A Place in God's Heart... A Place at Christ's Table
Affirmations of Faith
Published by the Institute for Welcoming Resources, a program of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and home of the Shower of Stoles Project www.WelcomingResources.org. Unless otherwise noted, permission is granted to reprint individual selections for congregational use.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Ten Affirmations for GLBT Spirituality
Religion and Spirituality Working Group of Voices for a New Tomorrow
| One: | We celebrate the unity we create in the midst of our diversity. |
| Two: | We affirm the inherent beauty, worth, and dignity of every GLBT and straight person. |
| Three: | There are many paths to the sacred. The spiritual paths of GLBT persons are among them. |
| Four: | The choice is not whether to be GLBT or straight, but whether or not to live an authentic life. |
| Five: | Coming out is a courageous and spiritual act. |
| Six: | Sexual expression is one of the many sacred ways that GLBT and straight adults can express the depth of love in their relationships. |
| Seven: | We support each person's journey of integrating spirituality and sexuality which leads to wholeness. |
| Eight: | Marriage is a sacred union for people who are committed to each other without regard to gender. Love makes a family. |
| Nine: | Spiritual leaders must take responsibility to lead, protect, and affirm GLBT people: children, adults, and their families. |
| Ten: | No one is free when others are oppressed. |
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Based on the Ten Affirmations for GLBT Spirituality
| One: | We celebrate the unity we create in the midst of our diversity.
We believe in God's creative, embracing love for all that is. |
| Two: | We affirm the inherent beauty, worth, and dignity of every GLBT and straight person.
We believe that God does not make junk. |
| Three: | There are many paths to the sacred. The spiritual paths of GLBT persons are among them.
We believe that God's Wisdom may be known in a variety of ways. |
| Four: | The choice is not whether to be GLBT or straight, but whether or not to live an authentic life.
We believe God wants us to be reliable and trustworthy. |
| Five: | Coming out is a courageous and spiritual act.
We believe that God rejoices when we reveal to the world our full selves. |
| Six: | Sexual expression is one of the many sacred ways that GLBT and straight adults can express the depth of love in their relationships.
We believe God made sex good. |
| Seven: | We support each person's journey of integrating spirituality and sexuality which leads to wholeness.
We believe God entwines body and spirit in all people. |
| Eight: | Marriage is a sacred union for people who are committed to each other without regard to gender. Love makes a family.
We believe God wills life-long covenants. |
| Nine: | Spiritual leaders must take responsibility to lead, protect, and affirm GLBT people: children, adults, and their families.
We believe God inspires leaders to do this. |
| Ten: | No one is free when others are oppressed.
We believe God cries out with the persecuted. Their yearning for freedom is also God's. |
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We Are Not Our Own
From the Declaration of Debrecen, 1977
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
| All: | We are not our own. We belong to the living God who made all things and declared them to be very good. We will not exploit and destroy that creation. We will be stewards of creation for God. |
| We are not our own. We know that in Jesus Christ we were bought with a price. We will not patronize, exclude, or ignore the gifts of any person, male or female, young or old. We declare solidarity with the poor, and with all who are suffering, oppressed, or excluded. | |
| We are not our own. We do not despair, for God reigns. We will continue to struggle against injustice in this world. We look forward to the Holy City in which God will dwell with human beings and be their God. |
