Willow Avenue Church joins Mennonite Church USA after being suspended by the U.S. Mennonite Brethren Conference

Willow Avenue, a California congregation expelled by its U.S. Mennonite Brethren conference for affirming and welcoming LGBTQ people, has joined Mennonite Church USA.

According to Anabaptist World, it is believed to be the first USMB congregation to make that change in affiliation. 

The church was welcomed by MC USA’s Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference on Nov. 29. 

The MB Pacific District Conference suspended Willow Avenue in 2021 for considering a proposal to affirm and welcome LGBTQ people. The church adopted the proposal in 2022. 

Read more about Willow Avenue’s decision to leave USMB. 

Read the full story in Anabaptist World about Willow Avenue joining MC USA.

American Mennonite Brethren church leaving U.S. MB conference over LGBTQ+ welcome and inclusion

For Willow Avenue Mennonite Church, a Mennonite Brethren congregation in Fresno, Calif., the path to becoming an LGBTQ-affirming congregation began decades ago — and is now leading them out of the U.S. Mennonite Brethren conference. 

Read my article about it on the Anabaptist World website.