COR VALUE SUMMARY
COR congregations accept people for who they are. We embrace all humanity regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, personal history, appearance, order, or any other characteristic. We worship God of varsity, and we embrace those who are dissimilar to us. We acknowledge that our role is to love and to show respect. Regarding those who are dealing with sin in their lives (all of us), while we do not approve of sin, we do not believe sinlessness is a precondition for friendship.
BIBLE TEXTS
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 15:7 NIV
Everyone will know that you are My disciples because of your love for each other.
John 13:35 NOG
Click here for more Bible texts about acceptance.
ELLEN G. WHITE QUOTES
“It is not earthly rank, nor birth, nor nationality, nor religious privilege, which proves that we are members of the family of God; it is love, a love that embraces all humanity.” The Faith I Live By, p. 38.
“We are counseled that, “If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be 100 conversions to the truth where now there is only one.” Testimonies to the Church, vol. 9, page 189
“Ministers of the gospel should form a happy acquaintance with the youth of their congregations. There is a great reluctance on the part of many to become acquainted with the youth, but it is accounted of heaven a neglect of duty, a sin against souls for whom Christ died.” Gospel Workers, p. 207
Click here for more of what Ellen White said about acceptance.
NON-DEMONIMATIONAL QUOTE
“Many in the next generation believe that Christians have an insider-outsider mentality that is always ready to bar the door to those who don’t meet their standards… Inclusiveness, diversity… are ideals that have shaped this generation.” David Kinnaman in You Lost Me. Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church… And Rethinking Faith, p. 171.
Click here for more non-denominational quotes about acceptance.
SURVEY (evaluate where you are so you know where you want to go)
- Is your church an accepting church?
- How do you know you are accepted in your church?
- What are the top five ways your church shows acceptance to senior youth?
- What are the top five ways your church shows acceptance to young adults?
VISUAL MEDIA
Videos
PRINT MATERIALS
Articles
- First Impressions Matter to Seekers: Tips for Improving Your Church’s Digital Curb Appeal
- 7 Ways to Become a Welcoming Church
- 10 Signals that Say “You Are Not Welcome in This Church”
- 5 Reasons Churches Need Diversity
- Fourteen Characteristics of Genuinely Friendly Churches
- We Will No Longer Be a Welcoming Church
- An Invitation
- The Jesus Memo
- Learning to See Your Single Neighbor
- 6 Dos and Dont’s for Welcoming Church Guests
- 6 Markers for Especially Welcoming Churches
- Six Ways to Support and Challenge Those Who Leave Church
- New Website Dedicated to Crafting Welcoming Statements for Seventh-day Adventist Churches (SDA)
- COR Position Paper, p. 10-14 (SDA)
- Adventist Church Welcoming Statements (SDA)
- Books
- Rainer, Thom S. and Rainer, Jess W. (2011). The Millennials. Connecting to America’s Largest Generation. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group. See chapter 4 “The New Normal of Openness and Diversity”, p. 77-100.
- Stark, David. (2016). Reaching Millennials. Proven Methods for Engaging a Younger Generation. Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers. See chapter 8 “Outsider Targeted Services”, p. 109-120.
- Renewing lost friendships is part of the good news of Jesus, and An Indescribable Welcome Home will help you learn where to begin. This book uses a series of stories told by Jesus to describe how He wants us to relate to the people who have quit coming to church. (SDA)
- UsherGreeter Orientation Guide – Develop a better understanding of the duties and roles of a church usher/greeter with this training tool. Consider the biblical background of the role, what is at work when the offering occurs, the importance of welcoming guests, and strategies for keeping your church safe.
- Harris, Peggy. (2004). Biblical Hospitality. Omaha, NE: AdventSource