OUR COMMUNITY
Open and Affirming
St. Paul's United Church of Christ is proud to be an Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ.
We celebrate and welcome all people!
"No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome."
What does "Open and Affirming" Mean?
Open and Affirming (ONA) is a public covenant made by a congregation within the United Church of Christ (UCC) to fully welcome and affirm LGBTQ+ individuals — including people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions — into every aspect of church life and leadership.
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But ONA is more than just inclusion. It’s a bold declaration of faith rooted in the belief that God’s love is for everyone — without exception. At its heart, the ONA covenant is about creating a spiritual home where all people are celebrated as beloved children of God, and where justice, dignity, and full participation are extended to those who have often been excluded or marginalized.
A Broader Commitment to Justice and Welcome
While the ONA movement began with a focus on LGBTQ+ inclusion, many ONA churches embrace the covenant as part of a wider commitment to social justice and radical hospitality. This often includes:
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Racial justice and anti-racism work
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Advocacy for gender equality and disability inclusion
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Support for immigrants, refugees, and those affected by poverty
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A welcoming space for people who have been hurt or excluded by religious institutions
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Being Open and Affirming means we strive to be a community where everyone is seen, heard, valued, and loved, just as they are. It’s a journey of learning, listening, and growing together in faith and compassion.
A Public and Prophetic Witness
ONA is also a visible and vocal witness. It means we don’t just quietly accept — we actively affirm. We participate in local Pride events, advocate for equity and justice, and seek to live out Christ’s call to love our neighbors boldly and without fear.
Our Open and Affirming Statement
We, the members of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, believe that all people are created in God's image and, thus, are loved and blessed equally by God.
We invite and welcome into our community persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ability, age, race, nationality, economic and social status, faith background, marital standing, and family structure.
In our community of faith all people are encouraged to participate and share their talents and energy in worship and sacraments, leadership positions, ordained ministry, lay ministry, learning, service, mission and fellowship.
If you're looking for a church that embraces diversity, inclusion, and justice, and believes that God’s table is big enough for all, you are welcome here.
ONA Events
Each year on November 20th, St. Paul's hosts a service for Transgender Day of Remembrance. We light a candle, and say the name of each (known) transgender person who has been murdered.
On July 1, 2018, St. Paul's hosted an interfaith Pride Service. We were joined by leaders from three other faiths. We served communion, sang hymns, and celebrated not only our Open and Affirming status, but welcomed all to our church.
In 2020, we included those who lost their lives to COVID.
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The UCC call to action to eradicate racism.