STATEMENT OF INCLUSIVITY
We believe that each person is a child of God, and we invite and welcome into our community persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, mental and physical ability, age, race, ethnicity, economic and social background, marital status, and family structure. Our faith leads us to welcome all who wish to share their God-given gifts to participate fully in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, and blessings of our congregation. As an open and affirming congregation and followers of Jesus, Parkview United Church of Christ relies on and is inspired by God's love that is beyond all human understanding as we continue to strive for justice, acceptance, inclusivity, and love in our congregation and in the world.
OPEN & AFFIRMING (ONA)
By overwhelming majority, Parkview United Church of Christ has voted to become an Open & Affirming Congregation.
The Open & Affirming designation means the church now openly welcomes persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression to participate in all aspects of worship and church life. “This is a hopeful day for both Parkview and the White Bear Lake community,” says Pastor Debi Hasdorff. “We are living up to Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves — and we want to do it in an extravagant, exuberant way.”
Parkview made the decision to pursue Open & Affirming status. The church appointed a committee to create an Open & Affirming statement on which the entire congregation would vote. That vote happened, approving a statement that reads, in part:
We believe that each person is a child of God, and we invite and welcome into our community persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and physical ability, age, race, ethnicity, economic and social background, marital status, and family structure. Our faith leads us to welcome all who wish to share their God-given gifts to participate fully in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, and blessings of our congregation...
As an Open & Affirming church, Parkview joins a small but growing number of churches in the Metro, and throughout the nation, that openly welcome the LGBTQ community.
“Achieving the Open & Affirming designation is very important to Parkview,” says Pastor Hasdorff. “We want to send a message to everyone in White Bear Lake and surrounding areas that they are loved and valued as a child of God, and warmly welcome at Parkview United Church of Christ.”
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, YOU are welcome here.
The Open & Affirming designation means the church now openly welcomes persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression to participate in all aspects of worship and church life. “This is a hopeful day for both Parkview and the White Bear Lake community,” says Pastor Debi Hasdorff. “We are living up to Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves — and we want to do it in an extravagant, exuberant way.”
Parkview made the decision to pursue Open & Affirming status. The church appointed a committee to create an Open & Affirming statement on which the entire congregation would vote. That vote happened, approving a statement that reads, in part:
We believe that each person is a child of God, and we invite and welcome into our community persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and physical ability, age, race, ethnicity, economic and social background, marital status, and family structure. Our faith leads us to welcome all who wish to share their God-given gifts to participate fully in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, and blessings of our congregation...
As an Open & Affirming church, Parkview joins a small but growing number of churches in the Metro, and throughout the nation, that openly welcome the LGBTQ community.
“Achieving the Open & Affirming designation is very important to Parkview,” says Pastor Hasdorff. “We want to send a message to everyone in White Bear Lake and surrounding areas that they are loved and valued as a child of God, and warmly welcome at Parkview United Church of Christ.”
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, YOU are welcome here.
