Drawing upon thirty years of experience within a variety of Christian denominations, this Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to help facilitate a Welcoming Process in your local congregation. Biblically and theologically based, it uses tools of relational organizing, congregational assessment, conflict management and change theory.
The overwhelming message of the Bible, in story after story, is that of God's radical love and welcome. Every time we think we know who's in and who's out, God does something to challenge those assumptions, to unbind our hearts and minds from old ways of understanding, and to draw the circle ever wider.
HEARTS UNBOUND invites you to explore ten of those inspiring stories of radical love and welcome. Entertaining, thought-provoking, and participatory, each session looks in-depth at the story, the historical context out of which it came, and some of the insights to be gained.
Designed to be used as a small-group Bible study, HEARTS UNBOUND uses the format of Reader's Theater. But fear not... no costumes, sets, or refined acting chops needed! All you need are six to eight people around a table, reading the script, having fun, all the while learning a great deal in the process.
All ten sessions are available for free download below.
In order to both highlight the vibrancy, faithfulness and power of the Welcoming Movement and to counter the “false witness” of those who seek to quash this movement of hospitality and justice, the Institute for Welcoming Resources surveyed pastors and leaders of 1,200 Welcoming congregations to ask them about their work and witness.
We are an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation.
You are welcome here!
This congregation is committed to being a radically loving and welcoming community of faith, centered in the Good News of Jesus Christ. Therefore, in faithfulness to the Gospel, the United Church of Christ, and First Grace United Church of Christ, "We will not discriminate against any person, group, or organization on the basis of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, faith, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, or physical, mental, or emotional disability." To the best of our ability, we promise to minister, provide pastoral care and programs to all who seek God in this place.
We acknowledge that throughout history the Christian church has often condemned and excluded people because of race, culture, age, gender, economic status, disability or sexual orientation. While the church has made progress in being open and affirming to many groups, there continues to be condemnation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons from the community of faith, or at least, a tolerance of such condemnation and exclusion through silence. We believe such actions are inconsistent with Christ's teachings. Church of the Beatitudes is a community of faith-keeping and faith-seeking people who affirm that every person has worth as a unique creation made in the image of God. We recognize, celebrate and give thanks for the many diverse gifts of God among us. We declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming into the full life and ministry of the church persons of every race, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and economic status. We commit to model a community of faith and spirit that works toward openness and understanding, offering justice, healing and wholeness of life for all people. We believe that through our diversity, all can grow and practice a unity of faith that transcends our differences.
We, the Congregation of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, declare ourselves to be open and affirming. With God's grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, as well as racial, ethnic, or social-economic background. We welcome all to share in the life and leadership, ministry, and fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and blessings of participation in our congregation.
Little River United Church of Christ is an open and affirming church, embracing diversity in our congregation and community, and affirming the dignity and worth of every person created in the image of God. We continue to honor our founding principle that discrimination is incompatible with Christ's Gospel of unconditional love. We welcome into full membership and participation in the Body of Christ persons of every race, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, economic or marital status, and faith background. We affirm and celebrate all loving and committed relationships. We acknowledge the history of the institutional church in condemning and excluding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, and in condoning such discrimination by its silence. We commit ourselves to work diligently to end such oppression and discrimination. Following the example of Jesus Christ, we hereby declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming Church.
We the members of Kanaana Hou-Siloama United Church of Christ believe God's Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ call us to love our neighbors as we would want to be loved. Jesus teaches us to welcome all God's children into God's covenantal community. We welcome our gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender sisters and brothers to join with us in hearing Jesus' call to share God's love in the full life, ministry and witness of our struggle for justice and peace. We believe God loves us all and calls us into community to covenant with one another to share the good news of God's love. In covenant, as members of Christ's church, we celebrate God's love for people of different race, gender, age, sexual orientation, faith, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, physical disability, mental and emotional disability. We the members of Kanaana Hou-Siloama United Church of Christ pray our sister churches will work with us to invite all God's children into our "na ohana" (families). We believe it is time for our churches to open their doors to the movement of God's Holy Spirit to be open and affirming of all people.
"...in Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one..." (Galatians 3:28)
In the spirit of Paul's words in Galatians we recognize, celebrate, and give thanks for the diversity in which God created us, each in God's image and loved by God. We deplore the continuing injustice of institutionalized discrimination, instances of senseless violence and denial of human rights based on sexual orientation. The church is called to confront discrimination, to oppose violence and to advocate for human rights for all persons. With this declaration we remember God's promise spoken through the prophet Hosea,"I will show love to those who were called unloved and to those who were called 'not-my-people' - I will say 'you are my people,' and they will answer 'you are our God.' (Hosea 2:23) As such we declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming into full membership, in accordance with the By-laws1, and participation in Immanuel United Church of Christ persons of every age, gender, culture, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability and economic status. We encourage all members to participate and share talents and energy in the worship, work and witness of the congregation. By full participation we would include as examples the following:
We believe human sexuality is God's good gift. We affirm committed relationships and partnerships founded on mutual trust, respect, responsibility, nurture and love. As followers of Christ we seek by this affirmation to be faithful to his commandment, "love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:1)1. Article IV. Section B., Part 1., Membership: "The reception of members into the fellowship of the Congregation is to be in accordance with the basic requirements of the denomination, namely: baptized persons may become members of the congregation through confirmation, profession of faith or letter of transfer.
The Williston Federated Church embraces Jesus' message that God loves and accepts every person. Jesus calls us to the ministry of reconciliation and grace. Therefore, we invite and welcome all persons of every age, gender identity, racial or ethnic background, sexual orientation, marital or socioeconomic status, nationality, physical or mental ability into full participation in the life of this faith community. We are committed to the reconciliation of all persons as children of God and declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming, Reconciling Congregation.
Our Reconciling Intention
All persons are individuals of sacred worth. We affirm Jesus' example of love without reservation and covenant to deal compassionately and justly with each other. Therefore, this inclusive and nurturing community of faith will continue to welcome all persons of any age, gender, race, ethnic origin, economic reality, family status, sexual orientation, diverse ability or social standing as full participants in the life and work of this reconciling congregation.
The Vermillion First United Methodist church is a church dedicated to reaching out to all God’s Children.. As a United Methodist church we are proud to be a church with open hearts, open minds, and open doors and we invite you to become a part of God’s amazing grace through our church family!
Our church is a very active church with many places for people of all ages: families, children, youth, college students, adults, senior citizens, and more—-you all have a place here in the Vermillion United Methodist Church.
As a church we are proud to celebrate diversity as we work hard to be an inclusive church dedicated to including and reaching out to all people regardless or race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.
We affirm that through God's redeeming love for all, we are one in Christ. We respect the inherent and valuable contributions each member makes to the Body of Christ. We celebrate our diversity and recognize the sacred worth and dignity of all persons regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, age, ethnicity, physical or mental capacity, education, or economic or marital status.
As we journey toward reconciliation, we proclaim this statement of welcome to all who have known the pain of exclusion and discrimination within the church. We welcome all persons to full participation in the life and ministries of St. John's United Methodist Church.
At the same time, we recognize that there remain differences of opinion among us. We do not seek to erase our differences. We welcome all in our journey together in faith toward greater understanding and mutual respect.
As a Reconciling Congregation, we believe that we are being reconciled to God and to one another.
"All this is from God, who reconciled us . . . through Christ, and who gives us the ministry of reconciliation." II Corinthians 5:18.