wfn.org | Arizona congregation is 300th to become open and affirming

[George Conklin <gconklin@wfn.org>]

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Arizona congregation is 300th to become open and affirming

by Hal Chorpenning
        PROVIDENCE, RI - July 3, 1999 - Phoenix, Ariz., is not known as a
bastion of political liberalism: “This is Barry Goldwater country,” says the
Rev. David Ragan, senior minister of the Shadow Rock Congregational Church, UCC
in Phoenix. 
        Yet, the members of Shadow Rock last Sunday, July 27, voted to become
the 300th UCC congregation to adopt an Open and Affirming resolution., which
they have been considering and seeking discernment about for one year.
        Ragan characterizes the 26-year-old, 756-member congregation as
“progressive,” and he “expected the vote to be a shoo-in.” Anticipating nearly
universal support, the minister encountered a small, vocal group of members who
felt strongly that the resolution should be defeated. “It felt like huge
opposition,” said Ragan. “From the moment we introduced the issue, it was
explosive,” according to Ragan. “Among that group [that opposed the
resolution], I sense a wall immediately. Pastorally, I still regret that, but
part of our ONA statement allows for diversity of opinion.”
        Lay leadership was another key in process. Jesse Cuilty, a member of
Shadow Rock and the Southwest Conference ONA Task Force, advocated for adoption
of the resolution. According to Cuilty, one of the elements of the church’s
existing covenant affirms that the “uniqueness and greatness of every life is
radically affirmed.” Cuilty said that the existing covenant helped provide the
ethos for Shadow Rock’s resolution. “If we had voted not to become Open and
Affirming,” said Ragan, “it would have prompted a covenantal crisis. It was as
if we were holding up a mirror to see who we really are.”
        Cuilty also gives credit to Conference Minister the Rev. Cally
Rogers-Witte, whose “incredible support” helped all those involved in the
process.
        “We did not have a clear indication on how the vote would go,” says
Ragan. “Even on the day of the vote, we were unsure of the outcome, and we were
concerned about many families being away on vacation when we took the vote.” 
        Ragan’s fears were allayed by a 90 percent favorable vote. Among the
congregation, “about 50 percent were already in favor,” says Cuilty, “and the
rest made a heck of a journey to get there.”