A Rhinelander congregation has opened its doors to all people, regardless of sexual orientation.
Parishioners at the First Congregational United Church of Christ on Larch street voted by a wide margin to become the first UCC church in the Northwoods to adopt this policy.
Reverend Doctor Christopher Hucker is Senior Pastor the church. He says they became an "open and affirming" church within the United Church Christ...
".....our welcome was to include gays, lesbians, transsexuals, and even those who are still uncertain as to who they are. But more recently it has become a more embracing statement of it doesn't matter who you are, we extend the welcome to individuals to ever race, gender, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, national and economic backgrounds..."
Pastor Hucker said church voters via secret ballot tallied far more than a two-thirds required to take the position.
Hucker says in the case of gays, lesbians and transsexuals, this is the highest level of affirmation their church can take.
About 30 Wisconsin UCC churches have taken the position but the Rhinelander church is the first in the Northwoods...
