We are an open church. We believe that we are guests in God's house and that as such our goal is to act as gracious host on His behalf. It is not our job to define your faith for you but rather to help you find the faith within yourself. We would like to be a source of encouragement for your faith and relationship with God.

We are the Church of Burr Ridge, a church intent on providing the very special warm feelings of fellowship experienced in a small church, and the energy and resources of a large church.

As such, we minister to our congregation and our community at large. Some of the services we extend to the community are pastoral care and counseling, suicide prevention instruction and education and a medical equipment "lending library".

Learning must continue throughout the Christian life so we study to understand the purposes and intentions of God for us as individuals and as His people at work and play in the world.

Come join us in word, song and sacrament as we celebrate the good news of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus our Lord.

BURR RIDGE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: Fosters the spirit of Christ Teaches the word of God Serves the whole individual - body, mind & spirit.

As a community in Christ, we strive to: Respond to the Gospel in word and deed Balance freedom of conscience with accountability to faith Uphold Christian, ethical and intellectual growth.

The first thing to be said about our congregation is how typical it is. It is a typical suburban middle-sized congregation. At worship on Sunday morning the Word of God is proclaimed and the Sacraments are administered. The choir rehearses on Thursday evening. The children learn Bible stories is Sunday School. Bake Sales raise extra money for mission. Bible studies are offered on Romans to Revelation. Hospital calls are made. And so on. All these are typical activities of suburban middle-sized congregations. None of which are distinctive. What is distinctive about the congregation is the freedom of conscience clause in the constitution.

What does this mean? It means that each member must determine for him- or herself matters of faith. To be sure, grounded in Scripture, under the influence of the Spirit, and in dialogue with the community of the faithful, but in the end the decision must be made by each believer. No one else can make that decision for you. Practically speaking, it means that the person in the pew next to you may hold the opposite position you do with regard to what you consider the most central to your faith.

This freedom of conscience is not something new or novel for the congregation. It has been part of the consitution from the beginning. Burr Ridge United Church of Christ is the union of Immanuel and Saint John Churches. Immanuel was organized in 1898. Saint John, which merged with Immanuel in 1972, was organized in 1877. In both congregations there was a freedom of conscience clause. Why?

German immigrants founded both congregations. Immigrants who were from Prussia. Early in the 19^th century the Lutheran Reformed Churches in Prussia entered a union. To make this possible, adherents of both church were given the freedom to adhere to their original beliefs, hence the freedom of conscience clause. When members of this union immigrated to America later in the 19^th century they organized new churches and retained the freedom conscience clause.

Someone once said that this freedom on conscience clause is a recipe for theological anarchy and chaos. If everyone is free to believe as they please, the end result could be, should be a theological mess. And yet, nothing could be further from the truth. To be sure, there is considerable theological diversity, even in central matters of faith. Yet, there is no chaose. Why?

It has to do with wherein we understand our unity and diversity. We begin with an established and noncontroversial distinction. We distinguish between our faith in Christ and thinking about our faith in Christ. These two are different, even if related, activities. Our faith is given and nurtured in the ocntext of the proclamation of the Word of God and the administration of the Sacraments. In worship, the crucufied and resurrected Christ is present and invites us to participate in the divine drama of salvation. In baptism, faith is established in our hearts. In preaching and the Lord's Supper, that faith is renewed and strengthened.

However, we are able to step back and critically reflect upon our faith in Christ. What does it mean for our understanding of God, the world, and self? What does it imply for our life of faith in the world? What are we called to witness and do? Given our uniqueness, our answers to these questions will differ. And they do differ. To be sure, not for everyone and not all the time. But we do differ. Yet, there is no chaose. Why?

The congregation understands that its unity is grounded solely in our faith in Christ, in our experience of the crucified and resurrected Christ. This is primary and original. Each of us shares this faith in common. This is what unites us. This is what is distinctive of the congregation. Our unity is not grounded in our thoughts about Christ, which is at best and at most are secondary and derivative. And no matter how different our thoughts about Christ are, they cannot compromise the basis, the integrity of our unity. Christ remains one, our faith in Christ remains one, even though our thoughts about Christ are many.

So, this is how a typical suburban middle-sized congregation with theological diversity remains united.

Pastor Gary M. Faleide