My experience at UCC Simi started well over a decade ago now, when it was the "house on the hill" and we had 2 co-pastors one gay and one straight. Having grown up Catholic, it was a far cry from what I was used to as far as setting and style were concerned, and it took me back at first. We kept coming back, however, because the warmth and genuine compassion that we felt from the moment we arrived were something other worldly compared to the more austere vibe of Catholicism. It was not a fluke either. We returned again and again drawn by the messages we heard, but more importantly in the way we experienced God in the people around us. There was genuine interest and concern in us as people and we were invited into church activities right away. The church has changed and evolved over the years not only to a more traditional church building on the street, but also in living out our progressive beliefs via the sanctuary movement and other justice issues such as the Prop 8 campaign. Being an open and affirming congregation is important to me and my family and I look forward to Sundays when I can spend time with people who challenge me to be a better person and love me for the imperfect being that I am. I also want to raise our child in an environment where he may know acceptance and feel comfortable questioning while experience a loving God. I am a lifelong learner and appreciate what others have to teach me. I like knowing that questioning is a blessing rather than a threat and that seeking justice and equality in the world are not just words, but action items to be taken seriously. I love the way our older generations engage the younger generations and intermingle with respect and appreciation. If you are someone who agrees that God has yet more light to reveal and believe the Bible is to be taken seriously, but not literally, you might want to come check us out.