Statement on Homosexuality

“The Village Church feels compelled to apologize, on behalf of the Church at large, for the demonization of homosexuality and the shunning or rejecting of any individuals for their same-sex desires. We affirm, in the strongest possible way, that those of us who are heterosexual in desire are not more righteous or more entitled to the grace of Jesus Christ than those of us who are homosexual. Nor are heterosexuals in less need of that grace.”
G.A.M.E. really began in the heart of Sam Andreades, the pastor of The Village Church; the opening paragraph is taken from his statement on Homosexuality. This is also a reflection of his “heart” to the city, and to the neighborhood: Greenwich Village.
I returned attending The Village Church, after an absence of years, and shared my convictions and “heart” to Sam, concerning the vital need for competent, compassionate ministry to those struggling with homosexual issues in the church…as well as to the ever present gay community of New York. A “group” of four men began to dialogue for months on personal feelings surrounding of “change” and of the possibility of ministry rooted from The Village Church. This past June, Sam and I attended the Love Won Out conference in Orlando, meeting with various Exodus leadership…to dialogue of our “aspirations” of ministry. G.A.M.E. now has a “steering committee”, of empathetic members of our congregation, who will manage policy and issues surrounding this outreach. We have become an Exodus Member Ministry, and are connected from the Exodus International web site.
The church is here to provide an environment of grace that allows failure alongside the challenge to growth, whether in this area of behavior or in any other; to those opening their hearts to this transforming power of God, the Village Church opens its doors with a warm welcome.
My contentment is in the knowledge that we am “not our own”, and our maker guides our vision…thankfulness reigns within me.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Farber