“I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

Because we believe that God deeply loves us and sent Jesus into the world to be radically with us, we respond in radical friendship to God, our neighbors, ourselves, and creation. This transformative friendship with God involves sharing our lives and embracing divine guidance. With neighbors, it means seeking understanding, promoting justice, and building inclusive communities. We also cultivate self-acceptance, care, and recognize our worth, while advocating for environmental stewardship. Radical friendship fosters flourishing relationships and contributes to the well-being of all.

He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty-handed. Luke 1:52-53

Because we believe that Jesus proclaimed a commonwealth of flourishing in which the last would be first and the first would be last, we practice justice that is grounded in the need for reversal of the status quo that oppresses and marginalizes so many and redistribution of power to the least and the left out. Internally, we work to ensure that all of our systems are equitable and promote antiracism. Externally, we seek to disrupt unjust structures whether that means taking to the streets in protest or engaging in community organizing. We follow and partner with those who have been doing the work long before we arrived. We insist on the full inclusion of folx who identify as LGBTQ+ in every aspect of our church and our society and we seek to center those historically marginalized because of race, culture, the limitation of resources, or disability. We name the ways white supremacy is antithetical to the way of Christ. Above all, our desire for justice is rooted in our desire to love and our love leads us to solidarity with the struggles of those who might be very much unlike us.

Love the Lord your God with all your mind…

Because we recognize that Jesus often taught in ways that encouraged questioning, expression of doubt, grappling with contradiction, and inhabiting the ambiguity of a complex story, we approach our faith and our world with curiosity, refusing the black and white ways of thinking that so often impoverish our vision of reality. We explore and discover, learn and unlearn together. As we confront the big questions of faith, we expect answers that are more long answer essay than multiple choice. We refuse the fear that too often prevents closer examination and we allow our questions to open a path into community instead of isolating us. We expect, as well, that a life of faithful curiosity means never-ending discovery and newness. Above all, we commit to encountering our neighbor through a framework of curious joy, knowing that attentive questions beyond assumptions, can be one of the most genuine forms of hospitality.

The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest. John 10:10

Because we believe that God calls us to fullness of joy, abundant life, and rhythms of rest, we play together in ways that restore our souls. God invites us to experience abundant life and embrace rhythms of rest. Through collective activities, we find joy and nourishment for our souls. As we play, we cultivate child-like wonder, enjoy rest from the responsibilities of creation,and allow ourselves to reconnect with our authentic selves. Restorative play renews our spirits, creating balance and harmony in our lives. It fosters a supportive community, deepens relationships, and becomes a sacred space where we encounter God's presence.

It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us… Acts 15:28

Because we remember that the ministry of Jesus was an improvisational riff on the story of Israel, we thoughtfully improvise our way into the future with creativity and respect for our community. Just as Jesus creatively reimagined and fulfilled the promises of God's covenant with Israel, we too approach the future with a spirit of improvisation, embracing the unknown with creativity and reverence for our community.

We honor the wisdom and traditions of those who have come before us, seeking to build upon the foundations laid by previous generations. We navigate the complexities of our world by adapting and responding to the needs and challenges of our time. With respect for our community, we engage in dialogue, listen attentively to diverse perspectives, and collaborate with one another to discern the best path forward.

Respectful improvisation requires humility. We do not possess all the answers and the future is a collaborative endeavor. We embrace the creative tension between honoring the richness of tradition and exploring new possibilities. Through this improvisational approach, we find the freedom to adapt, innovate, and respond to the leading of the Spirit in ways that reflect the transformative love of God.

Respectful improvisation invites us to hold our convictions with open hands, remaining rooted in the beliefs and practices of our faith while remaining open to the unexpected and the surprising. We approach the future with a sense of adventure, trusting that God's grace and guidance will accompany us as we navigate uncharted territories. We are participants in the ongoing story of God's redemptive work in the world, co-laboring with God to craft a future with wisdom, compassion, and faithfulness.