On Sunday, March 22, 2009, the congregation voted to become Open and Affirming (ONA). This means that, though the church has always welcomed all persons into fellowship, it is now officially on record and acknowledged as one of about 800 UCC congregations who do so.
The congregation adopted this Statement of Inclusiveness:
Because we are a Christian community of faith, committed to welcoming and affirming all people as children of God, and because we believe that God calls us to celebrate each person’s uniqueness and respect the integrity of each person’s identity, life, and culture:
We at Spring Hill United Church of Christ publicly and actively welcome and affirm people of every
- Race
- Gender
- Ethnicity
- Sexual identity (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, heterosexual)
- Physical, mental and emotional health
- Economic status
- Family structure
into the full membership, leadership, ministry, and sacramental life of our congregation.
We covenant to reach out and support each other in our celebrations and sorrows, in our spiritual journeys and personal ministries, calling forth in one another the gifts of God in each of us. We pray that, guided by the Holy Spirit, we may grow in knowledge and sensitivity until we fully become the welcoming and affirming congregation of the faithful that God has called us to be.
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