Social Justice - Fairview Community Church

At Fairview Community Church we seek to live out the Christian call by truly seeking justice for all. We heed the words of the prophets like Isaiah and Micah who called us to loosen the bonds of injustice, to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, while humbly walking with God, loving all, and seeking justice. This call manifests itself in a variety of different ways for us. Because we see all of the world as our global community, we realize that we have to both respond locally in our community of Costa Mesa and the larger Orange County, but also to worldwide injustice. So, whether it is standing in opposition to the hatred abroad or at home, or standing alongside the poor and oppressed in our own city, we at Fairview Community Church together seek solutions to bring God’s kingdom here on earth.

AWAB Statement of Solidarity with the Trans and Non-Binary Community

Below is a quoted statement by the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB) responding to recent Supreme Court case and legislation targeting gender affirming care issued in December 2024.

The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB) stands with our trans and nonbinary siblings as well as their families during this time of heightened alarm and fear over court cases and pieces of legislation being passed in Congress as well as state houses around the country. On December 4, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case, United States v. Skrmetti. This case is about whether minors in Tennessee can access transgender medical procedures. While a decision is not expected until summer, conservative justices appear to be siding with Tennessee’s attorney general, which will make gender-affirming care for children and youth more complicated nationwide. The ripple effect of this decision will affect all trans and nonbinary individuals.

Relatedly, the U.S. Congress has passed a version of the National Defense Authorization Act banning coverage for gender-affirming care for transgender youth whose parents are active-duty military personnel. This is the first new anti-LGBTQ+ provision enacted by Congress since the passage of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” in the 1990s.

In response, AWAB seeks to offer pastoral care and support to those feeling the impact of these alarming developments.

“My child exists,” says Adam Gray, who is father to an 11-year-old nonbinary child and Lead Pastor at Riverside Church at Park and King in Jacksonville, Florida. “They exist in a way that has challenged stereotypes, expanded possibilities, and brought considerable joy into the lives of their family and friends. Just because someone can’t understand the beauty of the way my child relates to the world should not give them license to discriminate against them either in public accommodations or medical care. My child is only a threat to those who seek to maintain power and control through rigid gender binaries and the discrimination which has always been the handmaiden of patriarchy. It is a hard time for those in the trans community, but pretending that people don’t exist has never been a viable strategy long term. Trans and nonbinary people have always been with us, and it’s my privilege to help raise a delightful child of that next generation.”

These are scary and fear-filled times for our trans and nonbinary siblings and their families. The Rev. Dr. Donnie Anderson, AWAB board member, invites all of us to express our support for our trans and nonbinary siblings and their families by: (1) learning what adolescent gender affirming care really is and what it is not; (2) being aware of what is happening in your local municipality politically as well as with your local school board and consider running for local office; and (3) as people of faith, be very aggressive about letting people know your congregation is a safe space for all people, including trans and nonbinary children, youth, and adults.

Another AWAB related pastor from a southern state and parent of a transgender child has shared, “Currently, in our state, we are unable to access necessary healthcare to treat for our child’s gender dysphoria. This means that we must travel out of state for medical appointments which creates an extreme financial burden upon us, not to mention the logistical issues of taking off from work and taking a child out of school. Because of so many state bans on treatment, doctors in accessible states are underwater. Finding an appointment takes months, if not years, for people. More and more doctors are unable to accept out-of-state patients. We are trying to navigate the system of care, but it has been very stressful.”

Further, in reflecting on fears being generated during this time, this same pastor commented, “We are afraid of so much right now. We are afraid that transgender healthcare for children will disappear in our country, that we will need to make the hard decision to move out of the country for the well-being of our child. We are afraid that the anti-trans legislation will continue to fuel anti-trans rhetoric which will lead to more violence against transgender people. And mostly we are afraid for our kid, who more than anything, wants to be comfortable in their body and be safe.”

AWAB Executive Director, Brian Henderson, offers, “In this season when Christians worldwide retell the story of Emmanuel, God with us, it is important to remember how our expressions of love to one another embody the nearness of God. Therefore, together, may we stand with each other, so God’s love is known through our actions, to hold us and help us through all that is to be.”