Why has so much of our program focus been on sexual orientation?

Our Open and Affirming Statement intentionally names and includes all people since we believe that all are called into the Body of Christ and are equal members in the unity of Christ. As in previous eras our society has addressed matters of equal worth and justice for people of color, women, children, and the physically and mentally challenged; so, in this time, we believe the Spirit is calling us to work through the matter of equal worth and justice for homosexual people. Many of us do not understand homosexuality or what it means to be homosexual. Therefore, most, but not all, of the Open and Affirming programs have offered opportunities to learn about sexual orientation, to hear the experiences of homosexual people among us, and to consider the Gospel's imperatives of justice and compassion.

Congregationalism is based on individual religious freedom and the responsibility to create loving and just communities. Adopting an Open and Affirming Statement makes it clear that we reject discrimination and prejudice based on sexual orientation as being incompatible with what we recognize as truth: God's creation and love of every person and Jesus' commandment for us to love one another as God has loved us.