On Sunday, March 3, after a summer of one-on-one meetings and learning/bible study events in the fall, the Welcome and Inclusion Working Group (WIWG) has drafted a Welcome Statement for New Hope! This statement was inspired …

All people are welcome in our faith community. Why should we single out lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual/ aromantic (LGBTQIA+) people and a commitment to anti-racism? Many LGBTQIA+ people have learned by experience they …

My background is a bit different from most of the folks who attend New Hope. I grew up in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles in the 50’s and 60’s, the daughter of a German …

Hi!  This is Barbara Wadzuk wanting to share a little bit about myself and my involvement in the Welcome and Inclusion Taskforce.  I am a seventy-eight-year-old mother of three and grandmother to six.  My career …

Historically, "queer" was used in a derogatory sense, targeting individuals who deviated from societal norms concerning sexual orientation or gender identity. However, during the late 20th century, particularly amid the AIDS crisis, LGBTQ+ activists courageously …

Our Bishop Mike Rineheart chronicled most excellently the marching in the Pride Parade 2023. Click the link below to see his blog. https://bishopmike.com/2023/06/26/houston-pride-2023/?fbclid=IwAR1_F3iLWT6f7lxDPJA1j0zlF09o5PtQBLoWP8JjhPNvj1vKgMSXiPGcJrU_aem_AcocWz0Ap2WDrBFmpGIDIhPDpYGiLrkPJCYWd6JBopVToJ-r1CvKVLYWEmdX6I4wdzY

Welcome and Inclusion Working Group member Linda Lyons sends us a message about Juneteenth. Monday is Juneteenth, a unique holiday that started in Texas and is now officially celebrated nationally.  It commemorates June 19, 1865, the …

Greetings from the Welcome and Inclusion Working Group. This is our blog where we will be posting updates on our work and plans for the future. Soon you will see announcements for Bible studies and …