We aspire to be a community drawn together by God and inspired by Christ’s courage, that: Lives by faith, Practices radical compassion, Affirms all God’s children, Embraces transformation of ourselves, our church, and the broader community, and Nurtures spiritual growth in ways that speak to a changing world.

We believe in the one living and true God, perfect in power, wisdom, and love, revealed to us as our Creator by Jesus Christ, God’s Son. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who in his life, suffering, death, and resurrection manifested God’s love for all, and showed the way of redemption through the repentance for and the forgiveness of sin. We believe in the continuous presence and leadership of the Spirit of God in the Church and in the world. We accept the Bible as the supreme revelation of God’s nature and will for us, and as a source of our knowledge of Jesus Christ, the foundation of our faith. We grant to one another liberty of individual interpretation of the deep mysteries and teachings of the Bible and the Church, only requiring that, as members of this church each shall strive to live in the spirit and according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. We believe in the essential unity of Christendom, and we labor for the fuller realization of the kinship of all people in the worldwide Dominion of God. We affirm that Christ is our Savior, and rejoice that we are all one family.

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

The giant rainbow banner affixed to our bell tower recognizes the universal love of God (Genesis 9:13) An extravagant love that stands as witness against hatred, exclusion, prejudice, and oppression of every kind. We believe in extravagant welcome. This is why we insist that God’s communion table is open, not closed, and God’s gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable. We advocate justice for all. Our congregations extend hospitality as a sign of God’s inclusive love. We teach that evangelism — offering bread to those in search of it — is God’s mission. Our perspective is global, not provincial. We work with — not against — people of other faiths. Why? Because God is still speaking

We believe the church’s mission is to change lives — individually, systemically and globally. We work to make transformation possible, but trust in God’s grace. This is why we insist that churches must be places of vitality in worship, learning and advocacy. We are committed to working for justice, and we believe that lives are changed through global experiences and friendships. Why? Because God is still speaking, At FCC Stamford, we seek to live out the call of Jesus to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind . . . (and) love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). In our Declaration of Faith, we proclaim that as a community of faith, we work together “for the fuller realization of the kinship of all people . . . and rejoice that we are all one family.”

We believe in God’s continuing testament. This is why we are committed to hearing God’s ancient story anew and afresh in our lives and in the world today. We try to remain attentive to God’s creative movement in the world. Religion and science are not mutually exclusive, and your head and heart are both welcomed into our places of worship. We prepare our members and leaders to be engaged in ministry in the present and future church, and we embrace all kinds of communities and new modes of thinking. Why? Because God is still speaking.

Is in discernment and transition after a period of changes. Guided by these principles, as a congregation we voted in 2007 to demonstrate our commitment to loving our neighbors and to rejoicing in all people as the family of God by declaring ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation. By God’s grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences such as but not limited to sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, gender, age, and mental and physical ability, as well as racial, ethnic, or social-economic circumstances or background. We welcome all people, no matter who they are, no matter where they are on life’s journey, to share in the life and leadership, ministry and fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, and blessings of participation in our congregation. Almost 400 years old, we are among the oldest gathered churches in the U.S. and founder of the city of Stamford. Our history informs who we are today. We are passionate about helping people to experience the love and peace of God in every aspect of their lives. The generations of our congregation have endured the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World Wars, and those wars of our modern era, and have continued to be strong through the Great Depression and other economic crises. As a congregation, we have inherited a legacy of resiliency, courage, conviction, and grace. It is no accident that this church has inhabited 6 different church buildings over the generations. We are a community capable of change in a changing world. Our faith is grounded in what God has done for the world through Jesus Christ. As part of the United Church of Christ, we value social justice as a primary part of our faith formation. As a Congregational Church, we value the autonomy of each congregation and each believer. In this era of paradigm shifts and changing cultural mores, when the mainline church is suffering diminution, we seek to be relevant and meaningful for our own generation as we carry the timeless message of the Gospel. We pray to co-create with God the next period of vital ministry and service to the world. We aim to work for justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Love is our core value.