The Bishop and Cabinet of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference recently shared a letter to Queer Clergy in the NIC after the outcome of the February Special Session to the General Conference in St. Louis.

"We are thankful for you who are queer clergy and who have remained faithful to the UMC even though the UMC doesn’t affirm your personhood," wrote the Bishop and Cabinet. "We see you in your pain and it deeply grieves us. All of us are shocked, grieved, angry, and pained at what the church has done but we know it affects you to the core of your being in ways that we cannot fully comprehend. But know that we see you."

"As the Bishop and Cabinet, we hold deeply the values of diversity, graciousness, compassion, and justice. We imagine a church that welcomes all and works to that end. Because that’s who we are, we will not use our power to perpetuate harm but to do all the good that we can through our roles and positions." Read the full letter here.