The Core Values of the United Church of Christ in Abington

Discerned in January 2005

SPIRITUALITY  We prayerfully encourage the idea that Spirituality is something that comes only from having a personal relationship with God through God’s son Jesus Christ. We welcome people into our midst no matter whether they are just starting to walk toward Christ or are hand in hand with him. We prayerfully encourage the idea that this church’s purpose is to help everyone grow to their own personal level of relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

FAMILY  We prayerfully encourage the idea that God’s Family circle is large and includes familial groups of all types, both small and intimate as well as those that are large and more encompassing. Jesus set an example for us by accepting all people into his family circle. So, too, we value and welcome everyone into our family circle. We prayerfully encourage the idea that Jesus calls upon us to support everyone in our family circle.

COMMUNITY  We prayerfully encourage the idea that Jesus unites people; therefore, it is our responsibility to be involved in the larger Community that surrounds our family. We are connected to our community through our spirituality with no physical or geographical boundaries. We prayerfully encourage the idea that we have a mission to reach out to others to bring the Good News to all people wherever they are located.

 CARING  We prayerfully encourage the idea that Jesus instructed us to be a Caring and Compassionate people. He made it incumbent upon us to help others as much as possible. We prayerfully encourage the idea that we are instructed by Jesus to care for all of his people, to help those in need and to work toward justice, dignity and equality of treatment for all of God’s people.

LOVE  We prayerfully encourage the idea that Love for others is what God and Jesus want us to know more than anything else. Love is strongly rooted in God’s Word to us. We are motivated by God’s call to love one another as equals. Love means that we will strive to provide a nurturing and loyal environment for all people. We do all of these things with the love of God received through Jesus Christ.

ACCEPTANCE  We prayerfully encourage the idea that Jesus instructed us to Accept everyone who desires to learn about him and to make them feel that they Belong to his faith family. Jesus did not place any restrictions on who he would associate with except to ask that they believe in him. Jesus had no race or gender-based qualifications for his friends. Following Jesus’ example, we have no restrictions either. We prayerfully encourage the idea that being a part of Jesus’ and our family provides people with respect, dignity, and stability that every human being should have. We strive to make everyone feel that they belong here.

Steve Baker