Open and Affirming (ONA)
“Open and Affirming” (ONA) is a movement of more than 1,500 churches and other ministries in the United Church of Christ that welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) members. Hokuloa is the sixth UCC congregation in the state and the first on Hawaii Island to become an Open and Affirming congregation.
ONA Covenant Adopted November 2019:
May we continue to be a bold witness for God's inclusive and unconditional LOVE! At Hokuloa United Church of Christ, we seek to create an inclusive and diverse community of faith. Our welcome knows no boundaries as Jesus welcomed all with open arms. We embody God’s welcome through being a safe place and refuge. We recognize that within the church and wider society Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) individuals have experienced condemnation and exclusion. As Christians, we deplore prejudice and oppose discrimination of any kind, as God has created each one of us in the divine image and blessed us with infinite worth. For these reasons, we declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming Congregation (ONA), welcoming all, including people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identification, into our life and faith. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here at Hokuloa.
May we continue to be a bold witness
of God's inclusive and unconditional LOVE!
