OPEN AND AFFIRMING STATEMENT

As an inclusive congregation, we welcome all faith experiences and family types; we are an open and affirming community of faith who welcome and celebrate differences of age, ability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and national origin.

IMMIGRANT WELCOMING STATEMENT

We commit to take actions consistent with the values and resources of our community to oppose xenophobia and to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and the hardships such deportation will cause them and their families.

ANTI-RACISM COMMITMENTS

At First Congregational Church of Evanston, we are grounded in the radical inclusivity of God’s love. We express God’s love in action, compassion, and justice when we proclaim Black Lives Matter. Recognizing that saying “Black Lives Matter” is not enough, we vow to embark on a journey of active anti-racist work. Also, recognizing that we are all human and on our own anti-racist journeys, we vow to educate each other, discuss with one another, and learn from all, free from judgment or prejudice. We are united in our goal to eradicate systemic and institutional racism and to build anti-racist multicultural diversity in our church and community.
We hereby commit:
1. To deepen our understanding of the historical and contemporary impact of racism on ourselves, church, and society and to develop strategies to dismantle individual racism.
2. To affirm our identity as an actively anti-racist congregation by developing and implementing anti-racist strategies and best practices to eradicate systemic and institutional racism in our congregation and to build anti-racist multicultural diversity in our church.

3. To engage in anti-racism work as part of a local, national, and global movement for racial justice and social equality in the world and follow the leadership of people of color in our community who are seeking justice for Black and Brown individuals and communities.