First Birmingham began to wrestle with inclusion of all persons in 1990s. We held classes and congregation-wide discussions. it culminated seven years ago when we adopted our “handle” as Everybody’s Church and our new inclusion statement: As Everybody’s Church we strive to be a faithful, open and inclusive community. We welcome the full participation of all people of any ability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other life circumstance. This led to us opening both our session and deacons board to all persons and ordaining our first LGBTQ elders and deacons, and to performing same-sex weddings and baptizing children of LGBTQ couples. Full inclusion is part of our DNA and accepted as a part of our identity.