was associated with UCC. I figured I would give it a try. From the moment I walked through the door, I felt at home, accepted not because I was gay, but because I am a person worthy of God’s love. It is curious, last year I was talking to a woman who had been coming to church there for, gosh I bet 50 years. I asked her how she felt coming to a new church so long ago? She answered me just the same as I did above. This church is a special place and I hope you will give us a try.” ~ Lee Stradley