our beliefs are simple, our welcome is wide

We are a fairly diverse congregation theologically and we are fairly orthodox in our beliefs. Some members are conservative while most are fairly liberal. We welcome and embrace the diversity of our community that we serve. We are humanists understanding that all people are flawed and all can be redeemed. We believe the cornerstone of theology is the bible and that Jesus is the sole head of the church. Bible verses are used consistently throughout our service as the basis for our beliefs. However, we are rationalists and humanists that understand that the literal translations of some passages do not fully explain the true message of Christianity.

Because we are fairly diverse, it is hard to say exactly what theologian would best represent us. Liturgically we are closest to Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli was a humanist, reformer and a scholar with many devoted friends and disciples. He communicated as easily with the ordinary people of his congregation as with the rulers of the land. His reputation as a stern, stolid reformer is counterbalanced by the fact that he had an excellent sense of humor and used satiric fables, spoofing, and puns in his preaching and writings. He was more conscious of social obligations than Martin Luther and he genuinely believed that the masses would accept a government guided by God's word. He tirelessly promoted assistance to the poor, who he believed should be cared for by a truly Christian community.

At Zion UCC, most of us are comfortable sitting down to dinner with the homeless of our community, as well as the leaders in our community. We believe the only way to solve a problem is to truly understand the people involved. We believe that the abundant resources of our world must be shared with all. We believe Zion United Church of Christ in Stroudsburg can play an important role in spreading the message and serving our community. We believe that all are welcome, and all can be served in our place of worship.

WISE means Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, Engaged. This designation means that we have committed to be welcoming of those living with mental health challenges, to expand our inclusion of those who are living with mental health challenges, to be supportive of all who are affected by mental health conditions, 

and to engage in ways to live our commitment to be WISE about mental health. We are in the process of BECOMING WISE through education and discussion. 

 In October 2024, we submitted our application to obtain the designation of Accessible 2 All! 

This means that we have made accommodations throughout the building to ensure that differently abled people will be able to fully participate in the full life of the church! We have wheelchair access throughout the main building, handicap accessible restrooms, large print bulletins, and folks prepared to assist with any needs.

If you have any specific questions about accessibility, please contact our office by phone or email. 

 To fulfill our mission of being a welcoming community of faith for all we are working to become an Open and Affirming Church by drafting a covenant that represents the beliefs of our members, dedicates our time to continued education and community-building, and inclusion of all in the active life of our congregation.