Open and Affirming Congregation

Westmoreland's Declaration of Purpose states:

"Our ideal is a church of the open mind, the warm heart, the aspiring soul and the social vision which seeks in all its ways to express the mind and spirit of Jesus."

To that purpose, through the life and history of our congregation, Westmorelanders have sought to respect the differences among us while attempting to bridge the barriers which have divided and estranged us one from another.

As members of the United Church of Christ we believe that God has bestowed on us the Holy Spirit, binding in covenant all faithful people. As Paul wrote, "There is no such thing as Jew or Greek, slave and free person, male and female, for we are all one in Jesus Christ." Galatians 3:28.

In keeping with our faith and the purpose of this Church and the whole Church:

We Honor each human being as a child of God;

We Believe, through Jesus Christ, God calls all persons to worship together;

We Welcome into our community of faith anyone who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ;

We Acknowledge our diversity as a congregation of the United Church of Christ;

We Respect the privacy of our fellow worshippers; and

We Cherish the family in all its different forms and celebrate all loving and committed relationships.

We are an open church, affirming the dignity and worth of every person as created in the image of God, welcoming into our fellowship people of all ages, races, abilities, sexual orientation, and gender identity who acknowledge Christ as our foundation and who seek to embody the mind and spirit of Jesus.