This weekend marks the tenth anniversary of the so-called Phoenix Declaration.
Back in 2002, Christian ministers across the Valley came together to declare their support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Sunday morning, a special service in Tempe was held to renew that support.
Cynthia Mruczek and her partner Valeska French were among those who attended the service at the Community Christian Disciples of Christ Church .
"It's very lovely to be in a church community that welcomes our family," said Mruczek.
But Mruczek knows that not every church in the Valley would embrace her family like they do at Community Christian Disciples of Christ Church.
So to celebrate that diversity, the congregation took their message of tolerance to the streets.
"We're a family," said Mruczek. "We provide a supportive, loving family for (daughter Violet) who is going to grow up and be an important part of the world."
After starting the service at Community Christian, parishioners marched to neighboring St. Augustine's Episcopal Church .
Organizers wanted to show solidarity in affirming the rights of gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual members.
"Our understanding on the life of Jesus and the calling of God is to be inclusive and affirming of everyone," said Susan Ringler, Pastor of the Guardian Angles Catholic Community , a third church involved in the service. "That's not just about tolerance but celebrating our differences, our diversity."
Church members wanted to send a message of the importance of marriage equality especially in this, an election year.
"I love it," said Bob Monahan. "I wouldn't be attending a church that wouldn't do that."
Mruczek agrees.
It's exactly the reason you'll find her right back in the same place next Sunday as well.
wdgnas posted at 6:53 am on Mon, Sep 10, 2012.
until the real christians, the evangelicals accept the lgbt community, this does not mean a thing.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:34 am on Mon, Sep 10, 2012.
Could we have some "journalistic balance" here (I know the reporter is from a Local TV Channel but give us a break !!!).
The "GUARDIAN ANGELS (not angles, hey, I'm the geezer...I have an excuse for my misspellings....lol) CATHOLIC COMMUNITY.......is in no where affilitated or condoned by the Catholic Church of Rome.
Anyone can wear a "collar", a black suit and vestments. There is an old Spanish saying about "dressing up"......"A MONKEY IN SILK IS STILL A MONKEY".
Engaged Voter posted at 12:17 pm on Mon, Sep 10, 2012.
wdgnas - What exactly is a "real" Christian?
(before you answer, Google "No True Scotsman fallacy)
Leon - So the largest organized group of child molesters in the world doesn't condone the Guardian Angels...so what? No religious group is more or less "valid" than any other. This includes the Church of the FSM(Flying Spaghetti Monster), which is JUST AS VALID as your cult. The truth hurts, deal with it.
Oh and Leon, a typographical error is not the same as a misspelling. Please learn the difference before frothing at the mouth again.
A pedophile in a collar and dress is still a pedophile.
(See? I didn't even have to SCREAM to get my point across!)
AZJenjen posted at 3:01 pm on Mon, Sep 10, 2012.
Give me a break, "Engaged". EVERYONE - including the Department of Education, by way of their 2010 report, knows that the public school system is AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN the largest organized group of child molesters in the world.
TexAZ posted at 4:06 pm on Mon, Sep 10, 2012.
Anything that "everyone knows" is more than likely wrong.
Engaged Voter posted at 5:00 pm on Mon, Sep 10, 2012.
Wow, AZJenjen...you are claiming that the American Public School System has had, since 1821 (that's when the first public school opened in Boston), more child molesters than the entire 1800 year reign of the Catholic Church?
That is quite the claim!
You know what would be even more spectacular than your claim?
Evidence to support it. ;)
wdgnas posted at 6:36 am on Tue, Sep 11, 2012.
engaged voter: a real christian=today's evangelical. you know the ones who quote the old testament ad nauseum, (leviticus in particular) dealing with homosexuality, selling your children into slavery (a common practice at the time), take your pick. all the while forgetting the teachings in the beatitudes.