#glendaleumc

In 2017, we nearly closed the doors at Glendale UMC in Nashville, TN. Decades of slow decline led to around 20 in average worship attendance and we realized something needed to change. Change we did. The most important of them all - intentionally being outwardly inclusive + affirming to create safe space for all of God’s children to grow in their faith.

Along with many other changes we made, all individually small if done slowly overtime to not upset anyone that we chose to do all together in one Sunday, started us on a journey to welcome over 150 new members since then and today, we now have around 200 active people who have decided to call Glendale their church home.

We share this as an encouragement to our other churches who may be where we were back in 2017. Sharing God’s inclusive + affirming love with all people authentically can bust the doors wide open for people who’ve been made to feel lesser than, excluded, not enough, or not loved by God as because of who they love or how they identify. 💜

We celebrate today’s verdict of accountability. We continue to work towards dismantling systemic racism and white supremacy - the root of why our black and brown siblings are not [ever] fully able to breathe. We stand alongside you - to support you, to defend you, to pick you back up, to advocate for you, to speak up, educate and speak out for true justice.