St. John’s United Church of Christ, 139 N. Fourth St., Emmaus, officially has been recognized as an Open and Affirming church by the United Church of Christ.

The certification means the members of St. John’s are making a public, official declaration they celebrate diversity and actively affirm God’s love by welcoming all people into the church family and ministry.

An Open and Affirming covenant approved by the congregation states: “As disciples of Jesus Christ, we proclaim that every person is a beloved child of God, created in God’s image. We welcome all – regardless of race, ethnicity, age, physical or mental ability, marital or economic status, national origin, faith background, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression – into the full life and leadership of this church.”

By adopting their covenant, which is considered a binding promise, the congregation is following the Apostle Paul’s admonition to “accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

“We welcome and affirm all people – no exceptions – into the full life and leadership of the church,” Dr. Paul Knappenberger, pastor of St. John’s, said. “That’s not politics. That’s discipleship.”

Knappenberger continued: “Every person is created in the image of God, redeemed by the love of Christ and gathered by the Holy Spirit. That’s not a slogan. That’s the Gospel.

“Open and Affirming is simply the church catching up to the wideness of God’s mercy.”

With the new covenant, they are making a public commitment that everyone is welcome to become active members of St. John’s family – not only for worship services, but in all aspects of church life: membership, leadership and ordination. It is a commitment to both inclusion and justice.

While all churches may claim to welcome everyone, the UCC maintains that’s not necessarily true. Many people have learned the hard way that churches declaring “All Are Welcome” often does not apply to them. LGBTQ+ folks, for example, can’t assume that every church will be a safe and comfortable fit for themselves and their families.

“The world is full of people who have been told ‘no’ in God’s name,” Knappenberger said. “Some of those ‘nos’ happened in churches. If nothing can separate a person from the love of Christ, then the church has no business acting like it can. Dehumanizing anyone doesn’t just harm a person. It insults the Creator.”