The Open & Affirming (ONA) Process. Packanack Community Church Annual Congregational Meeting January 10, 2016

Transcription

1 The Open & Affirming (ONA) Process Packanack Community Church Annual Congregational Meeting January 10,

2 Why are we here today? Letter to congregation-december 2015 PCC founded on the principle of openness. Process to examine openness and acceptance at our church How welcoming are we? 2

3 What is the ONA process? United Church of Christ process What has happened so far? Triboard initiated the discussion of ONA Spring 2015-Core Team formation November 2015-Core Team findings Triboard voted unanimously to continue to explore the ONA process ONA Covenant drafted for acceptance by the congregation 3

4 What is the ONA Covenant? Does NOT replace the PCC covenant Act of faith and solemn promise to God for consideration Grounded in prayer according to the rule of love 4

5 If we accept the Covenant We make a public proclamation that we are ONA. We become listed with the other 1,300 ONA churches in the U.S. We live our solemn promise to God as expressed in the Covenant. 5

6 The Packanack Community Church ONA Covenant We the people of Packanack Community Church of Wayne, NJ, welcome and value a diverse congregation. We believe all people are created in God s image and are loved equally by God. We seek to walk together equally as a safe and nurturing family of faith, encouraging all individuals to participate fully in the life, leadership, and mission of our church. 6

7 The Packanack Community Church ONA Covenant We celebrate the God-given gifts of everyone of all ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, economic circumstances, physical, cognitive, or emotional abilities, family configurations, education or spiritual and religious traditions. Therefore, we declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit to transform us into a reflection of God s love and justice in the world. 7

8 How do we discuss the ONA process? 8

9 It is important that we use graceful engagement in our discussions concerning ONA. 9

10 Graceful Engagement IS: Living together in relationship and compassion. Fully valuing other people and their beliefs, even when they differ from our own. Listening, sharing, hearing. Meeting people where they are, not where we want them to be. Finding commonalities/shared experiences. 10

11 Graceful Engagement seeks to avoid: Forcing our opinions on others through argument. Exclusion or outright condemning those with whom we do not agree. Leaving the church to find a place where everyone agrees. 11

12 What are the next steps? Movie/panel discussion-january 17, Lunch will be provided in Simmons Hall after church to view the documentary For the Bible Tells Me So. RSVP to Lisa Seela Soup suppers with ONA churches. Bible Study: What does the Bible say about homosexuality? 12

13 What are the next steps? Visitation of other ONA churches. Anonymous survey-this survey will be given out today at the culmination of the congregational meeting. This survey will also include a question regarding the Christmas Eve service. Anonymous congregational vote-date to be determined. 13

14 Members of the ONA Task Force Lisa & Bobby Seela Karyn Ratcliffe Lauri Masur Michele Forrest Barb Bogert Steve De Haan Kathy Schneider Dominick Colotta Joan Riley Jim Ritter Michelle Legemaat Peter Ross 14

15 At the November Triboard, we asked ourselves some questions. 15

16 Why is this a special place? Acceptance Community Outreach Unity Music Sense of Community Genuineness Food! Feels like home 16

17 What drew you in? Family UCC Sense of community Children s program Free and openness Devoted members Proximity Sometimes non-traditional Music Program 17

18 What keeps you here? Outreach Love Music Habit Fellowship People UCC Tradition Loyalty Home feeling Commitment Service opportunities Sense of ownership Weathering ups and downs 18 Stubbornness

19 We discovered that we love our church enough To explore new ideas. To consider change. To accept what God may be telling us. We hope that you will join us on this journey. 19

20 We welcome your input or feedback We would appreciate your completion the anonymous survey at the end of this meeting. Please contact any member of our Task Force if you wish to ask questions privately or you can provide your personal comments on the survey. Do you have questions or comments? 20