Everyone in God’s Family is Equal
A COMMITMENT TO REMOVING RACIAL BARRIERS
We celebrate the beautiful diversity of all people as the creative genius of God. Believing that everyone is marred by sin and separated from God, we understand that the societies we build are embedded with sin and injustice. Jesus Christ came to redeem the world and everyone in it. His vision and work were centered on a new way of life, called the Kingdom of God. It is a way of life marked by love, peace, justice and respect which leads to reconciliation in all relationships (with God and with one another).
The church is supposed to be a community committed to that way of life. We believe that Christ has called us to work together to help every person reach their potential. Everyone in God’s family is equal at the cross and so should be treated as such in the church. With this in mind, we want to be a church that:
- welcomes people from all cultures and is committed to removing racial barriers
- celebrates all the cultures of the world, especially those within our church
- listens carefully to and laments compassionately alongside everyone who has been hurt by the injustices of racism and segregation
- repents of the ways we have consciously or unconsciously contributed to the injustices of racism and segregation
- disciples everyone to build healthy loving relationships of peace and respect that leads to racial unity
- intentionally cultivates a culture of racial diversity throughout every ministry, including positions of leadership both volunteer and staff
- purposefully integrates this statement of racial unity in its outreach to the community