OPEN & AFFIRMING
You Are Welcome Here
We believe every person is created in the image of God and worthy of dignity, love, and belonging. As an Open and Affirming congregation, people of every sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression are welcome into the full life and ministry of our church.
Our Open & Affirming Statement
We, the members of the Congregational Church of Topsfield, seek to follow and live by the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Our faith leads us to follow His example and welcome all persons, including those of all ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, faith background, family structure, marital status, physical and mental abilities, and economic circumstances into the full life and ministry of this congregation.
All followers of Jesus Christ and those who seek to follow Him are welcome to join in our common life and mission as leaders and participants, fully sharing in the worship, rites, and sacraments of this church.
More Than a Welcome
Open and Affirming means more to us than saying everyone is welcome. It is a commitment to the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the worship, membership, leadership, sacraments, and ministry of our church.
It also means continuing to learn, listen, and work toward a church and a world where every person can live with dignity and authenticity.
What our welcome means
Our Open and Affirming commitment is reflected in every part of our life together.
WORSHIP
You are welcome to worship, pray, receive Communion, and participate fully in the sacramental life of our church.
BELONGING
LGBTQ+ people and families are welcomed into membership and every part of our community, bringing the fullness of who they are.
LEADERSHIP
LGBTQ+ people are welcome to serve, teach, lead, and participate in every level of the life and ministry of our congregation.
MARRIAGE
We celebrate and support marriages of LGBTQ+ couples and offer the same pastoral care and support to all couples and families.
OUR COMMITMENT
A Welcome We Continue to Live Into
Becoming Open and Affirming is not the end of the work. We understand it as an ongoing commitment—to listen, learn, examine the ways people can be excluded, and keep working toward a community where everyone can participate fully.
We know churches have not always been safe or welcoming places for LGBTQ+ people. We hope to be part of building something different.
An expansive welcome
Our commitment to inclusion does not stop with sexual orientation or gender identity. We seek to welcome people across differences of race, age, ability, family structure, economic circumstance, and background.
We also welcome people at different places in their relationship with faith—those who believe deeply, those who carry doubts and questions, and those who are simply curious.
Come As You Are
You don’t need to know what you believe, have church experience, or change who you are before you walk through our doors. There is room for you here.