Open and Affirming Statement of the United Church of Hyde Park
Our congregation behaves like the disciple of Christ; therefore, we declare this Statement.
Our congregation welcomes, celebrates and affirms diversity.
We are persons of different ages, education, races, ethnicities, abilities, economic circumstance and nationalities.
We believe the time has come to join other congregations responding to the call of the 15th General Synod (1985) of the United Church of Christ to be open and affirming to all people, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.
We also recognize and endorse the Statement of More Light Presbyterians, which is “Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians is to work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society.”
We also recognize and endorse the Statement of Reconciling Ministries Network, which is “We celebrate God’s gift of diversity and value the wholeness made possible in community equally shared and shepherded by all. We welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status, and so much more. We acknowledge that we live in a world of profound social, economic, and political inequities. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed.”
We acknowledge that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people have often been scorned and devalued as persons and discriminated against, both in society at large and by many denominations and congregations; and therefore we affirm the following:
----- we believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people share with all others the worth that comes from being children of God;
----- we welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people to join our congregation and to participate fully in the life, liturgy, spirituality, employment and leadership of our congregation;
----- we acknowledge the existence of ignorance, fear and hated predicated on differences in sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, not only in our culture, bur also within our denominations and many of our congregations; and we therefore covenant not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; but, at the same time, we seek to include, welcome and support those whose personal or religious convictions differ from these views on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression;
----- we seek to address the needs and advocate the concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in our congregation, in our denominations and in our society; and would actively encourage our three denominations, both nationally and in all their various instrumentalities, to adopt policies consistent with this statement; and
----- we join together as a covenantal community to celebrate and share the reassurance that we are worthy recipients of the love and grace of God.
January 30, 2022
Our congregation behaves like the disciple of Christ; therefore, we declare this Statement.
Our congregation welcomes, celebrates and affirms diversity.
We are persons of different ages, education, races, ethnicities, abilities, economic circumstance and nationalities.
We believe the time has come to join other congregations responding to the call of the 15th General Synod (1985) of the United Church of Christ to be open and affirming to all people, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.
We also recognize and endorse the Statement of More Light Presbyterians, which is “Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians is to work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society.”
We also recognize and endorse the Statement of Reconciling Ministries Network, which is “We celebrate God’s gift of diversity and value the wholeness made possible in community equally shared and shepherded by all. We welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status, and so much more. We acknowledge that we live in a world of profound social, economic, and political inequities. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed.”
We acknowledge that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people have often been scorned and devalued as persons and discriminated against, both in society at large and by many denominations and congregations; and therefore we affirm the following:
----- we believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people share with all others the worth that comes from being children of God;
----- we welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people to join our congregation and to participate fully in the life, liturgy, spirituality, employment and leadership of our congregation;
----- we acknowledge the existence of ignorance, fear and hated predicated on differences in sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, not only in our culture, bur also within our denominations and many of our congregations; and we therefore covenant not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; but, at the same time, we seek to include, welcome and support those whose personal or religious convictions differ from these views on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression;
----- we seek to address the needs and advocate the concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in our congregation, in our denominations and in our society; and would actively encourage our three denominations, both nationally and in all their various instrumentalities, to adopt policies consistent with this statement; and
----- we join together as a covenantal community to celebrate and share the reassurance that we are worthy recipients of the love and grace of God.
January 30, 2022
