A middle-aged woman and a young African American boy hold up a rainbow banner made with children's hand prints.

LGBTQ+/Open & Affirming

At the First Congregational Church of Stockbridge, we proclaim without exception that every person is a beautiful child of God, made in God’s image.

Affirming and celebrating the diversity of God’s creation, we invite persons of every sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, racial and cultural identity, age, physical ability, economic circumstances, faith background and family structure to share fully in the ministry, leadership, and fellowship of this congregation’s life in Christ.

Seeking to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who welcomed all into his embrace, and mindful of the often painful history of LGBTQ+ persons in the church, we have joined with other Open and Affirming congregations of the United Church of Christ to stand with and enthusiastically affirm the right of LGBTQ+ persons to participate fully in the life of this congregation.

We’re Open and Affirming not in spite of our Christian faith, but because of it.