As an ordained minister for 20 years, the Reverend Dr. Wes Bixby has had a calling to create a diverse and inclusive church environment. He found a home at First Congregational Church of Christ in Sarasota, a church he has led for eight years. First Congregational is a denomination of the United Church of Christ, known for standing with social justice issues and for being supportive of LGBTQ members.
“I got into this work because church was always a place where I felt safe,” says Bixby. He wants to create this same feeling of safety and understanding for those of all races and sexual orientations in Sarasota. Bixby, 46, and his congregation go beyond rhetoric—the place where many religious organizations, if they even welcome groups from different communities, seem to stop.
“The church and Christianity haven’t been and still aren’t always a safe place for folks,” says Bixby. “We know it takes a tremendous amount of courage to cross the threshold and reenter a church setting.”
Source: Rev. Dr. Wes Bixby Is Making Church a Place of Diversity and Inclusion