Our Beliefs
Hear the words of Rev. Tobias Schlingensiepen and guests to the pulpit throughout the year.
As devoted members of First Congregational Church, we are constantly pursuing the calling to be fully devoted followers of Christ. To build a true heaven on Earth, we live life based on the teachings of the Bible, are passionate about prayer and are grounded in spiritual accountability. If you are interested in joining our Church, please reach out. We would love for you to visit.
First Congregational Church Covenant
In the love of truth and the spirit of Jesus, we unite for the worship of God and the service of humankind.
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We stand for the freedom of the individual in matters of belief, the importance of education and the prime place of worship in attaining harmony with God.
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We practice the rule of love by tolerance of the opinion of others, service to those in need and kindliness to everyone.
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We agree to support the Church in every way possible.
Open and Affirming Covenant
As a congregation within the United Church of Christ, we welcome people every Sunday with the words: "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here." In fact, we have made these words our mission statement.
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Accordingly, we commit ourselves, as a congregation and as individuals, to live up to the promise we renew each week.
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We commit ourselves to being and continuing to be an open and affirming church, as we seek to be a member of the ONA coalition of churches.
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We recognize the harm Christian communities have caused, and continue to cause, to the LGBTQIA+ community. We call upon ourselves to repent on behalf of the whole Church, not only with words but also with appropriate actions.
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We affirm the full dignity and worth of everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community, who are made in the image of our Creator and Beloved children of God. We have not, nor will we exclude LGBTQIA+ individuals from the fullness of our membership with each other. Nor will we exclude them from any forms of service or from any opportunity for employment in our congregation.
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When we were founded in 1855, we adopted the name The Free Congregational Church of Topeka. We formed our congregation to help ensure that Kansas would not enter the Union as a slave state. Ten years later, we helped to found Washburn University, insisting that its student body include women and people of color. Our commitment to LGBTQIA+ individuals stands in a tradition of our commitment to inclusivity.
