Almost 20 years before gay marriage became legal in the United States, Centenary-Chenango Street United Methodist Church publicly welcomed LGBTQ members into their congregation. On Sunday, the church celebrated 25 years of accepting all persons no matter race, ethnicity, age, gender, financial status, sexual orientation, or disabling condition. 

Former Pastor Gary Doupe brought the idea to the church in 1994 after Michelle Bartholomew and her wife were searching for an accepting church.

"We had a daughter, we were raised with faith and we wanted to bring her up in that kind of community, but we wanted a welcoming community," said Bartholomew. "So that's how we ended up here."

After many meetings and conversations, the church decided to publicly announce its decision to welcome full participation and inclusion of the LGBTQ community. 

"It needs to be out there because people don't know about it if you don't publicly state it," said Bartholomew.

"Everybody here is not only welcome as a formal sense but welcome as a person, we welcome who you are and you don't have to be someone else in order to be welcome," said Doupe.

The church is hoping that this idea becomes widely accepted within the United Methodist Church.