Please join us on Sunday, June 4th, after worship and a light lunch, when a very important process in the life of Nativity will begin. At the Annual Meeting in 2004, the congregation voted that the it should engage in study and discernment about officially becoming an “Open and Affirming” (ONA) church. The Diversity Group, sponsored by the Outreach Committee, will be planning and leading this process for the congregation.
The process will include study, prayer and discussion of the following:
- · What does it mean to say we are ONA?
- · Why are we entering the ONA process?
- · What are the benefits of becoming/being an ONA church?
- · What are the challenges of being an ONA church?
We will gather in small groups to discover people’s concerns and questions regarding the becoming an ONA congregation. We want everyone to be heard, no matter what their feelings about the issue. The meeting will go until 1:30/2:00pm.
At Nativity we already say “we welcome everyone” but who is everyone? Imagine, if you will, you are a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person . You begin attending worship services at a church you find to be very “welcoming” and friendly. After a few months, you become active in several aspects of the church life. Church members are supportive and encouraging. Then you start attending worship with a person of the same gender. Little by little, as you introduce your “friend,” some members of the congregation begin treating you differently and you no longer feel welcome. How, then, can you live out your faith life if you no longer feel accepted in this church community? Too many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their families live with the pain of having believed that “everyone” meant them, only to discover otherwise.
Since 1985, over 400 United Church of Christ congregations have become “Open and Affirming.” ONA is the way to publicly declare the church’s welcome and inclusiveness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons into the full life of the church.
Please join us as we begin this journey of discovery and discernment.
. . . The Diversity Committee
I often have lunch at work with a friend who is also a U.C.C. church member and we exchange stories of the events and happenings at our respective churches. Our last discussion prompted me to think more seriously about the situation occurring with his congregation. Upon further reflection, I could not resist the urge to write this letter of persuasion and encouragement to my own church family.
With the acceptance of the Open and Affirming commitment in the United Church of Christ constitution, my friend’s church is exploring the option of transferring their membership to another protestant denomination. This act of breaking their covenant with the church both saddens and infuriates me. How can a body of Christians who claim to believe and follow the teachings of Jesus turn their backs on a proposition that so clearly proclaims acceptance of all human beings as children of God? To me this shows a great discrepancy in the congregation’s commitment and loyalty to nonjudgmentally at least consider; and possibly support the governing principles of the U.C.C church, and to willingly minister in Christian fellowship to all humankind.
It is human nature to be critical, fearful and at first unaccepting of the unknown. This is where we, as Christians and Christ’s followers need to open our hearts and minds. In the days of the early church the apostles came across many obstacles and antagonists only to have some of those who persecuted them for their beliefs turn around and become followers of Jesus. Through the strength of their faith and convictions, the early church family was able to break through the barriers of social status, religious practices and the sexes to spread Christ’s word to a more diverse population.
Churches today need to look at the Open and Affirming issue through the eyes of Jesus and approach the question with loving, gentle wisdom and discern the answer best for their congregation. Love can help unite a divided crowd if people are genuinely listening to the knowledge provided and sincerely considering everyone’s options and opinions. I would hope and pray that my friend’s church will reconsider the possible retreat from their Christian responsibilities and stand behind the United Church of Christ denomination. They can still make their voices heard through the rejection of the Open and Affirming issue in their congregation while demonstrating integrity by their loyalty to the principles and guidelines they support in the U.C.C. church.
Comment by Jane Piduch — April 30, 2006 @ 12:18 am