In January 2005, First Congregational Church of St. Louis voted to become an Open and Affirming Church (ONA for short).

What does that mean? It means that we have publicly declared ourselves open to all as full participants in the life and ministry of our church. We feel that being an ONA church is an important part of deepening our identity as a church that believes there is room for all at the table, to spread the good news of God’s love, and to be a community for all our brothers and sisters.

What difference does this make? By providing access, we are truly able to welcome people throughout the full course of their lives, from infancy through old age. We can say, with integrity, “neither height, nor depth, nor any other circumstance can separate our members from the love of God – or from the gathered community of the church.”