What We Believe

FREEDOM OF BELIEF:

We are a church that doesn't require you to agree with us in everything to belong. Just as Jesus welcomed diverse groups of people across boundary lines of country, race, gender, belief, and social classes, so we try to live out his teachings and his example. As part of the United Church of Christ,

we do not require allegiance to any single statement of faith. Instead, we subscribe to the idea that

"In essentials we should have unity, in non-essentials we celebrate diversity, and all things should be based in charity."

BEING AN 'OPEN AND AFFIRMING' CHURCH:

In our denomination, churches declare themselves "Open and Affirming" to state that LGBTQ+ people are children of God and welcome to participate fully in the life of the church. Our congregation declared ourselves Open and Affirming in 2007, and revised their Open and Affirming statement in 2014.

Open & Affirming Statement (ONA)

Believing that every person is a child of God invested with worth and dignity, and believing that every person is a recipient of God’s grace,
we at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Grand Ledge,
aspire to mirror God’s unconditional love by declaring that we are an Open and Affirming congregation.

We understand that we are called to love God and to love our neighbors, valuing all people. Seeking to be persons that reveal God’s love as compassionate and unconditional, we celebrate the image of God in each person and embrace our diversity.

We joyfully welcome and affirm all persons—those of every age, gender, sexual orientation, personal ability, race, ethnic background or faith background—who wish to participate in the life and ministry of the church, including membership, spiritual growth, and leadership.

OUR WIDE FAITH IS BASED IN OUR RICH HERITAGE:

Both locally and nationally, we take pride in our faith's deep roots and groundbreaking spirit. We are one of the oldest faith communities in Grand Ledge, founded during the Civil War in 1864.

Our denominaiton, the United Church of Christ, is descended from the earliest churches in this country, including the Pilgrims, the Puritans, and some of the earliest German settlers in this country. Since the founding of the denomination we have continued to be

a United and Uniting church, joining with many other groups including American Indians, Afro-Christians, Asian Americans,

Pacific Islanders, Armenians, and Hispanic Americans.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST:

You can learn about our denomination by going to their website and reading their answer to the question,

"What is the United Church of Christ?"

One way to get to know us is to read our denomination's statement of faith.

United Church of Christ Statement of Faith—adapted by Robert V. Moss

We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, who is made known to us in Jesus our brother, and to whose deeds we testify:

God calls the worlds into being, creates humankind in the divine image, and sets before us the ways of life and death.

God seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

God judges all humanity and all nations by that will of righteousness declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord,God has come to us and shared our common lot,

conquering sin and death and reconciling the whole creation to its Creator.

God bestows upon us the Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ,

binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

God calls us into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family,

to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table,

to join him in his passion and victory.

God promises to all who trust in the gospel forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace,

the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in that kingdom which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto God.

Amen.