First Christian Church of Burbank is an “open and affirming” congregation nestled in the heart of California. No ELCA or PCUSA; they are part of the Disciples of Christ. This mainline protestant denomination is in full communion with the unregenerate rapscallions in the United Church of Christ. The DOC has been bleeding members over the last decade, losing nearly half their congregants, the majority of whom died of old age, and now have a little over 110k on a weekly basis.
As a denomination, they have adopted the 19th-century slogan of the Stone-Campbell Movement: “In essentials, Unity; In non-essentials, Liberty; and in all things, Charity” and have taken it very, very literally.
Because they promote unity above doctrine, and they allow a wide range of freedom to interpret the scriptures- being anti-creed and anti-confession- the fact that they are openly pro-LGBTQ and pro-abortion is the least of their problems.
Many within the denomination question or outright deny primary doctrines, such as the virgin birth of Christ, a belief in the Trinity, Jesus performing miracles, the scriptures being inspired and without error, and even the atonement of Christ-all with the blessing of their General assembly and denominational heads.
Led by ‘impastor Brandon Johnson, the church celebrated Pride Sunday by inviting a congregant on stage to ‘lead us in a time of reflection’ and sing a solo, which ended up being Gloria Gaynor’s 1984 hit ‘I Am What I Am.’ He soon begins stripping down into a garish LGBTQ explosion of an outfit, replete with arm streamers, all the while singing lyrics like:
“I am what I am
And what I am needs no excuses
I deal my own deck
Sometimes the ace sometimes the deuces
It’s my life that I want to have a little pride in
My life and it’s not a place I have to hide in
Life’s not worth a danm til you can shout out
I am what I am
