We are progressive.
We are Christians following the path of Jesus. We believe that living out Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors leads to wholeness and a connection with God. We also welcome the wisdom of other traditions and belief systems, and we engage in inclusive understandings of the Sacred. Both belief and doubt are welcome here!
We affirm the full participation of all people, including women and LGBTQ+ people, in the life and leadership of the church.
We are inclusive.
We seek to be a safe place to land for people who have been betrayed or hurt by church. The institutional church has long excluded people who live with mental illness; people who identify as LGBTQ+; people of color; and others who may not “fit the mold.” We are breaking the silence and affirming that all people are beloved children of God. We celebrate our God-given diversity, and we are committed to repairing social and racial injustices and inequities in our world through anti-racist work, education and compassionate action.
We are an Open & Affirming church participating in the Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance, committed to creating a wider welcome for all of God’s children, regardless of their backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
We are accessible and informal.
BELOVED gatherings are hosted online or hybrid (both online and in-person) to include our global community. During our Saturday or Sunday morning gatherings, we connect over refreshments, music, prayer, sacred conversation, scriptures, and communion. Singing is simple, dress is casual and the atmosphere is welcoming and joyous.
We have spiritual practices, not dogma.
We engage in many ancient and modern ways of spirituality, including different forms of prayer, meditation, the Compassion Practice, and more. We regularly celebrate the Christian practice of Communion at an Open Table where all people are welcome to participate fully, regardless of background, beliefs, or identity.
We invite new disciples to follow Jesus through the Christian rite of Baptism. Celebration of baptism is a public expression of a personal decision. We encourage this practice to be proclaimed in a way most meaningful to the individual — from simple sprinkling in your backyard to full immersion in the Pacific Ocean!
We are guided by a Ministry Table, not a Constitution & Bylaws.
A roundtable of diverse leaders listens and offers guidance to the mission and ministry of BELOVED.
