SWC Churches: Open and Affirming Statements
| Casas Adobes Congregational Church, Tucson Casas Adobe Congregational Church Mission Statement Our mission is to provide opportunities to experience God’s presence and in humble and caring ways to use all of our resources to welcome, love, challenge, and equip each other for Christ’s ministry in our community and in the world... We recognize each person is a beloved child of God. We seek to make our lives an expression of the Word of God as exemplified in Jesus Christ. We welcome and celebrate all who seek the experience of God’s unconditional love. We extend this welcome to all regardless of, but not limited to: ability, age, cultural background, economic status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious heritage, or sexual orientation. As an open and affirming congregation, we strive...
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| Church of the Beatitudes, Phoenix Open and Affirming Statement: We acknowledge that throughout history the Christian church has often condemned and excluded people because of race, culture, age, gender, economic status, disability or sexual orientation. While the church has made progress in being open and affirming to many groups, there continues to be condemnation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons form the community of faith, or, at least, a tolerance of such condemnation and exclusion through silence. We believe such actions are inconsistent with Christ’s teachings. Church of the Beatitudes is a community of faith-keeping and faith-seeking people who affirm that every person has worth as a unique creation made in the image of God. We recognize, celebrate and give thanks for the many diverse gifts of God among us. We declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming into the full life and ministry of the church persons of every race, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and economic status. We commit to model a community of faith and spirit that works toward openness and understanding, offering justice, healing and wholeness of life for all people. We believe that through our diversity, all can grow and practice a unity of faith that transcends our differences. Back to list of ONA churches |
| Church of the Painted Hills, Tucson Open and Affirming Statement: We proclaim ourselves to be an open and affirming congregation, accepting all people who affirm their faith in Jesus Christ, and who take Christ as a guide for their living. We acknowledge the image of God in every person. We rejoice in the sacredness of Life and we proclaim and celebrate God's wondrous love for all persons. We seek to follow the principles of love and justice in all of our relationships. We believe that, although we are many members, we are one body in Christ. As such, we are called to love one another, to do justice, to bring release to the oppressed and to walk humbly with our God. Our goal of ministry is to heal the brokenness that we experience in ourselves and in our relationships with God and with each other. We recognize that within the Church each of us can be transformed as we learn obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ. We believe that the spirit of Jesus' message and life is an affirmation and vision of the unity of all creation, expressed in His prayer, "That they all may be one." Neither approving nor disapproving, we declare that we the Congregation of the Church of the Painted Hills welcome all persons regardless of marital status, cultural heritage, ethnicity, theological viewpoint or economic status as well as gay, lesbian and bisexual people into the full faith and fellowship of this church. Back to list of ONA churches |
| Church of the Red Rocks, Sedona Open and Affirming Statement: Still Speaking God, we, the community of The Church of the Red Rocks, seek to be a body of Christians who celebrate and live in openness to your voice. Therefore, we covenant with you and one another as we seek to live Christ’s compassion, promote justice, healing and wholeness of life. As Children of God, we celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of each expression of God’s diverse family as well as our oneness in Christ, and believe that attitudes and acts of injustice, discrimination and violence work against the gospel of Jesus Christ. As such, we welcome into our community persons of every gender, age, race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and physical ability, economic and social status, political background, faith background, marital standing and family structure. We invite all to share fully in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our congregation as we seek to grow together in faith and love. Back to list of ONA churches |
| Desert Heritage UCC, Mesa Open and Affirming Statement: We, the members and friends of Desert Heritage Church, declare that we are a Peace and Justice Church. We will endeavor to carry out the Biblical mandate to work towards Peace and Justice in our church, our community and our world. Isaiah has written: “Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Is. 1:17 Again, the Prophets write: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.” Is. 2:4; Joel 3:10; Micah 4:3. Micah writes: “What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.” Micah 6:8. Jesus has stated: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Matt. 5:9. And Jesus has been called “The Prince of Peace” Is. 9:6. Peace and justice go together. To have peace there must be justice for all peoples. No one will be denied into the full life, leadership and ministry of the church due to color of skin, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, language or status. Back to list of ONA churches |
