Open and affirming / more light statement

How our Ministry and Mission have directed us to becoming an Open and Affirming / More Light Congregation

WHEREAS, we believe that all persons are created in the image of God and that Jesus Christ died and rose again for all persons; WHEREAS, we believe that the world should be a place of love, compassion, and respect, free from fear, discrimination, and prejudice; WHEREAS, as children of God we hereby reaffirm our commitment to follow God’s will as given to us in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and foremost among these teachings is Christ’s commandment to love one another; WHEREAS, we are called by Jesus Christ to declare our faith aloud and not hide our faith from the world; WHEREAS, becoming an Open and Affirming/More Light congregation is a witness to the wider church, proclaiming loudly and clearly exactly where Collenbrook United Church stands; WHEREAS, we seek to heal the wounds inflicted on individuals and groups by the church and our society; WHEREAS, since we want lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons to continue to participate in the UCC and PCUSA, we need to make a meaningful gesture of support; WHEREAS, becoming an Open and Affirming/More Light congregation will enable lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members to share their spiritual gifts even more freely, fully, and openly; WHEREAS, not adopting an official policy with regard to sexual orientation and ordination puts an unnecessary burden on non-heterosexual people who feel called to serve the church; WHEREAS, the tone and content of certain policies and groups in both the PCUSA and UCC that direct fear and discrimination toward non-heterosexual persons demand an intentional, precise, and public response from our congregation; WHEREAS, exclusion of anyone from the fellowship of the church wounds the body of Christ; WHEREAS, Collenbrook United Church desires to follow Christ more fully, receiving and reaching out to all people whom God may lead to us regardless of race, color, ethnicity, age, gender, marital status, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientation, economic or cultural background, or any other socially limiting barrier; The congregation of Collenbrook United Church on January 28, 2001, adopted the following Open and Affirming/More Light Mission Statement: We, the people of Collenbrook United Church, humbly, prayerfully, and faithfully declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming/More Light congregation. This means that we covenant to be open to all people. Furthermore, the members of Collenbrook United Church declare that we Welcome into the family and life of our church all people whom God leads to us; Accept all people who are seeking a relationship with God and with our family of Christ; Include all persons in our worship, fellowship, learning, service, pastoral care, and leadership who make the same affirmation of faith that all our members make; Affirm all persons with their unique and valuable gifts given to them by God; and Celebrate the diversity of all people created in the image of God and for whom Christ suffered, died, and rose again. Therefore, we seek to include and demonstrate Christian love to everyone regardless of race, color, ethnicity, age, gender, marital status, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientation, economic or cultural background, or any other socially limiting barrier. We also covenant to support and work toward a time when discrimination of all kinds is eliminated from our churches and our communities. We welcome you!