Why do we need a statement saying we are an Open and Affirming Church?

Just as in the past we have made other statements that capture the essence of our basic beliefs as members of the family of God, so now there is a need to declare publicly some important conclusions that arise from our beliefs about our life together. The Open and Affirming Statement puts us on record as committing ourselves to dissolve barriers based on race, gender, age, nationality, economic circumstance, marital status, physical or mental ability, emotional condition or sexual orientation.

Specifically, we acknowledge that the history of the Church includes times when public statements were made judging and excluding some people from the community of faith. At other points, the Church was silent and therefore complicit in society's prejudices. We seek God's grace in overcoming the presence of ignorance, fear, and hatred in ourselves, in the Church, and in society. By naming ourselves an Open and Affirming church, we are saying that our doors and hearts are open to all of God's people.