OPEN AND AFFIRMING STATEMENT

OF

GRACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

FREDERICK, MARYLAND

“Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.”

The Reverend Fred Rogers (“Mr. Rogers”)

“There is no such thing as Jew or Greek, slave and free person, male and female, for we are all one in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 3:28

As members of Grace United Church of Christ, we seek to respect our individual differences while attempting to understand the barriers which have divided and estranged us, one from the other. We are bound by the love of God through the teachings of Jesus Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit to love one another as ourselves for we are all God’s children. We believe that, as members of this Family of Faith, we are called together in a spirit of Christian love, to honor God though our service to others. In keeping with our Faith and Purpose as stated in the Grace Church Constitution, it is our desire to “strive for righteousness, justice and peace.”

Therefore,

We seek to GUARANTEE that, as a Family of Faith, we will move past arbitrary labels and see into the true spiritual heart of the individual.

We seek to RESPECT all human beings as children of God, just as they are.

We seek to AFFIRM the wide and precious diversity of cultures, traditions and practices that have the potential to exist within a congregation of the United Church of Christ.

We seek to CHERISH the teachings of Jesus Christ whose table is always open to all.

We seek to EMBRACE all who seek to find and learn more about Jesus Christ, regardless of the path they have walked before entering our doors.

We invite all people to share fully in our life together. We welcome into our congregation people of any age, race, ethnic background, ability, economic status, gender identity and/or sexual orientation who acknowledge Christ as our foundation and who seek to embody the mind, heart and Spirit of God and Jesus.

We promise our support to all individuals, couples and families through our continued outreach and advocacy programs.

We pray for God’s blessings and grace as we strive for renewal and the realization of our One Human Family.