A Confession of Faith in a Time of Division and Injustice

We believe that God is a God of justice, mercy, and reconciliation.

We believe that the church is called to bear witness to the truth, even when it is costly.

We believe that Jesus Christ, in his life, death, and resurrection, has broken down the dividing walls of hostility, calling all people to belong in the household of God.

And yet, we confess:

That in a world where the stranger is persecuted and immigrants are treated as enemies, we have too often remained silent. We confess that God’s call to welcome the foreigner and care for the refugee has been ignored by those who claim His name.

That in a time when nations justify conquest, power, and war under the guise of righteousness, we declare that the kingdom of God is not built on domination, but on peace, humility, and service to the least of these. We reject the pursuit of power at all costs, for we follow the One who refused to seize power but instead took the form of a servant.

That Christian Nationalism is a false gospel, an idol fashioned to serve the ambitions of empire rather than the mission of Christ. We reject any teaching that claims God’s favor belongs to one nation, one race, or one people above others. We confess that Christ is Lord, not the state, not the flag, not any political party or ruler.

That ideologies of hate, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and misogyny, are an offense to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We confess that we have failed to uproot these evils in our own communities, and we repent. We declare that all people, made in the image of God, are worthy of dignity, belonging, and love.

That the erosion of women’s rights is an affront to the justice of God. We reject all attempts to subjugate women, to strip them of bodily autonomy, to silence their voices, or to diminish their leadership in the church and the world.

That the oppression of transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals is a sin against God’s own creation. We believe that all people, regardless of gender or sexuality, are fearfully and wonderfully made. We confess that too often the church has been a place of harm instead of refuge, of exclusion instead of grace. We repent of this and commit ourselves to the full affirmation of God’s beloved.

That the continued denial of rights to people of color is a rejection of the gospel’s call to justice. We confess that systemic racism, voter suppression, and economic inequality are not political issues alone but moral failures that the church must resist.

Therefore, We Proclaim:

That true faith does not seek power, it seeks justice.

That true faith does not exclude, it embraces.

That true faith does not justify oppression, it dismantles it.

That true faith does not silence the suffering, it listens, laments, and labors for change.

We proclaim that the church’s calling is not to defend privilege but to stand with the vulnerable.

That the church’s mission is not to conquer but to heal.

That the church’s allegiance is not to the powerful but to the crucified Christ, who stands with the oppressed and calls us to do the same.

We believe that in Jesus Christ, all are made one, immigrants and citizens, rich and poor, Black, Brown, and White, LGBTQ+ and cisgender, men and women, people of all abilities and backgrounds.

We believe that the Spirit is at work, even now, convicting, transforming, and leading us toward God’s vision of justice and reconciliation.

We reject all ideologies that seek to divide, dominate, or destroy, for we believe that love is stronger than fear, justice more powerful than tyranny, and Christ’s kingdom greater than any empire.

We will not be silent. We will not stand idly by.

We will work, we will pray, we will resist, and we will love, until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

In the name of the Triune God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, Amen.


Footnotes: 

Welcoming the Immigrant & Refugee: Leviticus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 10:18-19, Matthew 25:35

Power & Humility in Christ’s Kingdom: Matthew 20:25-28, Philippians 2:5-8, Luke 4:18-19

Rejection of False Gospels (Christian Nationalism & Idolatry): Exodus 20:3, Galatians 1:6-9, John 18:36

Condemnation of Hate & Division: Ephesians 2:14-16, Galatians 3:28, 1 John 4:20-21

Dignity of Women & Their Role in the Church: Genesis 1:27, Luke 8:1-3, Acts 2:17-18

Affirmation of LGBTQ+ & All Marginalized People: Psalm 139:13-16, Isaiah 56:3-5, Acts 10:34-35

Condemnation of Racism & Injustice: Micah 6:8, Amos 5:24, James 2:1-9

Justice as Central to the Gospel: Isaiah 1:17, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:40

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