A community of Christian discipleship, at First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn we are grounded in tradition, centered in worship, called to serve and free to dream. We believe that everyone is a child of God. In the words of Jesus Christ, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” We invite everyone–no exceptions–because God does. God feeds our hunger, forgives our sins and saves us from aimlessness–no matter who, no matter what, no matter where. All kinds of people have found a home here:  all races, all ages, straight, gay, agnostics, recovering atheists, believers, Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Do you need a place you can call home? A place to hope, to forgive and be forgiven, to find God? You’re welcome here.

We are an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation. The ONA movement in the United Church of Christ (UCC) began on a national level in 1985 when the UCC adopted the resolution, “Calling on United Church of Christ Congregations to Declare Themselves Open and Affirming.” The central affirmation of an ONA congregation is that all people, regardless of persuasion or orientation, are welcome in the full life and ministry of the church. In light of the growing awareness of the interrelatedness of sexual orientation and gender identity, the UCC also encourages the inclusion of transgender persons.

UCC churches become officially ONA by adopting an “Open and Affirming” statement expressing this welcome. On June 7, 2009, the First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn voted to endorse the following statement:

At First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, we rejoice in our community of faith, strengthened by diversity, including diversity of culture, economic status, age, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, and physical or mental abilities.  We affirm that God is glorified when we welcome all people to our spiritual community, as Jesus did. Wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.