Identity Ministry Team

Identity reinforces to us and tells others who we are. This is how we live out our faith: Just Peace, ONA, Welcoming. Messaging, presence and witness in the community. 

We are an Open and Affirming congregation, which is one that has pledged to welcome all people into the full life and ministry of the church, with an explicit welcome to people of all sexual orientations. An Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation knows that many barriers still exist that prevent people from being able to bring their whole selves into worship. Therefore, our ONA statement offers a welcome to people of every marital, social, or economic status, race, physical or mental ability, emotional condition, sexual orientation or identity, ethnicity, gender, age, or previous religious affiliation. We make this stand in response to the inclusive love that Jesus shared and the extravagant welcome of our loving God.

A Just Peace church is one that has made a commitment to working for a just peace, which the United Church of Christ defines as “the interrelationship of justice, friendship, and common security from violence. The goal is always to minimize violence while working for justice and friendship.” We envision a world living in “shalom”, the Hebrew word often translated “peace,” but which is truly a much more encompassing word than that. It means “wholeness, healing, justice, righteousness, equality, unity, freedom, and community. Shalom is a vision of all people whole, well, and one, and of all nature whole, well, and one.” This is a lofty goal and a formidable task, but as a church we have pledged ourselves to it.