Our Church

To feel welcome and accepted—just as you are—is important to a sense of belonging. For too many members of the LGBTQIA? Community, however, “Church” may not have been the safe place they were seeking. Scripture tells us that Jesus welcomes everyone into His circle of love.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
-1 Corinthians 13:13

This gift of love is not limited to only a specific group of people but is available to all.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
-Galatians 3:28

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church firmly and faithfully supports this message. Roots of acceptance and inclusivity run deep at Lafayette Park UMC. The large stained-glass window on the north side of the church features Jesus welcoming women and children; members of the population who, during both Jesus’ time and the time of the
commissioning of the window (the 1920s), were seen as insignificant in their patriarchal societies. For 100 years, however, they have held a place of prominence in this church.

In the 1970s, Lafayette Square was a neighborhood in the midst of change. Once the home of riverboat captains and wealthy industrialists, it was largely abandoned during the urban flight of the 1950s. Then the tide turned once again, and renewed interest in city living brought in a diverse population of those wishing to reclaim and restore the once-grand homes that surrounded Lafayette Park. In came first-time homeowners, young professionals and a fledgling group of gay men and women looking for a community where they could feel safely and comfortably at home.

Tom Raber, pastor of LPUMC during this time of neighborhood change, was passionate about community outreach. He actively practiced an open-door policy and worked tirelessly to welcome all residents of the Square into the church. Others in the church were prominent in making members of the same-sex community (LGBTQIA+ was yet to be formulated) feel welcome, as well. One of the pastors years ago had two brothers who were gay, so she was personally sensitive to and aware of the feelings of those who had felt outside the warm circle of church life. An organist and his partner were active in the St. Louis Gay Men’s Chorus, and they invited members of the group to experience the welcoming environment of Lafayette Park UMC. Several women from LPUMC attended Chorus performances on a regular basis. They became familiar to the singers and were affectionately referred to as the “Crazy Aunts.” Those who came, who
learned what it was like to be welcomed “just as you are,” invited others and the make-up of the church became a more true reflection of God’s creation.

In 1984, the greater United Methodist Church developed the Reconciling Ministries Network, an organization seeking the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in both its policies and practices. Lafayette Park United Methodist Church hadn’t felt the need to wait for the practice to become official. They already knew it was the loving thing to do.

• If you have ever felt that you don’t really fit in, you are welcome here.
• If you have ever worried that you needed to mask your sexuality in order to protect yourself, you—your authentic self–are welcome here.
• If you have ever felt that being honest about who you love would result in people not accepting you, you and the one you love are welcome here.

LPUMC accepts people as they are, and wherever they are on life’s journey. Don’t have it all together? It’s very likely there are others struggling, too. Looking for answers to some of life’s tough questions? This is a safe place to be while you figure things out. Don’t feel like you belong in church—or maybe anywhere? Please give LPUMC the opportunity to change your mind about that.

AT GOD’S TABLE
AND AT LAFAYETTE PARK UMC
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!