No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here.
From our Constitution:
Article III: Faith and Covenant
1. Faith
This Church acknowledges as its sole Head, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of man. It acknowledges as brothers and sisters in Christ all who share this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world.
It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers.
It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own.
In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
2. Our Covenant
We covenant one with another to seek and respond to the Word and the Will of God.
We purpose to walk together in the ways of the Lord, made known and to be made known to us.
We hold it to be the mission of the Church to witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world, while worshiping God, and striving for truth, justice, and peace.
With our Pilgrim and Congregational ancestors in the faith, we believe that “the Lord has more truth and light yet to break forth out of his holy word,” and we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead and empower us.
We pray for the coming of the kingdom of God, and we look with faith toward the triumph of righteousness and eternal life.
We pledge ourselves
- to regular participation in the worship of God in the church and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper;
- to live the Christian life;
- to share in the life and work of the church;
- to contribute to its support and benevolences;
- to seek diligently the spiritual welfare of the membership and community;
- and to sincerely endeavor to apply the teachings of Jesus to all human relationships.
Open and Affirming Statement
This statement was approved by Congregational vote on May 22, 2011
“Jesus said to them ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” – Matthew 22:37-39
Having been led by the Spirit of the still-speaking God, the members of the First Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ, Park Ridge, New Jersey, hereby declare that we are an Open and Affirming congregation, actively expressing Our Lord’s inclusive embrace of all people.
This statement is a public affirmation that embraces the tenets of Jesus who taught us that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.
We invite and welcome into our community persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ability, age, race, nationality, economic and social status, faith background, marital standing, and family structure.
We welcome all people to join in the common life and mission of our church. We strive for justice and equality for all of God’s children in our journey of faith and we do not tolerate discrimination against any group of people.
As we all move forward with the work of this church, we commit ourselves to making justice and inclusivity a reality in this congregation and in the world. On the threshold of Christ’s open door, we rely upon the healing, unconditional nature of God’s love and grace to be our help and guide.
Therefore, no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome in this Church.