WHEREAS, the Apostle Paul said that, as Christians, we are many members, but we are one body in Christ (Rom. 12:4), and Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mk. 12:31) without being judgmental (Mt. 7:1-2) nor disparaging of others (Lk. 18:9-14).

 85-GS-76 VOTED: The Fifteenth General Synod adopts the Resolution now  titled “Calling On UCC Congregations to Covenant As Open and Affirming.”  

And at St. John's we take this very seriously. 

Our purpose is to live and work in the midst of God's love. We  extend that love to all who come into our midst, regardless of sexual  orientation, gender identity, gender, race, nationality, skin color,  culture, differing abilities, or political affiliations. We are here to  love everyone we encounter. We are also here to bring the Good News of  Christ's love to all we encounter. We work in God's name to tear down  walls and build community, to walk with each other through all of life's  circumstances, to provide for those in need, to offer comfort to the  hurting and sick, and to life up the brokenhearted. Where we fail, we  ask for God's forgiveness. We ask the Spirit and our siblings to  challenge us to do better.  

And we live and grow in this philosophy every day. 

 WHEREAS, the Apostle Paul said that, as Christians, we are many  members, but we are one body in Christ (Rom. 12:4), and Jesus calls us  to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mk. 12:31) without being judgmental  (Mt. 7:1-2) nor disparaging of others (Lk. 18:9-14); and 

WHEREAS, recognizing that many persons of lesbian, gay and bisexual  orientation are already members of the Church through baptism and  confirmation and that these people have talents and gifts to offer the  United Church of Christ, and that the UCC has historically affirmed a  rich diversity in its theological and Biblical perspectives; and 

WHEREAS, the Tenth through Fourteenth General Synods have adopted  resolutions encouraging the inclusion, and affirming the human rights,  of lesbian, gay and bisexual people within the UCC; and 

WHEREAS, the Executive Council of the United Church of Christ adopted  in 1980 “a program of Equal Employment Opportunity which does not  discriminate against any employee or applicant because of… sexual  orientation”; and 

WHEREAS, many parts of the Church have remained conspicuously silent  despite the continuing injustice of institutionalized discrimination,  instances of senseless violence and setbacks in civil rights protection  by the Supreme Court; and 

WHEREAS, the Church has often perpetuated discriminatory practices  and has been unwilling to affirm the full humanness of clergy, laity and  staff with lesbian, gay and bisexual orientation, who experience  isolation, ostracism and fear of (or actual) loss of employment; and 

WHEREAS, we are called by Christ’s example, to proclaim release to the captives and set at liberty the oppressed (Lk. 4:18)