Our Vision and Mission - Virginia-Highland Church (UCC)

Different … ON PURPOSE

Mission & Vision

Micah 6:8

Our congregation anchors our vision and mission around these words from Micah 6:8:

God has shown you,

O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To do justice and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Our Vision

Virginia-Highland Church is all about LOVE as a Jesus-following, justice-doing, LGBTQ-affirming, anti-racist, radically inclusive faith community.

This vision informs our mission, which we use to guide and motivate our ministry.

Our Beliefs

Creator

We believe the Creator is love and that divine love is the most powerful thing in the universe. Faith in God is not about doctrine or dogma. Faith is about exploring and enjoying life in Holy Love.

Christ

Jesus Christ is the primary, but not the exclusive revelation of divine love. As a multi-faith church, we recognize that Jesus was not a Christian and that the early church was recognized only as “people of the way,” the way of Jesus. Therefore, anyone can follow Jesus regardless of religious identity. Jesus breaks many boundaries with his Sabbath-healing, women-inclusive, tax-collector communing, inclusive love. Jesus did not conform to social niceties, hate others, promote dominance, violence or war. He lived and lives in solidarity with those on the margins.

Spirit

The Spirit breathes and animates the church and all of life. The Spirit is available to us at all times and everywhere.

Heaven Is Right Now

Jesus talked a lot about the kingdom of God (or as we say the “ kin-dom”) as a present reality and precious little about the afterlife. Likewise we seek and reveal the kin-dom of God with us and among us.

Social Justice Rooted In Repentance, Repair and Restoration

Cut out all of the biblical verses on economic/social justice and the Bible would be hole-y instead of Holy! God is deeply concerned about justice, and so are we. Anti-racism, voting rights, LGBTQ equality and solidarity with and sanctuary for people without access to safe housing.

Welcoming Questions

We take the bible too seriously to take it all literally. And because God is beyond our thoughts and imagining, we believe that asking good questions can humble us, shape our journeys, and eventually lead us to new and deeper understandings. Your questions, doubts and discoveries are welcome here!

Expansive Images & Inclusive Language

Because God is beyond words, we use a variety of images, language, music, and metaphors for God. We imagine God as beyond any binary humans have created. God is always more!

Every Sunday at VHC, we affirm that:

Black Lives Matter

Women’s Rights Are Human Rights

Children Are Seen And Heard

Love Is Love

No One Is Illegal On Stolen Land

Water Is Life

Science Is Real

People Of All Abilities, All Faiths, And No Faith, Are Our Siblings

We are a part of the United Church of Christ, a national community of faith based in the life and ministry of Jesus. The UCC was founded in 1957 when four traditions united to become one: Christians, Congregationalists, Evangelical, and Reformed. The UCC is one of the most diverse denominations in the United States and one of the most progressive.

Learn more about the UCC here.