| Desert Palm UCC, Tempe, AZ Open and Affirming Statement: As part of the Christian community of faith, Desert Palm United Church of Christ has been strengthened by its struggles to act within the spirit of our faith against the prejudices and injustices which occur in society today. We have extended our spiritual horizons, opened our doors to welcome all who seek a church home, and put the Good News message we preach into practice. The members of Desert Palm Church with the help of God, covenant to live as an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, welcoming people of any sexual orientation into the full life, membership, leadership and employment of this church. Desert Palm Church covenants to live as a multi-cultural, multi-racial, intergenerational community; we seek to break down the barriers of separation between communities based on race, sex, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic class, culture, language, and other physical or social differences, and to celebrate our diversity while affirming our unity in Jesus Christ. We further recommend the Church Council establish a task force to work with the congregation and its boards and committees to incorporate this covenant statement into the life and ministry of this church. Back to list of ONA churches |
| Encanto Community Church, Phoenix Open and Affirming Statement: We, the Congregation of Encanto Community Church, Phoenix, declare ourselves to be Open and Affirming. With God's grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, as well as racial, ethnic, or social-economic background. We welcome all to share fully in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and blessings of participation in our congregation. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here. Back to list of ONA churches |
| First Congregational Church, Flagstaff Open and Affirming Statement: We, the Congregation of First Congregational Church of Flagstaff, declare ourselves to be Open and Affirming. With God's grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, as well as racial, ethnic, or social-economic background. We welcome all to share fully in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and blessings of participation in our congregation. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here. Back to list of ONA churches |
| First Congregational UCC, Phoenix Open and Affirming Statement: Because we believe all people are beloved children of God, we welcome them into the full life, ministry, fellowship and leadership of this congregation. We do this without regard to age, race, ethnicity or national origin; physical, mental, emotional ability or disability; gender, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation; socio-economic background or circumstance, or political affiliation. We, the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Phoenix, Arizona, declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation. We offer ourselves as an inclusive community in which the Gospel of God’s love for all people is honored and practiced. We affirm this church as a place of hope and a community of welcome to all in Christ’s name. Our Prayer is that the variety of the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to those present and those God is yet to call into our midst will make us ever more useful servants of God to our brothers and sisters within our church, our many kinds of families, our neighborhoods and our world. Back to list of ONA churches |
| First Congregational UCC, Tempe Open and Affirming Statement: WHEREAS Jesus Christ teaches us to love one another (John 15:7), and; WHEREAS the Apostle Paul teaches us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:14), and; WHEREAS the members of the First Congregational Church of Tempe, AZ United Church of Christ, Inc. covenant and struggle to be a Body of Christ “in which there is no dissension, but where members may have the same care for one another, so that if one member suffers, all suffer together with it, and if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26-27), therefore; BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the First Congregational Church of Tempe, AZ United Church of Christ, Inc., in all aspects of its administrative, program and worship life, declare the First Congregational Church of Tempe, AZ United Church of Christ, Inc. to be Open and Affirming (ONA) of all persons. We covenant with God and one another to extend welcome and Christian fellowship to all followers and seekers of Christ without fear, prejudice, or discrimination in regard to sexual orientation (including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender), gender identity, race, age, ethnicity, nationality, physical, mental or emotional condition, education, financial situation, biblical or theological interpretation, or any other circumstance that has historically been a barrier to full life, participation, membership, mission, work and ministry in the First Congregational Church of Tempe, AZ United Church of Christ, Inc.. We embrace all persons as equal partners in the Body of Christ with unlimited access to opportunity of service to God, and; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we of the First Congregational Church of Tempe, AZ United Church of Christ, Inc. will continue a committed, prayerful, and respectful dialogue with one another as we seek God’s guidance for greater biblical and theological understanding of important issues, including those relating to human sexuality, and; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the First Congregational Church of Tempe, AZ United Church of Christ, Inc. reaches this decision because we “affirm the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God.” (from Paragraph 2, Preamble, UCC Constitution.) Implementation: Implemented by legal passage of the Congregational Church of Tempe, AZ United Church of Christ, Inc., at the February 28, 2010, Annual Meeting and is immediately implemented and was immediately made a part of our by-laws. Back to list of ONA churches |
