Core Vision & Values
The 635 Initiative–Our Driving Vision
Beginning in 2008, St. Lucas undertook an exhaustive 18-month visioning process called the Spiritual Strategic Journey (SSJ). What emerged was a comprehensive vision statement that now informs all that we do. It comes from the lips of Jesus in Luke 6:35: Give without expecting a return. Our sole reason for existence is service to others.
If you ‘get this’, you get our church. Our many ministries build on the foundation of this vision statement.
Important Values
Discipleship—we care more about following Jesus than worshipping him
Freedom—liberty of thought and practice for each person, not just for those who agree with us
Relevance—offering a practical message about the real world, here and now
Revelation—the Bible is a human product which records the many ways God has been experienced over time by widely divergent cultures. God is still being experienced today–everywhere and in everything! Those experiences are revelation to us.
Discovery–we honor science! No need to park your brain at our door
Justice—a passion for equal rights and opportunity for everyone. Justice is not “just for us”
Mother Earth—we honor our interdependent relationship with nature and care about protecting our living planet
Open and Affirming
On Sunday, November 16, 2014, St. Lucas United Church of Christ officially–and by wide margin–adopted the following statement. We believe it conforms to our vision and value statements:
We declare St. Lucas United Church of Christ to be an open and affirming church, welcoming, accepting and affirming people of any race, nationality, ethnic origin, economic status, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity and gender expression. Having experienced God’s reconciling love, we respond by standing with those who suffer discrimination, injustice, hatred and violence, and by supporting their full participation in the life and programs of this church. We further commit ourselves to work to overcome—in ourselves and in others—attitudes and acts of discrimination that prevent us from achieving peace.