Open and Affirming Statement
adopted at a Special Meeting of the Congregation on June 5, 2005.
“The first [commandment] is… ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31) Accepting these as the greatest commandments of the Gospel, we, the members of the First Congregational Church of Hopkinton, NH, United Church of Christ, covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Therefore, we welcome and invite into the full life and ministry of this church all people of every race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, economic class, physical or mental ability, and any other of the diverse attributes that are woven into the fabric of humankind.
To all who enter our circle of faith, we offer all sacraments and rites, and extend all responsibilities and privileges.
