St. Martin’s reaffirms its long-standing and deep commitment to social justice ministries. We have engaged in deep reflection about who we are as a community. We yearn to act as Jesus’ hands and heart in the world and feel called to stand for and to stand with those who are marginalized. Our Baptismal Covenant affirms this call to seek and serve Christ in ALL persons, to strive for justice and peace among ALL people, and to respect the dignity of EVERY human being.
It is from this place, this deeply rooted need for action in the face of injustice, that we offer the accompanying commitments. We pray that as a community, we may become a vehicle through which Christ will transform the world around us, and through us, that we might see ourselves transformed. We invite you to join us on this path.
STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT AND ACTION
All are welcome at our church.
We at St. Martin’s are a faithful people intent on living into the words of our Baptismal Covenant, respecting the dignity and worth of every human being.
Whether you are doubtful or resolute; whatever your tradition; wherever your journey of faith has taken you:
You are welcome here.
Whether rich or poor; young, old, or in between; by yourself or with a family:
You are welcome here.
Whatever your gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, abilities, tradition, or language spoken:
You are welcome here.
We strive to care for God’s creation, growing our environmental ministries.
We strive to walk beside those who reach out to us or have nowhere to turn.
We strive to support and advocate for the marginalized and for immigrant communities.
We strive to celebrate and support our youth, young children, students, unpartnered individuals, families, elderly, and all those who feel ignored and alone.
We strive for our actions to live up to our words, and for our advocacy to give life to our ministry.
We say and will do all these things in God’s name.
The Statement of Commitment and Action was composed by the Vestry in 2017, revised by the Vestry All Are Welcome Committee in 2019, and approved by the Vestry in November 2019.
A WELCOME TO OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
Our denomination, the Episcopal Church, has had its struggles in this area, but for several years now has been clear in its stance that LGBTQ+ individuals are to be fully included in membership in the church, including being ordained, married, and treated equally in terms of access to the sacraments and in every other way. Here you can find a message from our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, from this past June, speaking out against the hurt that is being inflicted by anti-LGBTQ laws in many parts of the country:
Furthermore, St. Martin’s has been an affirming parish for many years and we take this responsibility seriously as part of our mission. In November 2023, St. Martin’s awarded a grant to the Davis Phoenix Coalition to support their important work. We have also attended and publicized events in support of the LGBTQ+ community, such as the fall 2023 rally in Central Park speaking out against transphobic harassment in Yolo County. Most importantly, we have members who are themselves LGBTQ+ and who, we hope and believe, are fully accepted, loved, and integrated into the parish community.
As stated above, in the Statement of Commitment and Action, you’ll see that it includes this clause: “Whatever your gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, abilities, tradition, or language spoken: You are welcome here.”
We hope this is helpful information. We are of course more than happy to speak to you about any of this or to clarify any lingering questions. Please contact the office at info@churchofstmartin.org for any inquiries.
A PRAYER FOR ACTION
God of justice and peace, you stand with those who are poor,
You ask us to be the voice of the voiceless,
We call upon you for those who have suffered from injustice
Of war and greed, from the depths of our being, we cry to you
Creator God, you know what we need, with or without our words.
Hear our prayer and hear our silence.
You are the God of strength and wisdom,
help us to trust in you and follow you to places
where we are challenged and changed.
Adapted from The New Women Included: A Book of Services and Prayers, The St. Hilda Community, SPCK Holy Trinity Church, London (1996), page 44.
