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VISION
Who We Are
We are women and men and everyone in between,
children and adults, friends and family, old-timers and newcomers. We care for one another, work for peace and justice in our local communities and the world, care for our garden and the wider earth. We play together, nourish each other and challenge one another. We worship and sing, pray with and for each other and continue to learn and grow. We are an active group who lead and take responsibility for the varied work of our community. |
MISSION To create a welcoming community that supports each one’s spiritual journey as it inspires us to work for peace, justice, and the loving care of all creation CORE VALUES We appreciate the beauty, richness and depth that diversity brings to our community, and we honor the spiritual journeys of all. Our Christian faith is 2000 years old, our thinking is not. We are grounded in the Christian faith, while honoring and growing from many faith traditions. We are committed to and remain open to hearing God’s ancient story anew and afresh…believing that God is still speaking. We value the covenant nature of community: caring for one another and living responsibly, knowing that actions make a difference. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here. We believe compassion is the foundation for ministry with each other and our work for peace, justice and care of God’s creation. We are attentive to God’s creative movement in the world. We advocate justice for all. We express spirituality through quiet contemplation and vibrant worship. A faith community that seeks to connect heads, hearts and hands. |
Immigrant Welcoming Declaration
Approved Jan. 28, 2018
Jesus welcomed everyone and excluded no one. In that same spirit, we strive to do the same. As members and friends of Bethel Congregational Church, we are called to do justice and love kindness.
In these days, we are moved by our faith and consciences to stand together with our immigrant neighbors and their families. This requires that we build relationships across barriers, educate ourselves, advocate for human rights and accompany immigrants in times of need.
Therefore we declare ourselves an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation and commit to the following:
Approved Jan. 28, 2018
Jesus welcomed everyone and excluded no one. In that same spirit, we strive to do the same. As members and friends of Bethel Congregational Church, we are called to do justice and love kindness.
In these days, we are moved by our faith and consciences to stand together with our immigrant neighbors and their families. This requires that we build relationships across barriers, educate ourselves, advocate for human rights and accompany immigrants in times of need.
Therefore we declare ourselves an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation and commit to the following:
- Deepen the connection between immigrant and nonimmigrant members and families within Bethel Church and throughout the broader community.
- Educate ourselves and our community about immigration-related issues. We are indebted to the work of Gorge Ecumenical Ministries and the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice for helping us on this front.
- Advocate for a fair and humane immigration system.
- Accompany and support immigrants and their families, at their request, when facing immigration-related hearings and meetings or seeking change in their immigration status.
- We are grateful to celebrate the end of the ICE Contract at Northern Oregon Regional Correction Facility (NorCor) in August 2020. Hallelujah!