Plymouth UCC’s ONA Statement

Plymouth United Church of Christ is an Open and Affirming congregation, embracing diversity and affirming the dignity and worth of every person, since we are all created in God’s image. We welcome into full membership and participation in the Body of Christ persons of every race, ethnic background, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, socio-economic background, marital status and faith background. We welcome all to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, humor, and blessings of participation in our congregation.

All people have a place at God’s table. We feed the hungry, whether it be food for bodily hunger, or by feeding spiritual hunger, hunger for community, hunger for love. All of us are made by God and made in God’s image, all of us hunger for something more than we are or more than we have, and so you are welcome!

We are a progressive community of love that provides a safe, supportive space for religious exploration and spiritual growth. We prefer questions over answers, compassion over doctrine, and exploring together over going it alone. Jesus cared for people more than “rules”, so Plymouth favors loving-kindness and social justice for Gay and straight, rich and poor, male and female, goth and hipster, cowboy and rocker, strait-laced and straight-edged, parents and child-free, retired and just starting a career, children and adults.

We feed by acts of love. We love through our potlucks, we love through our giving to Community Table, we love through our street ministry, we love through praying for one another, we love through rejoicing together in progressive and music-filled worship, we love by knowing each other’s names, we love by including all ages and all identities in our mission to make the world a more loving place.

We believe that God loves all people, and that Jesus’ message of love is for EVERYONE, no exceptions! And that includes YOU!