LGBTQ+ Policy and Legislation: You Can Make a Difference | Church of the Incarnation

by Deacon Paul Mallatt

In 2023, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has tracked over 400 anti- LGBTQ+ bills in state legislatures nationwide. Friends, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC.org) and Equality California (eqca.org) are excellent resources to keep abreast of issues related to maintaining the hard-earned progress of the LGBTQ+ community.

Also, the Episcopal Church has an Office of Government Relations (OGR). The OGR aims to influence policy and legislation on critical issues. All policy positions are based on General Convention and Executive Council resolutions the legislative and governing bodies of the Church. The OGR tackles issues such as human rights, immigration and refugees, poverty, and racial reconciliation, to name a few. The OGR has made it very easy to receive action alerts right to your email box by filling out a one-time online form, and then you'll be notified of upcoming Action Alerts. See the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations website he Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations web page.

The Diocese of Northern California has a Commission for Intercultural Ministries, part of which focuses on issues of concern to our LGBTQIA and Transgender brothers and sisters. See our diocesan Rainbow Ministry web page.

Tags: News & Notes

People decide to visit a church for lots of different reasons, often because they're at some sort of transition point in their lives. Maybe you're a longtime Episcopalian; maybe you have experience in another faith tradition; or maybe you've never been to a faith community at all.

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you enrich us with your presence, and there's a place for you here.

Learn more about visiting Incarnation.

Incarnation is located at 550 Mendocino Avenue in downtown Santa Rosa, just south of the corner with Cherry Street.

Our church parking lot is located around the corner at 636 Cherry Street. The lot often fills up for our Sunday morning services. Additional free church parking is available in the small gravel lot at the corner of Mendocino and Cherry, or in the city garage at 521 7th Street (free on Sundays), which is a two-minute walk from the church. Finally, street parking is also free on Sundays.

We're also located close to several bus lines, and we have a bike rack in the central courtyard.

Children aren't just the church's future—they're an essential part of our faith community right now. At Incarnation we strive to serve our kids' growing faith, and we know they have much to teach adults, too. Children are always welcome in worship: any age, any time.

Learn more about our children's ministries.

Episcopal worship follows an ancient pattern that dates to the earliest days of the Christian church. The first half of the Eucharist is the Liturgy of the Word the second half is the Liturgy of the Table, also called Holy Communion. If you've spent time in Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, or Eastern Orthodox churches, much of our liturgy will seem familiar. If you're unfamiliar with liturgical Christian worship, don't worry. You're welcome to participate as fully as is right for you, or to just relax into the liturgy and let the rest of the congregation carry you in worship.

Click here for online worship, or to learn more about Episcopal worship.

To stay connected with everything that's going on, please subscribe to our e-newsletter, News and Notes.

Often someone who's been visiting for a while will ask us how to become a member of Incarnation. Learn more about becoming a member.

To support our work sharing God's love here in Sonoma County, you can make a donation online.

Giving is one of the most powerful spiritual practices in existence. It's a statement of gratitude and trust in God.

At Incarnation we encourage all our members and friends to prayerfully choose a percentage of their income to give toward causes that serve God's mission. We ask that part of that intentional giving be a pledge of financial support to the parish, both so our leadership can plan ahead in making a budget, and as a tangible commitment to what God is doing here at Incarnation. For more on the practice of proportional giving, see this FAQ.

You can make a donation to Incarnation online, toward your pledge or as a special offering, by clicking below.