To our Beloved congregations of the Kansas Region,
As congregations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world. In that confession, we are bound together not by uniformity of opinion but by covenant in Christ.
We speak in response to recent Kansas legislation affecting transgender persons with humility, prayer, and deep pastoral concern.
As Disciples, we affirm:
- The unity of the church as the body of Christ.
- The ministry of all believers.
- The centrality of the Lord’s Table, which is open to all.
At Christ’s Table, we do not test worthiness or demand conformity; we extend welcome as we ourselves have been welcomed. Our historic commitment to an open Table shapes our public witness. We believe that every person is made in the image of God and is worthy of dignity, safety, and respect.
Our congregations include transgender and gender-diverse persons who have been baptized into Christ and who share fully in the life of the church. People are not issues to be debated but beloved members of Christ’s body. We are deeply concerned about the impact of recent state legislation, including Senate Bill 244, on vulnerable individuals.
Disciples have long affirmed freedom of conscience under the Lordship of Christ and the church's responsibility to stand with those whose lives are made more vulnerable by public policy. While our congregations hold a diversity of perspectives, we are united in our call to resist harm, to oppose discrimination, and to embody Christ’s reconciling love in a fragmented world.
We are mindful of the General Assembly’s calls for the church to oppose discrimination based on any human label and to advocate for policies that protect the human and civil rights of all people. As a covenantal body, we continue to discern together how best to live out that commitment in Kansas.
We pray:
- For transgender Kansans whose lives are directly affected.
- For families navigating uncertainty and fear.
- For lawmakers and civic leaders, that they may govern with wisdom and compassion.
- For our congregations, that we may be communities of courageous welcome.
As Disciples, we claim no creed but Christ and seek no test of fellowship but love. We trust the Holy Spirit to guide us toward justice, mercy, and deeper understanding, so that all God’s children may flourish.
The Kansas Regional staff is holding you in prayer as we navigate these uncertain times as a community.
Sincerely,
Rev. Tom Stanley