Sample Open and Affirming Statements

Return to the ONA Statement Guidelines.

Below you will find sample Open and Affirming (ONA) statements from UCC churches around the country. (Additional statements are available, please see the resources on this site.)

Led by the Spirit, each congregation composes a statement that expresses its commitment to welcome lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons (people of all sexual orientations) -- along with heterosexuals -- into the full life and ministry of the church; this is the focus of Open and Affirming (based on the Open and Affirming action of the UCC General Synod, 1985).Today, recognizing the interrelatedness of sexual orientation and gender identity, The Coalition encourages congregations to include transgender persons (or those of all gender identities) in their ONA process and statements as well.

Many statements also clarify the church's welcome to people in regard to other characteristics e.g., color, age, ability, etc. Most often, churches write and adopt a distinct statement on Open and Affirming, but some include this commitment as part of their Mission Statement, Bylaws etc.

For more information, please see the "Guidelines for ONA Statements" also posted on this website or contact the ONA Program Coordinator at: ONACoord@UccCoalition.org; tel: 508.856.9316.

Statements are included from:

• Church of the Beatitudes
• Saint Paul's United Church of Christ
• Little River UCC
• Kanaana Hou - Siloama, UCC
• Immanuel UCC back to top

Church of the Beatitudes, Phoenix, Az. September 2000

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 from 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.

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Saint Paul's United Church of Christ, St. Paul, Minn. January 2000

We, the Congregation of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 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 in the life and leadership, ministry, and fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and blessings of participation in our congregation.

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Little River UCC, Annandale, Va. October 2001

Little River United Church of Christ is an open and affirming church, embracing diversity in our congregation and community, and affirming the dignity and worth of every person created in the image of God. We continue to honor our founding principle that discrimination is incompatible with Christ's Gospel of unconditional love.We welcome into full membership and participation in the Body of Christ persons of every race, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, economic or marital status, and faith background.We affirm and celebrate all loving and committed relationships.We acknowledge the history of the institutional church in condemning and excluding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, and in condoning such discrimination by its silence. We commit ourselves to work diligently to end such oppression and discrimination.Following the example of Jesus Christ, we hereby declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming Church.

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Kanaana Hou - Siloama, UCC, Kalaupapa, Hi. March 1998

We the members of Kanaana Hou-Siloama United Church of Christ believe God's Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ call us to love our neighbors as we would want to be loved. Jesus teaches us to welcome all God's children into God's covenantal community. We welcome our gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender sisters and brothers to join with us in hearing Jesus' call to share God's love in the full life, ministry and witness of our struggle for justice and peace.We believe God loves us all and calls us into community to covenant with one another to share the good news of God's love. In covenant, as members of Christ's church, we celebrate God's love for people of different race, gender, age, sexual orientation, faith, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, physical disability, mental and emotional disability.We the members of Kanaana Hou-Siloama United Church of Christ pray our sister churches will work with us to invite all God's children into our "na ohana" (families). We believe it is time for our churches to open their doors to the movement of God's Holy Spirit to be open and affirming of all people.

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Immanuel UCC, Catonsville, Md. March 2001

"...in Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one..." (Galatians 3:28)
In the spirit of Paul's words in Galatians we recognize, celebrate, and give thanks for the diversity in which God created us, each in God's image and loved by God. We deplore the continuing injustice of institutionalized discrimination, instances of senseless violence and denial of human rights based on sexual orientation. The church is called to confront discrimination, to oppose violence and to advocate for human rights for all persons. With this declaration we remember God's promise spoken through the prophet Hosea,"I will show love to those who were called unloved and to those who were called 'not-my-people' - I will say 'you are my people,' and they will answer 'you are our God.' (Hosea 2:23) As such we declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming into full membership, in accordance with the By-laws1, and participation in Immanuel United Church of Christ persons of every age, gender, culture, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability and economic status. We encourage all members to participate and share talents and energy in the worship, work and witness of the congregation. By full participation we would include as examples the following:

1. The celebration of unions for same-sex couples (Holy Unions);
2. Service as teachers for Christian Education classes and leaders of youth activities;
3. Participation in all committees, and service in all offices;
4. Equal consideration for all employment opportunities.

We believe human sexuality is God's good gift. We affirm committed relationships and partnerships founded on mutual trust, respect, responsibility, nurture and love. As followers of Christ we seek by this affirmation to be faithful to his commandment, "love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:1)1. Article IV. Section B., Part 1., Membership: "The reception of members into the fellowship of the Congregation is to be in accordance with the basic requirements of the denomination, namely: baptized persons may become members of the congregation through confirmation, profession of faith or letter of transfer.

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