Open and Affirming

When you walk into the room, God joyfully yells out your name the way everyone welcomes "Norm!" on Cheers. God extravagantly welcomes everyone, and so do we. 

Zion is an Open and Affirming (ONA) church which means that we cherish every person, with a specific commitment to cherishing LGBTQ folks. At Zion, there are no barriers to full life and leadership for anyone, regardless of sex, gender identity, race, age, orientation, ability, or any other "status." 

Listen to Mary Harris's personal testimony of being welcomed at Zion, from our Open and Affirming Sunday annual celebration.

Here's our official Affirming Statement of Welcome. 
We, the members of Zion United Church of Christ, welcome you. 
If you are Asian, Hispanic, Black, or White; 
If you are male, female, or transgender; 
If you are 3 days old, 33 years old, or 103 years old; 
If you’ve never stepped foot in a church, a synagogue, a temple, a cathedral, or a mosque; 
If you are single, married, widowed, divorced, separated, or partnered; 
If you are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or yet unsure of your sexuality; 
If you are a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Socialist,  Libertarian, affiliated with another political party or no party at all; 
If you are pro-life, or pro-choice; 
If you have or have had, addictions, phobias, or a criminal record; 
If you own your home, rent, live with your parents, or are homeless; 
If you have typical or atypical skills or are just beginning to sense your God-given gifts and talents; 
However the rest of the world describes you, and however you describe yourself, you are welcome at Zion. 
Being fully welcome in our community here at Zion United Church of Christ means that our congregation will: 
  • Always seek to affirm the person that you are with loving hearts and open minds. 
  • Follow the way of Christ Jesus with you in loving and being loved by both God and neighbor, with the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. 
  • Love you for the person you are by living out our denomination’s promise that “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at Zion UCC.”  
    (Portions adapted from the Affirmation of Welcome of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, ELCA; Philadelphia, Penn.)