Open & Affirming
We welcome gay, lesbian and bisexual people into the full life and ministry of the church, including ordination, expecting and encouraging them to share their talents and gifts in the life, liturgy, leadership and employment positions of our congregation, as our ministers, teachers, members, visitors and friends; and
We welcome all persons, reaffirm the traditional family and further recognize and support all families – singles, nuclear, extended, blended, step, same sex and bisexual – as they strive to function within principles of love and justice, endeavoring to relate to one another in faithful and committed relationships, and
We agree to celebrate, support and honor commitment ceremonies of homosexual people, recognizing the difficulty of maintaining such partnerships in the absence of the social validations, role models and legal frameworks that support heterosexual marriages; and
We condemn all acts of discrimination and violence (physical, emotional, social, political and legal) against persons because of their sexual orientation, just as we condemn those acts against people because of race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, economic status or physical/mental disabilities or limitations; and
We further commit ourselves to continued dialogue on matters of human sexuality, including issues affecting gay, lesbian and bisexual people, so that both those who disagree and agree with this statement can support each person’s faith journey as we live, grow, learn, and change, according to our understating of God’s call to us; and
We are held together in the bonds of our oneness with Jesus Christ, we call upon our members to accept one another in the face of our differences of conviction, respect one another as sisters and brothers in Christ, and work together to build up the life of the community.
- Adopted by the congregation on March 3, 1996