Our Vision for Church
At the River, we believe that church should be a place where people of all ages and backgrounds are:
Our vision for a life-giving faith community is shaped by our convictions that God is unconditional love (1 John 4:8); that the practice of unconditional love is central to following the way of Jesus (John 13:34-35); that embracing unconditional love means recognizing the unearned, inherent dignity and worth of every person (Genesis 1:26-31); and that "all flourishing is mutual" (Robin Wall Kimmerer).
Practically speaking, this means that (among other things) we place no limitations on women in leadership, that we fully affirm LGBTQ+ individuals and relationships, and that we are committed to the work of antiracism.
When you come to the River, we hope that you will feel refreshed, affirmed, and excited to be part of a community that is pursuing abundant life together. We'd love for you to join us!
- Safe to be their authentic selves
- Truly and deeply welcomed (not just tolerated)
- Seen, known, accepted, and celebrated as beloved
- Free from shame, fear, pressure and manipulation
- Unafraid to ask questions or to voice doubts/disagreements
- Encouraged to engage their hearts/minds and express their thoughts/feelings
- Inspired to spread kindness, pursue justice, and deepen connections (to God, self, and others)
Our vision for a life-giving faith community is shaped by our convictions that God is unconditional love (1 John 4:8); that the practice of unconditional love is central to following the way of Jesus (John 13:34-35); that embracing unconditional love means recognizing the unearned, inherent dignity and worth of every person (Genesis 1:26-31); and that "all flourishing is mutual" (Robin Wall Kimmerer).
Practically speaking, this means that (among other things) we place no limitations on women in leadership, that we fully affirm LGBTQ+ individuals and relationships, and that we are committed to the work of antiracism.
When you come to the River, we hope that you will feel refreshed, affirmed, and excited to be part of a community that is pursuing abundant life together. We'd love for you to join us!
Kids/Youth ProgramsWe believe Jesus's promise of giving "life in all its fullness" applies not just to adults but also to young people! We believe that God-discovery and self-discovery are intimately intertwined and best nurtured in the context of belonging to a loving community. We strive to provide a safe space for this kind of exploration, where kids and youth can wonder, explore, and encounter God together.
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lgbtq+ AffirmationWe are an inclusive church and fully affirm LGBTQ+ individuals and relationships. Practically speaking, this means that there are no restrictions placed on LGBTQ+ individuals when it comes to church participation, membership, volunteering, leading, getting married, being baptized, etc. We also have programming specifically aimed at supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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