One week after the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California’s Board of Trustees adopted a Commitment to Diversity, the statement publicly debuted at a City Council meeting in Vacaville.

Church of the Epiphany’s new priest-in-charge, The Rev. John Heidel, included the diversity statement in remarks he made Aug. 8 supporting the city’s issuing a Pride Month proclamation and flying the Rainbow Flag.

“We believe that all people are created in God’s image, and that we are created to be in community with one another,” Rev. Heidel told the council, quoting directly from the statement. “Therefore, we know we are most fully the Church God desires us to be when we actively work to include all.”

Rev. Heidel and several members of Epiphany spoke or wrote to the council in response to an effort by self-identified conservative Christians to persuade the city to stop issuing Pride proclamations and flying the Rainbow Flag.

Vacaville became the focus of media attention in May when it’s new mayor initially declined the Solano Pride Center’s request for a proclamation, despite the city having issued one annually since at least 2019. An outcry from residents, plus Bay Area-wide media attention, prompted the mayor to reverse his decision. The Progressive Pride Flag was once again posted in June on a city flagpole in downtown Vacaville, where it had been flown for two previous Pride Months.

Starting in mid-June, a contingent of conservative Christians began appearing before the City Council to express their dismay at seeing the flag and asking either that the Christian Flag also be displayed or that nothing other than the U.S., State and City flags be flown. At each meeting, those speakers grew bolder and the rhetoric grew harsher. By the July meeting, it had devolved into outright slurs against the LGBTQIA+ community.

That’s when residents who support the Pride observance mobilized, encouraging other advocates, especially Christians, to speak up.

Despite being a Vacaville resident and Epiphany’s priest for only seven weeks, Rev. Heidel agreed to join them.

He said he did so for three reasons. “One is that it’s important to be in front advocating for social issues that The Episcopal Church has a stance on,” he said. “If not us, then who?”

The second is that he felt it was his duty as a “shepherd,” since some of Epiphany’s members are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. “People I care about who go to my church care about this,” he said. “It’s relevant to us.”

The third reason is that when he contacted the Bishop’s Office, “The diocese said they would give me a written statement to deliver – and they sent me the link to the diversity statement.”

The Bishop’s Office and the Board of Trustees had been working for several months to craft such a statement. The final version was adopted Aug. 1 and posted on the diocesan website later that week. (https://www.norcalepiscopal.org/diocesan-commitment-to-diversity/)

The Rev. Heidel acknowledges being nervous about speaking in front of the council, adding that was one focus of his prayers. Before getting out of his vehicle in the parking lot, he recognized that he needed “a little bit of courage, a little bit of prayer, and for the Lord to guide me.”

That combination appeared to work. He projected confidence when he read the Diocesan diversity statement and followed with his own words:

“Flying the pride flag is an act of solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community, signaling that the city stands shoulder to shoulder with all of our residents. This simple act fosters a sense of belonging and pride among those who have too often faced discrimination and prejudice. This encourages open dialogue about LGBTQ+ issues, breaking down barriers and building bridges of understanding. It promotes empathy and compassion, helping to dispel harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. Inclusivity and diversity are not threats to our community; they are strengths that enrich us all.”

No action was taken by the City Council that night, but the language used by Christians who oppose flying the Rainbow Flag was notably more respectful than it had been previously. The council has put the matter of flag and proclamation policies on its agenda for this fall.

View the video of the Aug. 8 Vacaville City Council meeting here: https://vacaville.granicus.com/player/clip/1902?view_id=5&redirect=true&h=51a8ce30896d8e04e81f37673bfb5a95