Eliot Church's Open and Affirming Statement

We, the worshiping community of the Eliot Church of Newton, believe in God and God's love for us and for all people. We are mindful that Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves and that each person is a member of the whole human family. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." 
 
We affirm that all people are children of God. We honor and warmly welcome everyone, and we are committed to being a uniting church that embraces the rich diversity of God's creation. We recognize, celebrate and give thanks for the many gifts of all of God's children. We encourage those of every race, gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, faith background, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, economic circumstance, marital status and physical or developmental ability to join in the full life and ministry of Eliot church. 

We acknowledge that Christian churches have not always welcomed all believers into the full life of the Church. As a congregation that is Open and Affirming within the United Church of Christ, we accept the responsibility to work individually and collectively against all forms of discrimination, to continue our efforts toward inclusiveness and to celebrate all relationships founded on the principles of God's love, compassion and faithfulness.

Open and Affirming Statement PDF 

Open and Affirming is the UCC designation for congregations and other UCC bodies that make a public covenant of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

Open and Affirming in the UCC