Capital Pride Parade 2017: Top 10 D.C. Churches Marching with Rainbow Pride

on June 14, 2017

Over a dozen churches in the Washington D.C area participated in the 2017 Capital Pride Parade. From Dupont circle to 22nd Street, roads where covered with vibrant rainbow colors in solidarity with LGBTQ+ community. Marching alongside their fellow gay pride warriors were individuals who supposedly proclaim the Gospel. Let’s take a look at the top 10 progressive churches participating in the 2017 Capital Pride Parade.

1. Washington National Cathedral

All one has to do is visit their website or Facebook page to understand their passionate stance on LGBTQ+ issues, particularly same-sex marriage. The Cathedral has participated in the Capital Pride Parade since 2013, when Reverend Gary Hall stated, “But if my being seen in the parade is a visible sign that God loves and accepts people across the full spectrum of human sexuality, it will have achieved its purpose.” The Washington National Cathedral has a history being controversial with their liberal theology.

More than 50 people from @wncathedral and the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, led by Dean Randy Hollerith, celebrate…

Posted by Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, June 10, 2017

 

2. Foundry United Methodist Church

The once historically rich traditional church with presidential attendees including John Quincy Adams, Lincoln, FDR, and Obama has hoisted the rainbow flag proudly accepting same-sex marriage. Foundry UMC has been affiliated with the homosexuality-affirming Reconciling Ministries Network since 1995. RMN is an unofficial caucus group that “mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.” In 2010, the congregation voted to allow same-sex marriage. Naturally, Foundry UMC took to the streets on Sunday adorned in rainbows.

3. Metropolitan Community Church (MCC)

MCC is the oldest LGBT community organization in D.C. Their reverend, Dwayne Johnson, said a Prayer of Blessing for those participating in the Capital Pride march. On their website, their logo is a rainbow heart that says, “MCCDC the place to be.” Also, the “Who We Are” tab provides educational material on homosexuality and the Bible. Reverend Dwayne rallied up his congregation cloaked in a rainbow stole.

4. Church of the Pilgrims

A Presbyterian church, Church of the Pilgrims, in Washington, D.C. is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. They consider themselves a “More Light” church which welcomes all persons. They proudly state, “Church of the Pilgrims is proud to join in the parade with local More Light churches and the best of the DC drag queens.” Oakland Presbyterian Church handed out communion outside of the Church of the Pilgrims dawned in rainbow beads and ribbon with colorful bread.

Posted by Church of the Pilgrims on Thursday, June 8, 2017

 

Posted by Oaklands Presbyterian Church USA on Saturday, June 10, 2017

 

5. St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church

One of the many Episcopal Churches that participated in the Pride Parade was St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. Similar to other churches attending the parade, the beliefs of St. Margaret’s are nothing short of ultra-liberal. The churches state on their about page, “We are also committed to the use of inclusive language and to the extent possible we refer to God in a gender neutral way.” The church received a twitter shout out from Capital Pride DC.

6. St. John’s Episcopal Church of Chevy Chase, Maryland

A quick Facebook search of St. John’s will not surprise anyone of their participation in the 2017 Pride Parade. Their cover photo states, “We Resist, We Build, We Rise,” a typical phrase used by various radical progressive groups.

Heart-felt thanks to everyone from St. John’s who turned out for the Pride Parade in DC, yesterday! The people were beautiful and we all had a great time!

Posted by St John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish, Chevy Chase-Bethesda on Sunday, June 11, 2017

 

7. St. John’s Episcopal Church-Lafayette Square

St. John’s Church’s weekly leaflet promoted the 2017 Capital Pride Parade. Although their mission statement does not explicitly have anything about LGBTQ+ activism, unlike other churches, St. John’s was not shy about promoting their progressive beliefs on social media.

It’s time to march with PRIDE!

Meet us in the GREEN staging area (22nd Street between Massachusetts and Florida avenues) no later than 3:45 p.m.

Don’t forget bottled water and sunscreen!

Posted by St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square on Thursday, June 8, 2017

Posted by St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square on Monday, June 12, 2017

 

8. Lutheran Church of the Reformation (D.C Lutheran Churches, ELCA)

The ELCA banner boasted their pride for the LGBTQ+ stating “Putting the ‘PROTEST’ back in Protestant.” Reformation’s homepage plasters their unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ social issues. Their Pastor, Mike Wilker, is a “board member of the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries that supports LGBTQ candidates for ministry and clergy.” One can visit the Reformation’s Facebook page that is has multiple posts of their participation in the parade.

Posted by Church of the Reformation on Saturday, June 10, 2017

 

9. Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Silver Spring, Maryland

This Episcopal Church considers itself a “progressive, multicultural Christian” church. One can find promotion for LGBTQ+ groups and Black Lives Matters on their welcome page. The church has a “commitment to outreach and social justice,” and obviously waving the rainbow flag is part of that commitment.

10. Community of Christ, D.C.

The last church to highlight is the Community of Christ, which did not flaunt their participation in the Pride Parade as others, but is a fighter for the LGBTQ+ community. They have a “Covenant of Welcome” with a rainbow background listing all progressive groups that are welcome into their community. Unfortunately, no pictures were posted of them marching in the parade, but one can see from their homepage they stand in solidarity with the Capital Pride Parade.

There were numerous other churches involved in the Capital Pride Parade in D.C. on June 10-11. These theologically liberal D.C. churches embraced the rainbow flag and are sure to continue proudly promoting LGBTQ+ issues within their congregations.

