The church is envisioned to be a society where individuals live in harmony with each other, nature and God, fully participating unselfishly in meeting each other's needs. Such a community rejoices in the unique gifts of each person. (1990, World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland.)
Remembering that Jesus came among humankind to teach and to heal, the congregation of Chenango Street United Methodist Church engages in a ministry that seeks the health of the whole person. We will pray for and be open to healing in mind, body, and spirit. We will provide for the healing and development of persons that comes through the experience of Christian community. We will seek the healing of social relationships as we announce the reconciling love of Christ. We will work for the healing of society as we persue peace with justice, and the practice of non-viloence in every aspect of human affairs. We will seek God's gift of health for ourselves and others not passively, but rather by assertive , active leadership in the life of our community. (Adopted Octover 11, 1995)
As a congregation we at Chenango Street United Methodist Church have declared an inclusive mission. We add this covenant in order to declare our AIDS ministry: that our mission embraces all who have the HIV virus in their bodies, in their families, in their circle of friends or loved ones.
From the Chenango Street Uited Methodist Church Mission Statement:
"To be a community of friendship for all people, and a community of outreach to the church's neighborhood.
To provide, through worship, fellowship, and service, an experience of God's steadfast grace, freedom, and encouragement, caring especially for those who live under pressure.
To be a seven-days-a-week church, providing meeting and activity space for constructive programs addressed to the needs of all age groups, and the neglected in our community.
To become a lively, creative, reconciling congregation, in which people of every description know themselves to be welcomed, loved, and accepted."
As a sign for our visitors and a reminder to ourselves:
We light a green candle on Sunday mornings in solidarity with all who have been touched by AIDS epidemic, other diseases science cannot cure or contain, and other diseases that carry a socail stigma.
We include people with HIV and/or AIDS in our prayer list.
We acknowledge that "The divisions of this world affect even churches; none of us can claim immunity. Yet this church thries to live the dream of reconciliation, that in Jesus, the Christ , no one is an outsider, ever."
As a church that values education and witnesses the role confusion and ignorance play in the spread of the HIV virus, we also acknowledge our responsibility to educate ourselves and our children.
We thus declare our covenant to make it known in the community and before God that his congregation serves all persons, including those who struggle with HIV or AIDS, directly or indirectly.
(April 9, 1994)
