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More Light Open & Affirming

At its meeting of September 9, 1980, the Covenant Council voted that this congregation be designated a "More Light" Church (i.e., a church which welcomes all persons into the life, membership and leadership of its congregation on an equal basis), and that this vote together with the following s.statement be communicated to Presbyterians for Lesbian/Gay Concerns in the Synod of the Northeast, UPCUSA.

We know, with Paul, that as Christians we are many members, but we are one body In Christ, and members one of another. In this community we choose the abundant Life of the Kingdom, as seen in the lives and gifts of all our members; we reject all actions which, by wounding our sisters and brothers, disfigure the body of the Church.

We recognize that gay people are already members of the Church of Christ. Indeed, we rejoice In the presence of all whom God has gathered by the movement of the Spirit, which needs neither our permission nor approval. We welcome gay people to all positions of service and leadership, and pray to discern those whom God has anointed in Spirit and power, that we too may receive their gifts. In pledging to establish new ministries within the gay community to speak grace to those who have been alienated from Jesus Christ, we acknowledge that our absence from that community has revealed our lack of faith in the Lord, who has taken upon himself the shame of all and in whom there is no condemnation.

At its meeting on September 9, 1986, the Covenant Council voted that this congregation be designated an "Open and Affirming" Church. As a result of this vote, Church of the Covenant became the first congregation in the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ to declare itself "Open and Affirming," and joined only seven other congregations (as of July 4, 1986) nationwide that had previously made this declaration.

We know, with Paul, that as Christians we are many members, but we are one body in Christ, and members of one another. With Jesus, we affirm that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves and that we are called to act as agents of reconciliation and wholeness within the world and within the church itself.

We know that lesbian, gay and bisexual persons are often scorned by the church and devalued and discriminated against both in the church and In society. We wish to witness to our caring and concern for our gay, lesbian, and bisexually-oriented brothers and sisters In Christ by affirming the following:

That we believe that lesbian, gay, and bisexually-oriented people share with all others the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;

That gay, lesbian, and bisexually-oriented persons are welcome as members and participants in this congregation through the same affirmation of membership as is made by all other members of this church;

That we expect to celebrate and use the gifts, talents, and resources of our gay, lesbian, and bisexual members as we use and celebrate the gifts, talents, and resources of all our members to build a church which is faithful to the mandate of God and working to bring about the fullness of God's reign;

That we welcome gay, lesbian, and bisexual members to participate fully in the life, leadership, and employment of this church.

At its meeting on March 14, 1995, the Covenant Council voted to approve the following Policy on Same-Sex Unions:

We know that Jesus reluctantly performed his first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Faced with the compelling invitation of his mother and a need that was real, Jesus turned water into wine and in doing so, enhanced the reputation of the host and deepened the atmosphere of joy.

Over the last fifteen years, we, too, at Church of the Covenant have experienced an initial reluctance and then experienced wonder bordering on miracle. We have been invited, compelled, and called to officiate at, participate in and be guest at numerous same-sex unions and weddings. We have been asked to act as support system, counselors, and public witnesses to the building, nurturing, and sustaining of gay and lesbian people who have committed themselves to lifelong unions of integrity.

In doing so, we have been brought to and across the boundaries of tears of joy and visions of courage, we have felt the benefits of a real and lasting reconciliation with those who have been injured and condemned by the church, and we have discovered inside ourselves and amidst our faith community a wealth of grace and appreciation for the greatness of our God. We feel at this point that we dare not retreat from this work of reconciliation and affirmation for we have seen the face of Jesus in this work and felt the movement of the Holy Spirit in our midst.

Therefore we declare that we are called to name that these marriages/unions hold the same legitimacy and value as those weddings we traditionally have participated in throughout the history of the church, and furthermore we declare that we are called to continue this ministry to be pastorally present to and stand in solidarity with men and women who seek God's blessing and the church's embrace as they make life commitments to partners of the same sex.

What’s Happening Now

LGBT members and friends of COTC are connected through an email list. We organize potlucks, theater outings and political action. We are continuing to work for the full inclusion of LGBT people in the ordained leadership of the PCUSA. We celebrate all marriages under the auspices of the United Church of Christ. You are welcome here – join us!