South Central MN

We are a congregation that worships, prays, learns, and serves together. Our Welcoming Statement is included every Sunday in our worship bulletin and that statement includes welcoming LGBTQIA+ people. In the past, we have had interns serve our congregation as part of their training to become a pastor. Of the four interns we have had, 3 identified as queer. We are the only congregation in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod that is a Reconciling in Christ congregation.

In the late 1990s this rural Southern Minnesota congregation took the bold step of hiring an openly gay priest. A few people left but most of the long term members stayed. LGBTQ+ folk in this area are fairly discreet in the general community even to this day. I know of no public group gatherings of LGBTQ+ folk in Martin county. That priest gathered what was at first a separate worshiping community but then they integrated themselves into the Sunday morning congregation. Since then they have been outstanding leaders and recognized for that. Later some transgender folk joined us. We are now very reduced in numbers, being about 15 people on Sunday at 10 am with a hybrid worship including Zoom and in person. We'd be honored to have you join us.