Open and Affirming Statement

Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”  Luke 10:27

Jesus said: “For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Luke 11:10

We affirm each person as a child of God, worthy of God’s love and we covenant to support one another in our joys, sorrows, and spiritual growth.

As a caring and welcoming community, using the Bible as a resource and the teachings of Jesus as our guide, we joyfully welcome everyone into God’s covenantal community. We believe that: “No matter who you are and where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here”, regardless of race, ethnicity, class, age, mental status, family structure, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender status or gender expression. We invite all to share in the life, leadership, ministry, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our congregation. We are called as Christian disciples to strengthen community, nurture hope,  promote wholeness, foster healing, seek justice, and build God’s kingdom as we strive to live up to our mission statement.

Submitted by the Open and Affirming Steering Committee – an on-going resource to the Woodridge congregation.  Approved at a special meeting of the congregation March 23, 2014.