A Message

for July 11, 2021

 

Pastor Joe Agne, reflects on Romans 12: 1-21 in his sermon, "Show the Light and They Will Come."

Pastor Joe Agne

revagne@gmail.com

Cedaredge Community United Methodist Church

Adopts Welcoming Statement

Cedaredge Community United Methodist Church (CCUMC) has adopted a statement that welcomes all people of all heritages, races, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, ideologies, education, economic status, political affiliation, and physical and mental abilities. The statement expands on the congregation’s long-standing commitment to offer open hearts, open minds and open doors to everyone. It is a message of welcome to those who have been excluded by organized religious institutions that focus on rules and a need for all to conform to the same set of beliefs.

 

The Rev. Joe Agne said the congregation is focused on living the Way of Jesus, not on a prescribed theology or creed. He said:

“Jesus’ commandment was to love God, love our neighbor, love yourself and love your enemy. He also taught us to love the creation. Churches have done some really good things but they also have done a great deal of damage to people. As a result, many people who have been hurt, attacked, damaged or disregarded by churches search for other ways to live their spirituality.

“If you have been hurt by a Christian congregation, the first thing we at Cedaredge Community United Methodist Church want to say is we are sorry. We repent our complicity with oppression and exclusion. We want to live in a new way.”

 

The congregation is inviting all who have given up on organized religion to visit Cedaredge Community United Methodist Church or to contact Pastor Joe or a member of the congregation to learn how they can find a place of acceptance and community. CCUMC is a place to grow in faith, love and service within the Christian community for those who:

 

• Have been hurt by a Christian congregation,

• Have decided to have nothing to do with “organized” religion,

• Have experienced their spirituality stymied by insistence on creedal conformity,

• Have had their compassion constrained by a church’s focus on survival over serving,

• Find fulfillment within a congregation that is focused on the Way of Jesus, prayer and contemplation, growing in faith together, and serving others.

 

The congregation’s leadership team, known as the Round Table, set a 2021 goal for CCUMC to adopt a welcoming statement and named a committee of seven members to develop the statement. Robert Anders of Pea Green chaired that committee, which worked regularly for close to six months to develop it. During that time, more than 20 members of the congregation participated in a nine-week study on the Bible and homosexuality. The Round Table approved the statement this month.

 

For information, contact Pastor Joe Agne at revagne@gmail.com or 720-891-5233 or Coordinator of Ministries D. Jo Lowell at djolowell@cedaredgedcumc.com or 970-856-3696. The congregation worships at 10 a.m. Sundays in the sanctuary at the corner of Aspen and 3rd in Cedaredge. and via Zoom simultaneously.

 

The full text of the welcoming statement follows:

 

“Cedaredge Community United Methodist Church lives its vision of open hearts, open minds and open doors by its actions and deeds. The church provides welcoming and spiritual worship and service to our community and beyond, following Jesus’ teachings of caring for all and accepting each person’s value and individuality. There are no limits or conditions to our acceptance. All of God’s people are welcomed.

 

Wherever you come from, whatever language you speak, your heritage, race, financial situation, political affiliation, ideology, education, physical and mental abilities, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or whoever you love, all are welcome to our church. We are a congregation that represents the diversity found in our world, a place where everyone is and feels valued.

 

Through our acts of kindness, we strive for a deeper understanding of each person’s sacred value and the holy essence of the Christian community.

As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed. We oppose oppression wherever it is found. We endeavor to turn our words into deliberate policies, practices and mutual acts of kindness.”