An Affirming Congregation

Southminster-Steinhauer United Church
An Affirming Congregation within the United Church of Canada

Southminster-Steinhauer United Church, in keeping with its mission to be “an open and welcoming community where Christian faith is joyfully celebrated, courageously explored and actively lived”, is committed to a vision of a ministry that is welcoming, inviting and affirming of all people.

This vision we boldly claim is the same found in Jesus’ ministry among the people of his own time. In the gospels, he taught by word and action that no matter the particularities of age, sex, class, physical or mental ability, each person is a beloved child of the living God and worthy of God’s – and therefore our – loving and caring attention.

Paul, the early Christian evangelist, was inspired by the egalitarian vision of God in Jesus, the Christ, when he wrote to the church in Galatia; “there is no Jew or Greek, there is no longer male and female: for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28). These words turned upside down the accepted social norms of Paul’s day, and charted a new direction for Christians seeking God’s way. Southminster-Steinhauer United Church speaks this truth in our own day, and lives it out with God’s help in the following ways:

We journey in faith as people of every age, sex, gender, race, sexual identity, mental or physical ability, family status, economic or cultural background. Together we will act as full participants in the life, membership and leadership of this church.

As an Affirming Congregation, we declare publicly that our church is open to, and affirming of the inclusion of heterosexual, gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, their families and friends with respect to church membership, celebrating life passages, leadership and mission. We do this as a sign that Christ’s community is one of acceptance and love for all people in the same way that Jesus showed us.

We commit ourselves anew to live and share our faith boldly so that no one – girl or boy, woman or man – need fear that they are separated from God’s steadfast love in Christ.

Futhermore, by word and action, we will work to counter injustice which violates a person’s right to respect, dignity and to fair and equitable treatment in human society.

As we continue our discovery of what it means to be an inclusive community, we understand the importance of hearing and respecting each other’s stories, skills and gifts. We celebrate the richness this diversity brings to our church, even as it challenges us to be ready to walk with Christ down roads we have not yet explored.

Together, unafraid, we shall help to build the community and world we believe God calls us to create.