You can find inclusivity behind the doors at the Algoma and West Kewaunee United Methodist Churches. The members of both congregations voted unanimously to join the Reconciling Ministries Network, an organization made up primarily of United Methodist churches working for full equality in its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Algoma United Methodist Church had been working on this for over a year before last month’s UMC General Conference voted to tighten its ban on LGBT clergy and weddings. Pastor Jen Emert helped Summerfield United Methodist Church in Milwaukee join the RMN before she came to Algoma and West Kewaunee. She is happy they followed suit.

Algoma and West Kewaunee UMC are the first two northeast Wisconsin churches to join the RMN since the organization began in 1982. The pair of churches joined 18 others in the state stating their support for inclusivity in their congregations.