Judson Memorial Church

MISSION

Judson Memorial Church seeks to be a just, diverse, vibrant, and worshipping spiritual community through the pursuit of social justice, creative expression, and sacred exploration of its own Protestant church roots and the wisdom of other traditions. 

VALUES

A Place for Spiritual Curiosity: Judson approaches faith, not as a monolithic or unchanging set of beliefs, but rather as a continual process of action, revelation and exploration. Asking difficult and inconvenient questions of our beliefs and spiritual traditions, and the person of Jesus, is in and of itself a core tenet of faith at Judson.

Sacred and Profane: At Judson, it is often said that we hold artists as our modern-day prophets, who not only show us who we are, but what we might become. We find sacred meaning in all parts of life, from the divine to the secular, from ancient scripture to musical theatre. 

Body and Soul: We concern ourselves with more than the soul; the body is of equal concern. Whether it is bodily autonomy, racial liberation, freedom of sexual or gender expression, or accessibility-- the physical presence of every person in and beyond our community and their ability to enter, move through, and occupy the spaces we create are of paramount importance.

Outward and Upward: Since its founding, Judson has maintained deep connections with the civic, political, and social movements outside its walls. Engaging with the world outside of church is not only critical to staying relevant, but it is also how we practice our faith. As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said, we pray with our feet. In the world, the service begins.

VISION

A Bend Toward Justice: We envision a world where all people are free to pursue their true purpose, unencumbered by human-made limitations imposed because of who they are, who they love, or what they do.*

Down to Earth: We envision a physical space for Judson Memorial Church that is fully accessible to everyone, a staff that is fully resourced to support the programs that express Judson’s values and mission, and a congregation that is a justice-seeking, creative, and thriving spiritual community. With these, we recognize that we have a special responsibility to advocate for the Earth so that all may thrive in sustained harmony.

*As an Open , Welcoming, and Affirming church, we assert that all are entitled to rights, freedoms, and justice, without distinction of any kind, such as race, ethnicity, gender expression, physical capacity, sexual expression, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.

OUR DENOMINATIONS

Judson is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, the United Church of Christ, and Alliance of Baptists all leading mainline Protestant denominations and both belonging to the "free-church" tradition of liberal Protestantism that affirms the autonomy of the local church.

But our members encompass a wide variety of religious beliefs. Many members of our community care deeply about particular denominations and are among us. Many others are blissfully unaware of particular denominations at all. We welcome everyone.

CHURCH GOVERNANCE

In our free-church tradition, basic operating decisions - like those involving finances, congregational policy and the selection of a senior minister - are made by voting members. Oversight of the affairs of the church is exercised by an elected 12-member Board of Trustees, chaired by an elected Moderator. The key work of Judson is performed by appointed and elected committees and task forces.

OPEN, AFFIRMING, AND THEN SOME

We welcome persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities (including cisgender, transgender, and genderqueer) to participate fully in the life and ministry of the church. We support each and every quest to construct one’s own identity, affirming any and all who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning, polysexual, asexual, pansexual, omnisexual, and straight.

As an "Open and Affirming" UCC and "Welcoming and Affirming" American Baptist church: WELCOME!