Open and Affirming

Read more about United Church of Christ Open and Affirming (ONA) Program.

In partnership with other UCC churches, we declare ourselves to be an "Open and Affirming Church." We welcome and accept all people regardless of race, sex, nationality, physical ability, marital status, mental ability, economic status, or sexual orientation.

Setting aside the biases we may all harbor, we consider the wisdom of the New Testament. We, as Jesus' followers, are challenged to understand just what it means to be God's people.

Like the early followers, we, too, are confronted with issues. Peter's experience at the Gentile Cornelius' house, when the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48), demonstrates that we are part of an inclusive community that accepts everyone. The First Letter of John tells us that we are to love all God's children and know that our family is larger than our blood relatives. All God's children are our sisters and brothers.

The choice of who belongs to God's household is not our choosing. Jesus said, in John 15:16, "You did not choose me but I chose you." If Christ does the choosing, then we are included as well as those whose presence may disturb us.

Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12). We know Jesus welcomed and included those whom others rejected. This kind of love is commanded. It is not a feeling, but rather an attitude that can be cultivated and acted upon. We welcome all people into our church.