Open and Affirming "Because we believe all people are beloved children of God, we welcome them into the full life, ministry, fellowship and leadership of this congregation. We do this without regard to age, race, ethnicity, or national origin; physical, mental, emotional ability or disability; gender, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation; socio-economic background or circumstance, or political affiliation. "We, the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Phoenix, Arizona, declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation. We offer ourselves as an inclusive community in which the Gospel of God's love for all people is honored and practiced. We affirm this church as a place of hope and a community of welcome to all in Christ's name. "Our Prayer is that the variety of the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to those present and those God is yet to call into our midst will make us ever more useful servants of God to our brothers and sisters within our church, our many kinds of families, our neighborhoods and our world."