First Congregational UCC: No Hidden Limitations

By Rev. Mark Pettis
Contributing Writer

“We intentionally welcome all individuals regardless of ability, age, class, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, or sexual orientation into full fellowship and participation in the life of the church.”

This sentence, taken from the Welcoming Statement for First Congregational United Church of Christ in Moorhead, is a commitment and a celebration. The idea of unbounded hospitality, based on an understanding of God’s extravagant and unlimited love for all people, stands as the foundation of our commitment.

We, as followers of Jesus Christ, are committed to modeling Jesus’ practice of reaching out to all people; eliminating the human-created limitations placed on who is worthy of God’s love. For who are we to limit the freely given grace that God offers to all God’s people?

Throughout history, we have witnessed civil rights denied based on age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or expression, among other human categories. We have watched as human beings, called by God to love one another, have embraced a religion of hate, using their faith as a weapon against one another.

The battle for civil rights has been waged on behalf of women, people of various ethnic backgrounds, the very young and the aged, and the differently abled. The rights of the LGBT community are the matter of civil rights in our time.

In this moment, we must again look to the example and message of Jesus Christ, who confounded the expectations of his society, reaching out to all people, especially to those who had been marginalized or oppressed by their society and denied basic human rights.

Earlier this year, the United Church of Christ marked the 25th Anniversary of the denomination’s vote to be an “Open and Affirming” denomination with a celebratory gathering. To say that a church (or a denomination) is “Open and Affirming” means that that faith community has publicly declared that members of the LGBT community are welcome in its full life and ministry.

The Reverend Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, speaking at this gathering, challenged the entire church saying, “We need to think of ourselves as an extremely inclusive community – one that will hold onto that value even when it is challenged by power.”

First Congregational UCC in Moorhead has embraced this call, having made a similar commitment to welcome all people, having voted in 2005 to be an “Open and Affirming” congregation. We look to the dominant themes in the Bible—love, justice, peace; and we seek to live our lives according to these ideals.

In particular, we understand the commandment to love one another as the motivating call of our faith. This ideal love is unbounded by any human category, including sexual orientation, and we believe that God’s affirmation of the gifts of loving relationships are not restricted to those who are heterosexual, but intended for all people.

While many churches are welcoming to all people, First Congregational UCC and the United Church of Christ as a denomination, acted to extend this welcome intentionally to members of the LGBT community. Intention in this case is important. Far too often, an unstated or understated ideal of hospitality can mask hidden limitations on the welcome offered. True intention assures that such a welcome is truly intended for and offered to all God’s people.

This intentional welcome is a solemn commitment, but there is much to celebrate as well. Living by this ideal, we grow in the Body of Christ, and we experience the gift of the God-given diversity of our world.

We often believe that we can somehow capture God with our words or images, but that is truly impossible. At best, we experience aspects of God in our world and in our lives.

Scripture tells us that we are made in the image of God, and we believe that this extends to all people, and in fact all creation. Seeking out and welcoming the diversity present in the world allows us to see and experience an array of aspects of God, for each beloved child of God reflects the divine image.

In this way, we are able to know God more fully and live out our call to love God and all our neighbors.

In the spirit of the Pride celebrations held throughout the nation and world, we stand in solidarity and rejoice with all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender individuals, couples, and families.

Together we more fully reflect the wonder of God, and offer a glimpse of all the gifts of diversity present in God’s world.

Congratulations, F-M Pride Collective, on this 2010 Pride Celebration!

For further information, please visit moorheadcongregational.org