Authentically Affirming

Authentically Affirming & Delightfully Decarling 

In this part of the Invitational Christianity Series we will consider what makes our invitation distinct from other traditions.  When we market our churches as inclusive and welcoming (specifically LGBTQ affirming) we do so because we theologically believe that all people are made in God's image.  In a time of misleading marketing we can stand out because we are sharing our message of authentic affirmation for all.  We will then conclude with a message of joy and hope and how to live into what it means to be an Invitational Christian.  We are called to delightfully declare the good news of the Gospel, which is good news for everyone!

About this Series

Who are you?  Who are we?  We tend to identify ourselves and our congregations by the denomination we belong to.  This doesn’t resonate with most people in need of  a nurturing faith community.  We will consider a more impactful way for Mainline Protestant and progressive Christian individuals and churches to extend an invitation to those who need to receive it.  Together we can overcome a marketing problem that is 200 years in the making.

This is part of a series on Invitational Christianity, a concept coined by Rev. Andrew Ponder Williams as a new way of marketing Mainline Protestant churches.

Part one of this series is free for all. Parts two and three will have a small entrance fee to support the production of the workshop.

About the Presenter

Rev. Andrew Ponder Williams

Rev. Andrew Ponder Williams hopes to inspire and engage all people through invitational and intergenerational congregational ministry.

He is the Pastor of North Community Church in Marshfield Hills, Massachusetts. Andrew has served congregations along the California Coast, in the Southwest, and in New England. 

Andrew has a passion for advocacy and has done so locally, on Capitol Hill, and at the United Nations. He has served on the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society and on the Board of Directors of the United Church of Christ. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Thrive Campus Ministry at MIT.  

Rev. Andrew completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Rockhurst University, Jesuit, a Graduate Certificate in Religion, Activism, and Social Justice from Claremont School of Theology, and a Master of Arts Degree in Religious and Public Leadership from Boston University School of Theology. He is currently continuing his studies at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry.

Andrew previously served as a Campus Minister at the University of California, Irvine and then at Arizona State University. He was ordained in the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ. Andrew and his husband Ashton live in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He is a vegetarian of 23 years and enjoys exercising and day trips.  

To learn more about Rev. Andrew please visit www.andrewponderwilliams.com