The Community of Saint Luke

COMMUNITY OF ST. LUKE MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT

    Be Compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:36



 Most of us have been in prayerful vigil for the last five years. We have been steeped in scripture study during that time. We have systematically studied the Hebrew Scriptures, their relation to the New Testament, all four gospels, the letters of Paul and John, the Book of Revelation and apocalyptic literature, Pauline Controversies, the importance of women in scripture, what scripture actually says about people who are gay and their relationships., and the nature and meaning of the Incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus, and especially how these were viewed by the early Christians. We learned how God loves all of us. We spent time looking at the churches the apostles left behind and how it was in the beginning. Although we are very satisfied by our adult education and learning, we feel that the education of our children is of paramount importance. So, we have taught religious education programs each year to our children, at times numbering one hundred. From this bedrock of scripture, and in modeling those early Christians, we feel uniquely prepared to form the Community of St. Luke.

 Despite much adversity, we have forged together our common bonds over many years. We bond together in our liturgy, charity, service, care for our children, and our sense of community with each other. We have stayed together through thick and thin. While none of us risked death as the early Christians, many of us have suffered persecution in many ways, and have made great sacrifices for each other and for our community. We have laughed together, cried together, worshiped together, and are committed to stay together.

We choose to celebrate ourselves as community and have chosen the name of Saint Luke, the dear and glorious physician to remind us each day, to forever bring healing to ourselves, our families, our community and our world. We have great empathy for all people who have been oppressed and welcome everyone with open arms. Our mission is to ensure that no one is ever excluded from the Body of Christ or from the Heart of God.



We affirm the principle of unity amid diversity that filled the early Christian Communities. Like them, we do not stand on beliefs or doctrines but on the single command of Jesus to love one another as he loved us.

Our fondest hopes and dreams are that people will say of us as they said of the early Christians, “Look at this community. See how they love one another.” We are committed to love and care for one another.

We acknowledge the gifts and the differences of each person and that we are all members of the Body of Christ and each other. We recognize with St. Paul that if any one of us suffers we all suffer. If any one of us receives honor, we all receive honor.



We acknowledge that all people, including our children, are baptized as priest, prophet, and king. We will work to make this manifest in all of us.

We recognize the gifts of our children and invite their participation in aspects of our liturgies previously restricted to adults, such as reading the Word of God, and serving as ministers of the Eucharist.

We remain committed to the principles of the Second Vatican Council that the Church is the people of God and the recognition of the value of all people of all faiths. We stand firmly of the core teaching of Jesus that God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God. We honor the dignity of all people because we are all created in the image of God – “Imago Dei” and are all members of the one Christ. Our goal is to hold up the divine mirror to everyone that they may see the divine in themselves and in all of creation.

We firmly reject all bias and prejudice, for any reason, and will strive to work for justice for all, treating everyone with the two great gifts of Jesus, love and compassion. To that end we follow him in being radically inclusive and welcoming of all people, regardless of their background, social status, origin, beliefs, race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or marital status.

Our Eucharistic table does not belong to us but to Christ, who welcomed everyone, and never turned anyone away. Jesus washed the feet of his betrayer and denier and included them in his first Eucharist. We do not presume to turn anyone away from the supper of Jesus.                                                                                   

We welcome with open arms those who are poor, oppressed or downtrodden; those who are hungry and thirsty; those who are homeless, frightened, alone, broken, or depressed; and those who are abused, and all who are in need of healing. We promise to do our part in the ongoing work of reconciliation, peace, justice and healing. We especially offer a safe place for all have suffered harm from their religion.   

As we form the Community of St. Luke, we join with Jesus in the Good News according to Luke, and bring glad tidings to the poor, light to those in darkness, liberty to all held captive, and freedom to all who are oppressed.