 Stanley
Congregational Church  A different kind of church - progressive, thoughtful, inclusive, democratic.
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Creation, The First Day, by the Stanley Church School |
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What's so special about Stanley Church? Stanley
Congregational Church, United Church of Christ is a member of the
New
Jersey
Association and Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of
Christ. We
are an Open and Affirming congregation with several statements that
affirm our relationship
with God and with the world around us. You can learn more about us by reading our Stanley Church Covenant, our Mission Statement, and
our Open and Affirming Statement. The United Church of Christ is the worldwide Protestant denomination to which Stanley
Congregational Church belongs. We're the church of the Pilgrims and Abolition. We were the first denomination to ordain an African-American (1785), the first to ordain a woman (1853), and the first to ordain an openly gay pastor (1972). We're known for our extravagant welcome to all. |
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We
covenant with God and
one another to seek the many ways in which God is made known to us. We
seek that
presence in Jesus the Christ, in the Bible, in worship, in each other,
in ourselves
and in our everyday world. We share the blessings of God which
flow among
us, accepting the cost and joy of serving the whole human family. We
will pray
for and with each other, seeking to love one another even when we
disagree. We
commit ourselves to this way of life, trusting God's grace. Jesus tells us, love God with all your heart and soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself. Inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus, we gather as a community where questioning, listening, and learning lead us toward faith and understanding.
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Stanley Church Open and Affirming (ONA) Statement:* At Stanley Church, we value questions, respect differences, and offer a warm welcome to persons of every race, marital circumstance, sexual orientation, and theological tradition. We are a Protestant church, democratically governed by our members, working ecumenically to establish justice and peace for all people.*ONA is "shorthand" for Open and Affirming, the designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the United Church of Christ which make public statements of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We spread the message of God’s extravagant welcome to everyone! |
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We promise to
support each
other's relationship with God and encourage each individual's calling.
We strive
to be compassionate and minister to those in need. We work to right
injustice
and advance peace. We seek to be good stewards of God's gifts. We
endeavor to
live our faith both inside and outside our doors.