Frequent Questions Posed by Visitors

• 1. What is the purpose and mission of the City of Refuge UCC?
  We desire to be a place of extravagant welcome for all persons — especially persons seeking a community built on honesty, openness, and equity. We believe the call that we have received comes from God and is both specific and radical. We seek to reach persons on the margins of society and make the table of the Lord accessible to all. Within religious circles there exists great tension over the issue of same-gender-loving (sgl) inclusion. For persons who are sgl, there are too few places that wholly affirm individuals who are Christian, self-affirming, and sgl. It is our calling to provide a corrective and a viable alternative.  We exist to minister to all those who have been the most marginalized by church and society with the love of Jesus Christ.
  
• 2. What is your denominational affiliation?
  City of Refuge UCC is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, a denomination that has a history of working for unity and justice in both church and society.  We are also the Bishoping church of The Fellowship, a gathering of inclusive ministries under the leadership of Presiding Bishop Yvette Flunder.
  
• How do I become a member?
  Membership is open to all.  We invite everyone to join us each Sunday at the end of our services. New members are then given a packet of information and invited to attend a special series of discussions before Sunday church services.  Everyone is encouraged to join a department or auxiliary of the church and become an active part of our congregational life. 
  
• What do we mean by Radical Inclusivity?
  Radical Inclusivity is the intentional inclusion of all persons; especially people who have traditionally lived at the margins of society, such as people suffering from substance abuse; people living with HIV/AIDS; same-gender loving people; the recently incarcerated; and sex industry workers.
  
  At the core of City of Refuge UCC’s mission and vision is a mandate from God to proclaim a gospel that is radically inclusive of all persons.  City of Refuge UCC and The Fellowship define radically inclusivity as "the intentional inclusion of every person in the community of faith."  Inclusivity challenges major fundamental, deep-seated Christian beliefs, doctrines and theologies of the center of society which characterize people on the edge as enemies of God and routinely mistreats, oppresses and excludes people from the community of faith and its institutions.  It is our purpose and aim to provide a safe place of refuge for persons who have been wounded by oppressive theologies and to provide a place of nurturing and training for those who feel called to this shared ministry.
  
  
• What will the worship experience look like at City of Refuge UCC?
  Our worship style is both celebrative and contemplative — free and open to the Spirit. We seek to provide a rich blend of a variety of traditions - Pentecostal, Baptist, Congregational, and Methodist - just to name a few. We seek to provide an experience that values ritual, tradition, and yet one that is open to a God who is still speaking. We will also provide a space for persons to examine the deeper meaning of our traditions and faith expressions. Whether it is through our powerful praise and worship, the performing arts, or through social ministry that is grounded in love, we will seek to be a balanced people who embody the transforming and liberating love of Jesus Christ.