Just Peace: What do we mean when we say we are a Just Peace Congregation?

Violence affects all of us and has been and continues to be wrapped around such issues related to race, gender, class, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and economics.  Our response has often been to isolate ourselves by building higher walls and fences around our homes, installing sophisticated burgler alarms in our homes, purchasing guns for protection and by abandoning life in the public sphere.  Our government's response at all levels has been to build more prisions while cutting back opportunities for rehabilitation and violence prevention programs for our young people.  All of us suffer from the increase in violence in our society. We are, understandably, fearful and even at times paralyzed by the magnitude of the problem. Indeed, a lack of hope is often at the root of violence and it is all the more essential for us, as people of faith, to identify and lift up the source of hope and healing along with the possibilities for faithful action which we can bring to the epidemic of violence.

Open and Affirming: What do we mean when we say we are an Open and Affirming Congregation?

To say that we are "Open and Affirming" means that we have publicly declared that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are welcome in the full life and ministry of our congregation.  There is a spirit of hospitality and a willingness to live out that welcome in meaningful ways in our church.  The Open and Affirming message is that sexuality is a good gift of our Creator, as is its responsible, loving expression. God's love, Christ's church, and the Spirit's power are for people of every color, age, ethnicity, gender identity, economic status, and ability including all who are gay, lesbian, bisexual,or transgendered.