Open and Affirming (ONA)
In 1972 the United Church of Christ became the first Christian denomination to ordain an openly gay person. In 1985 the 15th General Synod of the United Church of Christ called upon its congregations to adopt a policy of non-discrimination against lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, and to adopt a Covenant of Openness and Affirmation of persons of lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientation. In 2003 the 24th General Synod updated its statement to include gender identity and gender expression, and in 2005 the UCC became the first mainline church to support marriage equality.
Ames UCC is proud to be a part of this tradition of welcome and inclusion. In January 2000 we passed a motion to become an Open and Affirming congregation. It was adopted unanimously by all who voted:
"We covenant to be a community that remains open to the challenges of the Christian faith. We welcome into this community of faith, and affirm the participation in all aspects of the church life, persons of every age, race, gender, nationality, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. We will continue our efforts toward inclusiveness, and stand against all forms of discrimination. We will empower ourselves, our children, and one another to be fully present in the world, living in Christ’s image, and striving for justice and peace."
Ames UCC is proud to be a part of this tradition of welcome and inclusion. In January 2000 we passed a motion to become an Open and Affirming congregation. It was adopted unanimously by all who voted:
"We covenant to be a community that remains open to the challenges of the Christian faith. We welcome into this community of faith, and affirm the participation in all aspects of the church life, persons of every age, race, gender, nationality, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. We will continue our efforts toward inclusiveness, and stand against all forms of discrimination. We will empower ourselves, our children, and one another to be fully present in the world, living in Christ’s image, and striving for justice and peace."
Just Peace
Following the teachings of Jesus, the early Christian communities were pacifists. The Church Father Tertullian asserted that Christians could not serve in the military because they would be called upon to kill other people. When Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire and Christians had newfound power, theologians had to wrestle more deeply with the Christian stance toward war. Out of these reflections emerged the various Just War theories that have predominated in Christian history.
With the rise of totalitarian regimes and the threat of nuclear war in the 20th century, some Christians began to rethink yet again Christian views on violence and war. Out of this reflection comes the Just Peace movement. Its main points include not only promoting peace, but promoting peace with justice; a firm belief that where injustice reigns, violence is sure to follow; a commitment to nonviolent means of confronting dangerous power structures; and an intentional focus on cultivating attitudes of peace and nonviolence in our own lives.
The Just Peace movement is not pacifist, but it does call upon Christians to do far more to bring about the peaceful reign of God here on earth.
In 1985 the United Church of Christ's 15th General Synod, held in Ames, passed a Just Peace Pronouncement calling upon all settings of the UCC to be a Just Peace Church. The General Synod defined "just peace" as the interrelation of friendship, justice, and common security from violence.
On May 4, 1986 Ames UCC voted to affirm this congregation as a Just Peace Church. The Just Peace Church vision is a hallmark of the United Church of Christ's theological identity. The grassroots movement has a public identity as a justice-doing, peace-seeking church. The resolution voted by Ames UCC read as follows:
"Whereas we are called by the life and teachings of Jesus to do justice and to make peace;
Whereas we live in a broken, violent world in desperate need of healing based on God’s shalom;
Whereas the church has been given the gift of the vision of shalom and the responsibility for its nurture in the world;
Whereas the United Church of Christ has in its four component denominations a long history of seeking and doing justice;
Whereas General Synod 15 passed A Pronouncement Affirming the United Church of Christ a Just Peace Church;
Whereas that Pronouncement is only enlivened when local churches adopt it as their own;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Ames UCC affirm the action taken at GS 15 and call itself a Just Peace Church.
Be it further resolved that we take these documents seriously and organize the Ames UCC as a Just Peace Church according to the Call to Local Churches in the Proposal for Action;
And, finally, be it resolved that we make these decisions public and invite others to join us in our dedication to God’s shalom for our earth, our world community, our country, our community, our families and ourselves."
The most consistent outward sign of our being a Just Peace Church is the bell ringing at 12:00 p.m. each Wednesday, a practice which began during Lent 1986. On only one Wednesday since that time has the UCC bell not rung, and that was because no one had a key to unlock the church! One other time the group was locked out and went across the street to First United Methodist and received permission to ring their bell.
All are welcome at the bell ringing. The group puts a sign outside while they are present. They pray and talk about troubled places in the world.
With the rise of totalitarian regimes and the threat of nuclear war in the 20th century, some Christians began to rethink yet again Christian views on violence and war. Out of this reflection comes the Just Peace movement. Its main points include not only promoting peace, but promoting peace with justice; a firm belief that where injustice reigns, violence is sure to follow; a commitment to nonviolent means of confronting dangerous power structures; and an intentional focus on cultivating attitudes of peace and nonviolence in our own lives.
The Just Peace movement is not pacifist, but it does call upon Christians to do far more to bring about the peaceful reign of God here on earth.
In 1985 the United Church of Christ's 15th General Synod, held in Ames, passed a Just Peace Pronouncement calling upon all settings of the UCC to be a Just Peace Church. The General Synod defined "just peace" as the interrelation of friendship, justice, and common security from violence.
On May 4, 1986 Ames UCC voted to affirm this congregation as a Just Peace Church. The Just Peace Church vision is a hallmark of the United Church of Christ's theological identity. The grassroots movement has a public identity as a justice-doing, peace-seeking church. The resolution voted by Ames UCC read as follows:
"Whereas we are called by the life and teachings of Jesus to do justice and to make peace;
Whereas we live in a broken, violent world in desperate need of healing based on God’s shalom;
Whereas the church has been given the gift of the vision of shalom and the responsibility for its nurture in the world;
Whereas the United Church of Christ has in its four component denominations a long history of seeking and doing justice;
Whereas General Synod 15 passed A Pronouncement Affirming the United Church of Christ a Just Peace Church;
Whereas that Pronouncement is only enlivened when local churches adopt it as their own;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Ames UCC affirm the action taken at GS 15 and call itself a Just Peace Church.
Be it further resolved that we take these documents seriously and organize the Ames UCC as a Just Peace Church according to the Call to Local Churches in the Proposal for Action;
And, finally, be it resolved that we make these decisions public and invite others to join us in our dedication to God’s shalom for our earth, our world community, our country, our community, our families and ourselves."
The most consistent outward sign of our being a Just Peace Church is the bell ringing at 12:00 p.m. each Wednesday, a practice which began during Lent 1986. On only one Wednesday since that time has the UCC bell not rung, and that was because no one had a key to unlock the church! One other time the group was locked out and went across the street to First United Methodist and received permission to ring their bell.
All are welcome at the bell ringing. The group puts a sign outside while they are present. They pray and talk about troubled places in the world.