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. The congregation of Saint Andrew has always been a welcoming place for all – and while we see that the language and terminology of inclusion changes over time, our welcome to ALL God’s children continues as in the past.

 

Our Affirmation of Welcome

2025 Affirmation of Welcome:

We are, and we welcome, those across all backgrounds, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, neurodiversities, racial and ethnic identities, socio-economic status, physical and emotional abilities, passions and more. What may be seen as a difference between individuals is not of material importance to Saint Andrew Lutheran Church. We focus on what continues to unite our community – our faith in, love for, and unrelenting trust in Jesus.

 

In 2000 we came together to affirm our steadfast belief that all people share worth that comes from being individuals created by God. That all people regardless of age, race, gender, national origin, including the LGBTQIA+ community, are welcome within the membership of this congregation. In 2019 we reaffirmed our dedication, as diverse individuals and as a collective community, to welcome all created and loved by God. We intend to be bearers of God’s love – not hate; and reiterated our steadfast belief that all persons have valuable stories and infinite worth.

 

Now in 2025, we come together to again reaffirm our intent of welcome across diversities and commit ourselves to embracing the work of anti-racism and social and economic justice. Through ongoing community outreach we have partnered with local houses of worship to bring together people of all beliefs and break bread under the same roof. We strive to foster open-mindedness, education and acceptance around what might make us seem different on paper. When we take the time to meet and learn about our neighbors, we are helping to break down barriers that our world seems to try to build up. With Christ as our example, we continue to work to replace alienation and brokenness with reconciliation and wholeness.  ~February 9, 2025

 

In John’s Gospel (John 10:10), Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd, stating that “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Jesus is calling us to live fully – and to do so by be more inclusive and welcoming – freeing people to live more fully into who they are.

 Some history:

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

February 2000 - Original 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.