looking for a truly inclusive community?
so are we.

we strive to be a community that truly welcomes and affirms all persons, regardless of identity, age, ability, or history. we structure our common life in ways that empower and enhance everyone’s participation and leadership. we love this sacred work because it allows us to meet God in all people.

edges is a safe place for you.

we have a large and growing community of lgbtq+ identifying folks and allies who worship here. if you are lgbtq+ and are looking for more community, or if you are an ally and are looking for ways to support lgbtq+ folks in an ongoing way, we have a place for you!

want to chat more about finding your place at edges?

we encourage you to fill out the form below. all submissions are confidential and will only be read by franklyn harrison (they/them), a member of our theo team at edges.

we know that full inclusion is scripturally grounded.

we encourage you to watch this worship conversation, which engages a careful look at some of the “clobber passages” historically used to harm or exclude the lgbtq+ community, and works to provide accurate, contextual interpretations. we also discuss gender identity and the beauty of diversity and spectrums of identities based in scripture. we hope this offers you a new way to think, or some new ideas to consider, and we encourage you to take these ideas into conversation with people you trust.

we do need to be transparent with you.

edges is a campus of blacksburg united methodist church, which is in turn a part of the global united methodist church. the umc’s governing document (the book of discipline) does not currently permit the ordination or marriage of folks who identify as lgbtq+. this means at edges, we cannot marry or ordain lgbtq+ identifying people.

we are deeply ashamed and angry that this is the case. we are committed to changing the umc’s stance from the inside, where we believe we have the best chance to have an impact. we are fierce advocates of changing the book of discipline towards full inclusion. our advocacy takes several forms:

  • registering as a member of the reconciling ministries network

  • writing letters to our southeastern jurisdiction bishop

  • inviting local churches to attend sessions providing contextual, biblical support for full inclusion, including our 2021 rethink series and 2022 beyond shame series

  • attending and voting during the virginia annual conference of the umc

  • practicing what we preach by stating and displaying our pronouns and inviting lgbtq+ identifying folks to join the theo team and preach from the pulpit

  • working to build an all-gender bathroom at edges (this work is still in progress. you can donate to help us make this happen here — specify “edges all-gender bathroom” in the notes field)

we will continue to advocate until we achieve justice for all of our lgbtq+ siblings.