SANBORNTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

 Adopted January 1993

 ARTICLE I. Name. The name of this Church is the Sanbornton Congregational Church, United Church of Christ.

ARTICLE II. Purpose. The avowed purpose of this church shall be to worship God, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this Church and the Church Universal; to render caring service to all people; and to strive for righteousness, justice and peace.

ARTICLE III. Polity. We believe in the freedom and responsibility of the individual soul, and the right to private judgment. We affirm our loyalty to the basic principles of representative democracy. (National Council of Congregational Churches, 1913.) The government of this Church shall be vested in its members, who exercise the right of control in all its affairs, subject however, to the laws of the state of New Hampshire. This Church shall be in fellowship with the Merrimack Association of the United Church of Christ, the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ, the United Church of Christ, and in ecumenical fellowship with all churches which seek to promote the Kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This Church shall also be in fellowship with other religious societies and agencies, to engage in such other charitable and missionary work that will advance the Kingdom of God throughout the world.

ARTICLE IV. Faith. We adhere to the following statement of faith (Second General Synod of the United Church of Christ, Oberlin, Ohio, 1959 and revised, 1981):

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:

You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image and set before each one the ways of life and death.

You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.

You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the Church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

You call us into our Church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the Gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end. Blessing and honor, glory and power unto you. Amen.

ARTICLE V. Covenant. The covenant of the Sanbornton Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, is as follows:

In the love of Truth and In the spirit of Jesus Christ,

We are united forThe worship of God and In the service of all.

ARTICLE VI. Peace and Justice Resolution. Resolved that we, the members of the Sanbornton Congregational United Church of Christ, become a Church for Peace and Justice, which to us means that we covenant with each other, with God’s help,

To reaffirm our dedication to prayer, study, and understanding of issues of peace and justice in ourselves, our families, our community, our state, our world . . .

Whenever our prayer, study and understanding lead us, to speak out and act to resolve words and deeds of injustice and violence in ourselves, our families, our community, our state, our world . . .

To be mindful that the vision and promise of God is that the lion and lamb shall lie down together in harmony.

Knowing that this vision of a just and peaceful world begins with the work of God through each of us, we further resolve

To provide a safe place for all people of good will to converse with God and each other;

To use peaceful and creative ways, even of thought and word, to settle conflicts;

To maintain a spirit of responsiveness and caring towards all of God’s Creation: all people, all creatures, and the planet on which we live . . .

To work together with others, to build a world of peace, kindness, responsibility and justice—

In God’s name.