  1. Comment by J. L. H. on June 15, 2017 at 3:42 pm

    How can they tell God speaking from a deceiving spirit? They can’t. Even their own placards betray their ignorance of God’s word in preference for their own lights.

    “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” –1 Thessalonians 5:19‭-‬22

    God does indeed love us all and welcomes all to receive his generous gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, but he calls us to renounce our sin. They have quench the Spirit’s voice speaking plainly through the scriptures that homosexuality is a distortion of God’s creative telos for humanity.

    We will not be able to stand justified in our own eyes before the bar of heaven ascribing to God what he has called evil. This is a heartbreaking tragic scene.

  2. Comment by Greta on June 16, 2017 at 2:11 am

    I’m so sorry, Lord. This must absolutely grieve You.

  3. Comment by Didaskalos on June 16, 2017 at 7:55 am

    One thing these Bible-flouting churches have in common: they’re hemorrhaging members and dollars. Like the Amalekites and Moabites of ancient times, these Moribundites are working their pagan way toward extinction.

  4. Comment by Jeffrey Walton on June 16, 2017 at 9:39 am

    It varies church by church, but yes, with the exception of Foundry UMC and the Washington National Cathedral, these are mostly smaller congregations that participated in DC Pride. While many of these churches have buildings that were constructed for large congregations in an earlier era, they tend to skew older today, and have relatively few children. For example, Church of the Pilgrims (PCUSA) reports 109 active members, but only eight of those are under the age of 25, and zero baptisms were reported there in 2016. Average attendance is 75 persons. The church is also disproportionately white (95 out of 109 members), despite its placement in a diverse neighborhood. These numbers may not tell the whole story, but they strongly indicate that something is amiss. You can access the church report here: http://ogaapps.pcusa.org/directories/#/church?pin=&presbytery=150424&name=&city=&state=DC&zip=

  5. Comment by Didaskalos on June 18, 2017 at 6:53 am

    The ELCA Lutheran Church mentioned in the article has lost 20 percent of its members since 2009 (it now stands at 276) , the year the ELCA voted in its church-wide convention to accept homosexual pastors. The figures are a little suspect: for four years (’09-’13) the number stayed at 346; for the last three years (’14-’16) the number has remained at 276.

    The ELCA is the fastest-shrinking Protestant denomination. It lost 1.07 million members (22 percent) from ’05-’14. In that same decade, worship attendance declined by 29 percent.

  6. Comment by Jeffrey Walton on June 19, 2017 at 10:52 am

    Yes, the ECLA did experience an extraordinary loss following its 2009 vote at the Churchwide Assembly. At IRD, we occasionally are asked who has declined the most, and the answer varies depending on the criteria. For overall loss as a percentage, it’s the UCC (lost more than half of membership since 1957). For current rate of loss, it is the PCUSA (-5.7% each year for the past two years).

  7. Comment by Wayne on June 16, 2017 at 10:57 am

    All of these “Churches” mentioned are Apostate organizations, not Tru houses of worship.

  8. Comment by Larry Collins on June 16, 2017 at 5:38 pm

    When you stop preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ you have nothing left but social issues on which to expound.
    He’s are not churches, they are social action groups.
    Their false doctrines, misinterpretation of Scripture, and platitudes will lead people to hell.

  9. Comment by Dr. Jan Hamilton on June 16, 2017 at 6:21 pm

    St. Mark’s Episcopal was there! 3rd and A. SE, Washington, DC 20003

  10. Comment by Didaskalos on June 18, 2017 at 7:18 am

    One who would not be marching with the ELCA Lutheran church in the “pride parade”: Martin Luther.

    Luther wrote in his commentary on Genesis:
    “..the heinous conduct of the people of Sodom ” [is] “extraordinary, inasmuch as they departed from the natural passion and longing of the male for the female, which is implanted into nature by God, and desired what is altogether contrary to nature. Whence comes this perversity? Undoubtedly from Satan, who after people have once turned away from the fear of God, so powerfully suppresses nature that he blots out the natural desire and stirs up a desire that is contrary to nature.” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 3, 255)

  11. Comment by Craig on June 23, 2017 at 12:24 am

    Martin Luther did march in the pride this year. Look at the Augustana Lutheran Church DC Facebook page. Luthers views have changed in the 500 years

  12. Comment by Heidi Neumark on June 21, 2017 at 6:32 pm

    What a beautiful witness to God’s love and creative power!

  13. Comment by lyn on July 20, 2017 at 1:39 am

    Whatt a mockery of a thrice holy God and His truth, 1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 
    1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 

    Could it be any clearer? Repentance is a command, not a choice. You simply cannot live an immoral life and enter God’s kingdom. Most churches/denominations/organized religion in America are apostate. The fact that these churches embrace sin and make NO mention of the command to repent is evidence of who they serve….Satan.

    This is NOT a ‘witness to God’s love’. This is an atrocity and a slap in the face. The bible is clear, God will not let sin go unpunished – Proverbs 11:20
    The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.

    Most do not even know who the God of the bible is, His attributes are no longer expounded upon. Many form a ‘god’ of their own understanding, and that god looks just like them. This type of ‘god’ saves no one.
    There is a horrible famine in the land, a famine of sound biblical teaching and truth. God have mercy on America, and nation that is perishing.

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