Our Why Statement
On Pentecost 2018, after many months of prayerful discussion and discernment, Park Avenue Congregational Church introduced its “Why” statement – the reason we are a part of this community and what we hope belonging here helps us do:
We come to Park Avenue Congregational Church: To practice deep and fulfilling connection with God and each other, so that we can live as true neighbors, belonging to and caring for others as our own.
Our “Why” statement guides us as we embrace the many different ways we feel called to follow God, helping us prioritize our work and discover new avenues for living out the Gospel.
If you’d like to learn more about Why statements and how to craft your own, check out the “Finding Our Why” sermon series from Lent 2018. If you’d like to know more about what we believe and how we practice our faith, see [] and []
We are An Open an Affirming Congregation
Since May 6, 2007
We, the members of Park Avenue Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, as an expression of our Christian love for all God’s people, declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation. Open and Affirming is the UCC designation for congregations that make public statements of welcome into their full life, leadership and ministries to persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We welcome all people into our community of faith, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, race, ethnicity, mental or physical ability, age and socio-economic background. In our calling to express the love and welcome of Christ, we affirm the dignity and worth of every person.
The UCC confers an Open and Affirming designation on congregations, and the Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and non-binary community in the UCC, and equips UCC congregations to become effective witnesses to Christ’s extravagant welcome.
We Affirm that Black Lives Matter
Because we live in a society that sometimes suggests otherwise.
Since November 2015, in response to a pattern evident then, and continuing today, the PACC community has been an active part of the efforts in the Arilngton community to recognize the different lived experiences of Black and BIPOC people in our community and beyond. Beyond the affirmation the Black lives matter in our banner on Park Avenue, PACC has ….. [juneteenth, racism class in 2020, bystander training, connect event on talking…
The council continues to work with Arlington [name the racism committee and church leadership group] and the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ to help frame and facilitate the conversation and actions needed to bring forth a society [say something ….