| Good Shepherd UCC, Sahuarita Open and Affirming Statement: We at The Good Shepherd United Church of Christ seek to welcome all God’s people into our fellowship, to minister to one another’s needs and provide opportunities for every person’s full participation in the life and mission of this congregation. As an Open and Affirming congregation, we recognize the diversity of human nature to be part of God's creation and are committed to being inclusive of all persons regardless of age, race, gender, cultural or faith background, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity, mental or physical ability, marital status, economic circumstances, or political affiliation, and affirm all families and relationships founded on love, respect, responsibility and trust. As a United Church of Christ congregation ministering in this southern Arizona borderland, where cultural, racial, and religious diversity converge, we also affirm that part of our mission is to work for a just and loving world, giving recognition to all human needs in this unique time and place. We, as a people who seek to follow Jesus example of “Extravagant Welcome,” invite all, no matter where they are on their faith journeys, into the full life and ministry of this congregation. |
| Rincon Congregational Church, Tucson Open and Affirming Statement: We declare ourselves to be an open and affirming church accepting and valuing people regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity and physical/mental ability. Back to list of ONA churches |
Scottsdale Congregational UCC, Scottsdale
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Shadow Rock UCC, Phoenix
Whereas, the United Church of Christ Open and Affirming text, as enriched and supported by local churches, publicly declares a welcome and loving acceptance to people of all sexual orientations into the full life and ministry of the church including equal access to its sacraments and rites, pastoral care, worship, leadership and employment; we, Therefore, Shadow Rock Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in faith, and by the grace of God, publicly declare the same loving and welcoming acceptance into our community of faith, the diversity of all people of every age, economic condition, gender, marital status, opinion, physical and mental ability, race, religious background and sexual orientation. |
| Shepherd of the Hills UCC, Phoenix Open and Affirming Statement: The mission of Shepherd of the Hills, United Church of Christ, is to inspire love for God and neighbor. We reach out to all people with meaningful worship, Christian education, and opportunities for service. We are an open and inviting church with a concern for community-wide social justice. Our members are active stewards, investing themselves and their resources in the Church’s mission. We welcome new members, involving them in our Church life as we share the Gospel and our faith. We seek to know God’s presence in our lives through humility, openness, and devotion. The congregation has affirmed that in our Mission Statement, where it says, 'all people', we mean everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, socio-economic status, and physical, mental, emotional ability or disability and thus declare ourselves to be an 'open and affirming congregation.' Back to list of ONA churches |
| Yuma UCC, Yuma Open and Affirming Statement (ONA) We the members of the Yuma United Church of Christ, acknowledging the Gospel message of God’s extravagant welcome to all humankind, covenant to be a congregation open and accessible to all people who suffer intolerance in the wider world. In particular we aim to be especially welcoming to those of us who identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, or transgender into the full life, membership, leadership and employment of this church. We commit to doing all possible to achieving this goal. Objectives for achieving the goal: We commit to on-going efforts to educate ourselves about issues of importance to those who so identify, to try to discern specific ways that our faith community can change the way we do things, or try new ways, to make GLBT persons feel truly safe and welcome in this congregation, and to seek effective ways in which we can struggle to end the oppression of these persons in the wider society. We commit to increase our use of inclusive language in hymns and liturgy. We commit to listen to God’s leading; we commit to listen to the voices of those who identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, or transgender. Back to list of ONA churches |
