On May 8 the congregation of The United Church of Christ (UCC) at North Gorham voted unanimously by secret ballot to become officially an “Open and Affirming” church, joining more than 1,500 UCC churches in welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) members.
According to David Farrington, pastor of the church, “As part of this process, each church writes an original covenant that makes a public commitment to welcome and celebrate all people as they are, including and especially those in the LGBTQ+ community who are typically excluded from churches.” By adopting this covenant, “North Gorham has now joined First Parish as the only two congregations in Gorham to have made this commitment,” he said.
Photo credit: Kathy CorbettEarly in the 19th century a small community in the northeast corner of Gorham began holding worship services in homes. In 1895 The North Gorham Sunday School Association became the North Gorham Chapel in a former school building near the Presumpscot River that separates Gorham and Windham. They belonged to the Presumpscot Union Parish until 1955 when members voted to become the Congregational Church of North Gorham. In 1962 they moved to the former Levi Hall School building at the corner of North Gorham Road and Standish Neck Road. The present church name comes from national mergers that created the United Church of Christ.
Although the name and location of the church has changed over the past two hundred years, it has always been at the center of the community. Since 1975 the North Gorham firehouse and the public library have shared a building next door. Currently the church has about 100 members and friends and is well known in the area for public bean suppers held during the summer months.
“When a group of us began the process to officially become open and affirming,” said Barry Atwood, “the most common comment from other members was that they thought we already were opening and affirming. But now it’s official that we are welcoming to all, no exceptions.”