The mission of United Church of Christ Greenawalds is to:
Be a community that sustains continuous change and transformation as we grow in the likeness of Christ and the image of God.
Proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and action through worship, education, study and fellowship.
Continually push ourselves to be open to people of all backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities. Exhibit care, love, understanding and hospitality to everyone.
Establish ourselves as a known presence in the community.
W.I.S.E. for Mental Health
WISE is an acronym that stands for Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged. A WISE congregation is one that has covenanted to being WISE for mental health in their community and the wider world through their welcome, inclusion, and support of those with mental health experiences, as well as through their engagement with mental health advocacy and justice work.
Our WISE Covenant
We, the people of United Church of Christ Greenawalds, pledge to be a congregation committed to creating and maintaining a loving and safe environment for all people.
We care about the whole person: body, heart, mind, and soul.
We affirm the deep and constant movement of the Holy Spirit in all people and in all the world, as we are graced by the gifts, stories and experiences of all people, including those who live with mental health challenges such as, but not limited to, mental illnesses, brain disorders, addictions, and trauma.
We know these challenges can profoundly affect people’s feelings, thoughts, and behavior.
We believe that all people are beloved by God, and if a person has a mental health challenge or an addiction, that person has a right to be seen as a person first and foremost, because that person is not defined by the challenges they face or actions brought on by their illness, but by the love they have received from God. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.” He made no distinction between various members of society; he did not show any partiality. He included all people in this commandment and in the example set by his lived ministry.
As all are beloved by God, all have a right to be fully known and accepted.
In light of these recognitions, we declare United Church of Christ Greenawalds to be a congregation that is WISE:
Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged with individuals who are challenged by and suffer from Mental Illness & Substance Abuse Disorders, and those who love them.
CALL TO ACTION:
We pledge to Welcome people with mental health challenges and those who love them:
We actively welcome those with mental health challenges into our faith community and provide a safe environment in which people can tell their stories and share their journeys.
In an effort to reduce social stigma, we examine and confront our own attitudes and preconceived notions about mental health challenges and mental health.
We educate ourselves and offer educational opportunities to help our whole congregation understand issues surrounding mental health challenges and the implication of this covenant.
We pledge to Include people with mental health challenges in the life, work, and leadership of the congregation:
We commit to recruiting, nominating, and supporting persons with mental health challenges to serve on teams and in leadership positions within the congregation.
When calling clergy and other staff, we are open to hiring persons with mental health challenges.
We pledge to Support people in our congregation who have mental health challenges and those who love them:
We reach out to those suffering from brain disorders/mental illnesses, addictions, and trauma in the same way we reach out to those living with any physical illnesses.
We offer companionship and compassion for individuals living with mental health challenges and their loved ones, regardless of church membership status.
We pledge to Engage with other organizations for training and resourcing in the areas of mental health, faith, spirituality and wellness.
We welcome and encourage outside groups who deal with mental health challenges, brain disorders/mental illness, addictions, and trauma to use our church facilities.
We find opportunities to be in shared mission, ministry, and advocacy with others, including the UCC Mental Health Network and the UCC Disabilities Ministry, and other community organizations.
This covenant was unanimously approved by the congregation on January 28, 2024, affirming that we join in the communal process of ever becoming more welcoming, inclusive, supportive, and engaged with all of God’s people.
Statement of Faith of the United Church of Christ
We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, who is made known to us in Jesus our brother, and to whose deeds we testify:
God calls the worlds into being, creates humankind in the divine image, and sets before us the ways of life and death.
God seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
God judges all humanity and all nations by that will of righteousness declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, God has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the whole creation to its Creator.
God bestows upon us the Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
God calls us into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.
God promises to all who trust in the gospel forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in that kingdom which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto God. Amen.