A Dogma-free Zone
Although we are Christian, we have no dogmas or creeds that you must believe in order to belong. Rather, we agree to be a community of faith and love, each bringing and sharing our own beliefs about Jesus, the Bible and spirituality…while respecting each other’s views. Sometimes that’s challenging, but it’s always interesting!
The United Church of Christ, of which we are a part, is best known for our progressive stands on social issues. We are the original Pilgrims, preached revolution in 1776, ordained the first African American in history in 1787, ordained the first woman in history in 1853, marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and ordained the firstly openly gay person in history in 1972. We continue to embody that progressive Christian history as we move forward with commitments to Eco-Justice, interfaith dialog, and the separation of church and state.
At Sixth Avenue, we encourage each other to:
Integrate spirituality and social justice
Grow in loving kindness
Care for the earth
Do the next right thing
“All that is required of you is to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”
Open and Affirming Covenant
Adopted on Sunday, May 22, 1994
We the people of Sixth Avenue United Church believe that our task as a church is to live out the affirming and transforming love of God.
We acknowledge that the historic church has often judged or excluded gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons from the community of faith. We seek now to affirm and welcome men and women of all sexual orientations into our community of faith.
We invite all persons—without regard to sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, marital status, age, disability, or material wealth—to join us in the full life and ministry of this church, including membership, leadership, and employment. Together, one with another, we seek in covenant to be responsible to God, to one another, and to the wider world.
We, therefore, declare ourselves an “Open and Affirming Church,” confirming our open and affirming spirit toward all persons, including gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons. As a loving community of faith, we invite all persons to share the encouragement, strength, and ministry of this diverse church.
“Let us love one another because love is from God;
Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. . . .
If we love one another, God lives in us. ”
W.I.S.E. is the United Church of Christ’s (UCC) designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies that make a public covenant to people who live with mental health challenges that its faith community can be a safe spiritual home for them and their families.
W.I.S.E. Covenant
Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged with Mental Illness, Substance Abuse, and Brain Disorders
Adopted on October 21, 2019
Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ Denver, CO
We, the people of Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ of Denver, Colorado, are energized and made more fully alive when we hear, learn and journey more deeply with each other. In living out our faith, and through God’s healing spirit, we care about the whole person: body, mind, and soul. We believe that all people are beloved of God, including a person who lives with mental health challenges and their families.
We, at Sixth Avenue UCC, as an open and welcoming congregation, desire to fully welcome one another and our neighbors as we become more aware of persons living with mental health challenges. Thus,
We pledge to educate ourselves and offer educational opportunities for our congregation to learn more about mental health challenges and how we can become a more aware and welcoming congregation.
In an effort to reduce social stigma, we pledge to examine our own attitudes and preconceived notions about people living with mental illness and to be intentional about changes we can be within ourselves and in society.
We pledge to actively welcome those with mental illness into the life of our community and to provide a safe place where people can be who they are and talk freely about their lives.
We pledge to reach to those suffering from brain disorders or mental illness the same way we reach out to those of us living with physical illnesses.
When calling a minister, office manager, or youth minister, or in lay leadership, we will be open to those openly living with a mental health challenge or substance use disorders.
We will observe and honor “Mental Health Sunday” and “Mental Health Awareness Month” annually, as well as speak frequently about our commitment to inclusivity of mental illness, substance abuse, and brain disorders in the life of our church.
We pledge to welcome and encourage outside groups who deal with mental health challenges to use our church facilities and join us (or we join them) in work at the intersection of mental health and faith, spirituality, and religion.
We pledge to engage with other organizations and activities, including the UCC Mental Health Network and local WISE congregations, with shared commitments.
By this covenant, we affirm our process of always becoming a welcoming, inclusive, supportive, and engaged (WISE) church with mental illness, substance abuse, and brain disorders.