Open and Affirming

Jesus teaches us to welcome all God’s children into God’s covenantal community. All people are created in God’s image and, thus, are loved by God. Love is the unifying and strengthening force within the Christian faith. We recognize that within this church we possess different perspectives and interpretations of Scripture; we celebrate that diversity and seek to honor it.

We, the members of the Bar Harbor Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, hereby declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming Christian community within the United Church of Christ, actively expressing Jesus’ inclusive embrace of all people. We welcome those who seek to follow Jesus including persons of every age, gender, race, national origin, faith background, marital status and family structure, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and physical ability, economic and social status, and educational background to share in the life, leadership, employment, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, rites, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our church family.

As we grow together in faith and love, let us strive to celebrate the diversity in which God has created us.