STATEMENT OF BELIEFS
Our belief systems are important to us. This statement does not encompass the entirety of what we believe but is a the guiding point for how we connect to the divine as a community. Not all of us believe the say way and this in no way is a requirement for fellowship. We also are not in the business of defending nor arguing finer points of spirituality. What we believe is what we believe and what you believe is what you believe. No argument or proselytizing is required nor desired,
Love is our default.
We work towards having love be our default because love is the highest emotion and most in alignment with the divine.
The Divine.
Everyone & everything is an expression of the divine. The divine is within us and outside of us. An individual’s understanding of the divine is their own experience; what they choose to call the Divine of their own understanding is up to them. As a ministry we may refer to “God” (the gendered and genderless, formed and formless), “The Great Spirit”, “Universal Intelligence” and/or “The Divine”.
Oneness.
We are all connected to the collective consciousness. As we move toward enlightenment and ascension through spiritual growth we become more like the divine collectively. All is god and god is all.
Sacred Knowledge.
Sacred knowledge comes from all sources. Enlightenment can come from not only sacred texts, but also from secular texts. Since we are all an expression of the divine, sacred knowledge comes from all sources.
Enlightenment is a journey, not a destination.
We may have growth spurts and epiphanies but full attainment of enlightenment is found within the journey and growing through it.
All spiritual paths are valid.
Although we all have our own journeys toward enlightenment, the validity of one’s journey is neither negated nor affirmed by a single path. In as much as we have a spiritual culture around our community, our members have different faiths and beliefs yet we hold fast to our journey toward the divine nature.
Service.
Service is a spiritual act be they church sanctioned outreach or acts of kindness. Service, as an act of love, to others and service to one’s self is worship. It leads us closer to others and to our divine nature.
Meditation and Prayer.
Meditation & Prayer help us connect with our divine nature. We open our beings to connect with the divine through prayer and meditation.
Spiritual gifts.
Spiritual Gifts are within all of us. We are all able to facilitate or be a vessel for healing, prophecy and divine wisdom, etc.
Personal Responsibility.
Each person is responsible for their own spiritual development. The decision to receive guidance or tutelage from our pastoral team is not an imperative. If it doesn’t feel right to you, then trust your intuition.
Consensuality.
All spiritual acts, rites and community activities must be consensual. Asking for permission is at the heart of all we do. All things should be done with respect to the autonomy of the individual.
Rites & Sacraments
Laying on of Hands.
Laying on of hands in prayer and energy healing is practiced by ministerial staff, elders, community leaders and community members with express permission by the recipient. We value touch (when permissible and possible) as healing and connective.
Communion and other rituals.
We value ritual as a form of communication and connection to the divine, as well as the fellowship. Our observation of holidays and celebrations will be expressed through multi-faith rituals and rites.
Marriage & Handfasting.
The joining of people in marriage is primarily done through a modernized version of the Celtic tradition called handfasting where individuals are tied together to represent the joining of hearts and souls in matrimony.
Death and Mourning Rituals.
The transition of one from physical to non-physical can be difficult for the individual passing and those who love them. We honor them through celebrations of life, condolence and mourning rituals. Those are based on consensual agreements made by the mourners and fellowship.
Communion.
We break bread and drink wine in gratitude for the bounties bestowed on us. Our gratitude for the food we have to eat and for the connection with have with each other.
Human Sexuality & Gender.
One’s sexual orientation or gender identity is an expression of the divine. We affirm and hold sacred all orientations and genders.