Purpose
The Open and Affirming Task Force was called into being by our Church Council. In the current social and political environment, where ‘otherness’ becomes an acceptable basis for isolating, vilifying, and even violent physical abuse, the Task Force was created for the purpose of exposing all of us to the wide range of human sexuality and gender presentation. Among the goals:
• Increasing our understanding of that variety.
• Increasing our awareness of how very difficult it is for a person whose sense of who they are does not conform to what the world expects of them.
• Challenging things we have been taught, even the biblical sayings that do not fit with our understanding of the Christian ethic.
• Increasing our understanding of that variety.
• Increasing our awareness of how very difficult it is for a person whose sense of who they are does not conform to what the world expects of them.
• Challenging things we have been taught, even the biblical sayings that do not fit with our understanding of the Christian ethic.
Members
Paula Bauman-Leonard
Mark Clark
Nara Derapelian
Judith Gooch
Larry Gooch
Linda Jamieson
Peter Lovett Pastor (ex officio)
Russ Rowland
Dawn Thomson
Carol Zink
We encourage conversations, feel free to speak to any of us!
Mark Clark
Nara Derapelian
Judith Gooch
Larry Gooch
Linda Jamieson
Peter Lovett Pastor (ex officio)
Russ Rowland
Dawn Thomson
Carol Zink
We encourage conversations, feel free to speak to any of us!
HISTORY/HOW ONA TASK FORCE CAME TO BE
Along with the purpose as noted above, the work continues – a vote to adopt an Open and Affirming Covenant at a Special Church Meeting held in the fall of 2023 failed to achieve the three-fourths majority agreed to during the previous Annual Meeting. There are several possible reasons why some voted to oppose the adoption of that Covenant. The conclusion the Task Force drew from that vote was that we had work to do – information to provide, opportunities for dialogue, opportunities for members of the congregation to articulate their concerns.
ONA Covenant Statement
As proposed at the September 2023 Meeting/Motion Vote
First Congregational Church of Meredith, UCC, is a church with a welcome as big
as this building, a church with arms that stretch beyond these four walls; where
children are nurtured and seniors honored, and where bridges are built.
As an Open and Affirming church we welcome all; of any age, gender, sexual
orientation (LGBTQ+), race, culture, ability, or socio-economic status to every
aspect of our church life and leadership.
Whether you have an abundance of faith, just a shred of faith, or no faith at all;
whether you’ve been coming to this church for generations, or whether it’s your
first time; wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
Then as Christ has welcomed you, welcome one another in order to glorify God. Romans 15:7
First Congregational Church of Meredith, UCC, is a church with a welcome as big
as this building, a church with arms that stretch beyond these four walls; where
children are nurtured and seniors honored, and where bridges are built.
As an Open and Affirming church we welcome all; of any age, gender, sexual
orientation (LGBTQ+), race, culture, ability, or socio-economic status to every
aspect of our church life and leadership.
Whether you have an abundance of faith, just a shred of faith, or no faith at all;
whether you’ve been coming to this church for generations, or whether it’s your
first time; wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
Then as Christ has welcomed you, welcome one another in order to glorify God. Romans 15:7
ONA At FCC
Informational/ Editorials (Index)
The ONA Task Force seeks to provide information and resources as part of the on-going efforts to bring awareness and understanding and inviting conversations (questions/concerns) for what this means for our church and community. This section is updated monthly. Written and submitted by the ONA Task Force Members.