Reconciling in Christ…
A welcome to All God’s Children
In February 2000, the congregation of Saint Andrew voted unanimously to become a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation. In doing so, the people of Saint Andrew publicly affirm a long-standing belief that God’s love and mercy extend to ALL people.
Our Affirmation of Welcome
As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.
We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female” (Galations 3:38). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this reconciliation extends to all people regardless of age, race, gender or national origin, including those whose affectional orientation is toward a person of the same or other gender, or whose gender identity is other than male/female.
Because people whose affectional orientation may be toward the same or other gender, or who identify with a gender other than male/female, and their families, are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:
that all people - regardless of age, race, gender or national origin, including people of all sexual orientation and gender identities, share with others the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;
that all people - regardless of age, race, gender or national origin, including people of all sexual orientation and gender identities, are welcome within the membership of this congregation upon making the same affirmation of faith that all other people make; and
that as members of Saint Andrew Evangelical Lutheran Church, all people - regardless of age, race, gender or national origin, including people of all sexual orientation and gender identities, are expected and encouraged to share in the sacramental and general life of this congregation.
Our 2019 Re-Affirmation of Welcome
Saint Andrew Lutheran Church is comprised of a wide variety of people. We are diverse in age, passions, cultural background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, ethnicity, body shape, artistic preferences, physical abilities, emotional maturity, education and we have different ideas on how best to change the world.
As much as we are different there is one thing that unites us - Jesus and His love for us and this world.
We may not agree on all of the complexities of this world-changing person who lived 2000 years ago, but we agree that Christ’s radical calls for love, grace, inclusion, and freedom from oppression still echo today.
These cause us to try and live as humble followers, doing our best to live in accordance with these calls, as individuals and as a collective community.
We strongly believe that all persons have valuable stories and infinite worth. We want to be bearers of God’s love, and not hate. As such we stand this day to re-affirm that all people - including people of all sexual orientation and gender identities, are created and loved by God and are welcome here.
This is but one point in our journey with Christ to break down barriers, and to love as our Lord has loved us.
~Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Parsippany, NJ; June 23, 2019
