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First
Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
225 S Interlachen Ave.
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: 407-647-2416
mailto: fccwp@fccwp.org
Bryan G. Fulwider,
Sr. Minister
Karen E. Barker-Duncan,
Associate Minister
Talia R. Raymond,
Minister of Arts
and Education
Sherie A. Lindamood,
Worship Minister
John V. Sinclair
Music Director
Christina Carter,
Children's and Youth
Choirs Director
Chris Olivent,
Organist
Liz Kitchens,
Commissioned Minister
of the Arts
Karen Sinclair,
Preschool Director
Mary Joe Searl,
Administrator
Donna Borko,
Secretary
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INTERFAITH COUNCIL:
DARFUR IS EVERYONE'S
RESPONSIBILITY
Sample Letter:
A sample letter is provided below in both PDF and MS Word .doc formats. Click a link to access the letter sample of your choice.
Letter Sample (PDF)
Letter Sample (MS Word)
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Open and Affirming Statement
First Congregational Church of Winter Park
An Open and Affirming Congregation
The following statement was adopted by the congregation of First Congregational Church of Winter Park at a congregational meeting on November 21, 2010.
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“We are a community of Extravagant Welcome. We welcome and embrace with affirmation persons of every age, race, culture, religious background, political affiliation, economic and social status, physical and mental ability, gender, marital status, and family structure. Therefore, in this spirit, we of First Congregational Church of Winter Park, United Church of Christ, declare ourselves an Open and Affirming congregation welcoming and embracing with affirmation persons of every sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression into the full life, membership, leadership, employment, and ministry of this Church.”
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The Rationale for the Open and Affirming Statement
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In 1985, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ proclaimed that the National Church was taking a stand that persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender in their sexual orientation are Children of God and consequently are accepted into full membership in the Church. This declaration became known as Open and Affirming (“ONA”). At the time, the Synod left it up to individual congregations throughout the country to determine as to whether or not they wanted to choose to be designated as an ONA Church. In 2001, the UCC launched the “God is Still Speaking,” campaign nationally. In the Spring of that same year, The First Congregational Church of Winter Park (“FCCWP”), Florida, voted on and adopted our Church’s Mission Statement that defined our congregation as a place of inclusion and diversity. Several years later, the UCC, in an effort to boost membership and inform people as to who we are as a Christian Church, a new national campaign began. With this new intiative the term “Extravagant Welcome” became a clarion call letting it be known that the UCC saw itself as a Church that was welcoming and accepting of all people; peoples of rich and diverse backgrounds were invited to find a home in one of the many local churches throughout the country that affiliate with the National Church. Several years later (2006), as part of the FCC 150 Project, an Extravagant Welcome program was instituted at FCCWP. This has set the stage for where we are as a local community at this time this vote was taken. |
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Although the language of the General Synod is “Open and Affirming”, we need words that encompass a fuller expression of commitment to invite new members to our Church community while we also seek to take a stance in the world that calls us to see ourselves as sisters and brothers to all people. To be open, is to be receptive, friendly, amenable and amicable as we stand ready and without any judgment toward all those who approach us. Taking this a step further, welcome is to actually receive another person by moving toward them with a salutation and greeting, with comfort, ease and acceptance so that they will know without any doubt that they are wanted, appreciated and can be at home in our community of faith. To affirm is to acknowledge, support, uphold and encourage another. Taking this a step further, we also look to embrace new members, fully accepting them for who they are, including them, involving them into the full life of the Church. |
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Even though the scriptures implore us to “welcome the stranger, widow, and orphan,” unfortunately, throughout the centuries, we Christians have fallen prey to the fear, prejudice, ignorance and intolerance found in the world. The powerful statement found in Paul’s Letter to the Galatians that “in Christ there is no male or female…” has come up short in patriarchal societies that have failed to respect the integrity and rights of women. The marvelous oft-quoted proclamation found in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal” has continued to challenge the hypocrisy that has been evident throughout history that all women and men have not been included into full membership of the human family. That is why we believe that it is imperative to spell out clearly to all who we are talking about when we declare ourselves a welcoming Church. |
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The core of this Open and Affirming Statement makes it clear that along with those persons who are identified in the first part of this statement, we are declaring our Church not only a safe and welcome place for persons of every sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, but that this is a Christian community where these individuals, their partners and children are also openly welcome. Furthermore, all are invited, as part of the Body of Christ, to share their gifts as members of this Community of Faith to participate in “the full life, membership, leadership, employment, and ministry of this Church” as all members are, of course, being subject to the discernment and procedures (i.e., qualifications, past experience, background checks, etc.) of Church leadership and current members depending on church protocol and policy. |
Resources
Learn more about the United Church of Christ and the Open and Affirming initiative at http://www.ucc.org/lgbt/ona.html
Learn more about First Congregational Church of Winter Park's Mission Statement
Read the United Church of Christ’s statement of faith at http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/statement-of-faith.htm#DOX Last Published: November 21, 2010 2:25 PM
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