| Church of the Good Shepherd, Albuquerque Open and Affirming Statement: Church of the Good Shepherd, United Church of Christ, is an Open and Affirming congregation. We seek to be inclusive of all persons without regard to age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, marital status, economic status, and personal ability. We recognize the diversity of human nature as a part of God’s universal plan, and affirm all families and relationships founded on love, respect, responsibility and trust. We welcome into the full life and ministry of our church all those who seek Truth through Christ’s teachings. Back to list of ONA churches |
| First Congregational Church, Albuquerque Open and Affirming Statement: First Congregational United Church of Christ in Albuquerque, New Mexico, seeks to serve as a sign and symbol of God’s love for the world. We are a people of hope, who reach out with a radical openness to the diversity of God’s gifts. In this spirit, we seek to reconcile with those who have been condemned and injured by the Church, and covenant to stand with them in their struggle for equality and justice. We lovingly welcome all who have suffered discrimination or have been disenfranchised from the religious community into the full communion and ministry of this church. We confess that the Church has often judged and excluded gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people, and those individuals who are questioning their sexual orientation. We confess that we have been complicit by our silence. We confess the presence of ignorance, fear, and hatred – in ourselves, in the Church, and in society. We ask the grace of God to overcome this complicity of silence. We ask the grace of God to overcome ignorance, fear, and hate. Our fervent prayer is that all people in our congregation will stand firm in the assurance that Christ’s redemptive love enfolds us all. We affirm diversity in our members, in our staff, and in our leaders. We believe that diversity brings us strength and a greater awareness of God’s creation. Therefore, we declare ourselves an Open and Affirming Congregation in the United Church of Christ. Back to list of ONA churches |
| First Christian Church, Las Cruces Official Open and Affirming Statement coming soon From the church's website (adopted in 2005): Celebrating Diversity: We are an open and affirming community. In Christ's example, we want to offer all persons, regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation, the opportunity to discover and develop their gifts of God's love and service. Our church family encourages diversity and freedom. We find ways to worship, work, study, and fellowship together, honoring Christ's prayer for us ..."that they may all be one" (John 17:21). Back to list of ONA churches |
| St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Rio Ranch Open and Affirming Statement: The members of St. Paul’s are caring Christians who recognize that Jesus calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves without being judgmental nor disparaging of others on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, level of education, faith, marital status, or physical disability. We should extend welcome and Christian fellowship to all seekers of Christ without fear, prejudice or discrimination. The members of St. Paul’s acknowledge the image of God in every person. We rejoice in the sacredness of life and we proclaim and celebrate God’s wondrous love for all persons. Back to list of ONA churches |
| United Church of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Open and Affirming Statement: We know that, as Christians, we are many individual members, each with different gifts to offer and contributions to make. We know also that we are one body in Christ, members of one another. With Jesus, we affirm that we are called to act as agents of reconciliation and wholeness within the church and within the world. As an expression of the practice and conviction of this congregation, we declare ourselves to be an “open and affirming church,” welcoming people who share a faith journey with Christ, and who share with us the covenant that binds us together regardless of age, gender, race, ethnic background, mental or physical disability, or sexual orientation. We commit ourselves to caring and concern for our lesbian, gay and bisexual sisters and brothers by affirming that: We believe that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people share with all others the worth that comes from being unique individuals; We welcome lesbian, gay, and bisexual people to our congregation in the same spirit and manner by which we welcome all other members and visitors. Back to list of ONA churches |
| Valley Community Church UCC, Silver City Open and Affirming Statement: Acknowledging our origins as the Santa Rita Community Church, we at Valley Community Church, United Church of Christ affirm our historic and ongoing call to be a place where all are welcome. We also acknowledge the unfortunate history of Christian churches as places of exclusion and division. Given this history, and as a Christian family called to include, love and serve, we at Valley Community Church, United Church of Christ declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation. We welcome all into the full life, ministry, sacraments, fellowship and leadership of our congregation regardless of race, gender, age, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical, mental or emotional ability or disability, economic or marital status, political persuasion, or faith background. We strive in every generation, by the grace of God, to meet our historic call to be a place where all are welcome. Adopted June 12, 2011 Back to list of ONA churches |
Desert View, El Paso |
