This letter is in response to a comment made on a local webpage about the First Global Methodist Church of Iron Mountain, formerly the Iron Mountain First United Methodist Church, being ignorant and bigoted concerning the gay community.

First, members and attendees at the former First United Methodist Church took years of prayer, discernment and research prior to making a decision to either stay with the United Methodist Church (UMC) or to go to the Global Methodist Church (GMC).

Second, many members and attendees of First Global Methodist Church of Iron Mountain (FGMC) have friends and family who are part of the LGBTQ community.

Third, there are many reasons why FGMC decided to leave the UMC.

Some in the UMC do not believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God. Others in the UMC believe there are many ways to heaven other than the one true way: Jesus Christ. Many in the UMC support “unrestricted” abortion.

Finally, like Jesus, we believe in loving the person not the sin, whatever that sin might be. We are all flawed by sin and we all struggle to do better each day.

All are welcome to worship together.