Our Church 

 

The icon at the front of our church epitomizes the body of Christ with the elements of the Eucharist.  The figure cannot be identified as male or female, any particular ethnicity, and with closed eyes that do not see difference and the open arms of loving welcome.

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in our world, knowing that the world can often be an unloving, alienated and broken place. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.

​

​We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female" (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one.

​This then includes:

• People of differing gender identities and sexual orientations;

• People of any skin colour, ethnic or cultural origin;

• People who are poor, rich, or of any economic and social circumstance;

• People who are disabled and differently able;

• People who are divorced, single, married, common-law, widowed;

• People who are unemployed, employed, retired, students, children, elders;

• People who are recovering; sick or healthy;

• People who are in-between or outside these or any label or category.

​

 We are a "Reconciled in Christ" congregation and acknowledge this reconciliation extends to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. ​Because gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons and their families are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:

People of all sexual orientations and gender identities share the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God are welcome within the membership, and are expected, and encouraged to share in the sacramental and general life of Hope Lutheran church.

 

​The Evangelical Lutheran Church is in full communion with the Anglican Church of Canada. See the joint Waterloo Declaration for the details.

 

​