Urban Servant Corps
USC is a one-year, full-time Lutheran volunteer program involved in ministries serving inner-city Denver. Volunteers serve full-time in agencies that provide assistance to economically and socially disadvantaged individuals. USC volunteer positions balance between working with direct service programs to address immediate needs, and advocating or networking with other organizations to work for long-term social change. Service agencies in the community include direct service and advocacy for food, clothing, housing, job counseling and education programs for youth and adults. The Urban Servant Corps has two Intentional Communities based in the North Capitol Hill and Five Points neighborhoods of Denver, Colorado.
The Urban Servant Corps seeks to fulfill Christ's mission of love demonstrated through action by working for peace with justice, advocating for and with oppressed persons, and sharing our power and abundance with those most in need.
"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" ‚?Micah 6:8
Serving Christ through action for a better community reflected in our core mission:
We will carry out our faith commitments by:
* hosting full time volunteers living in Christian community houses in central Denver, serving primarily the Capitol Hill, North Capitol Hill, and Five Points Neighborhoods, promoting our mutual growth in faith and ministry through our vocations.
* seeking to better understand and address the issues that arise in the neighborhood, responding through direct service, empowering one another, or advocating on behalf of others.
* hosting foreign exchangees and maintaining friendships and connections with individuals worldwide in order to broaden our range of understanding to include global perspectives.
* inviting others to share our experiences and learnings. especially the church community, and encouraging those persons to pursue their own education through personal involvement.
The Affirmation of Welcome
As a community of God, we are called to minister to all people of our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.
We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither males nor female" (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this reconciliation extends also to those whose affectional orientation is toward a person of the same gender.
Because gay and lesbian persons are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:
* that gay and lesbian people share with all others the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;
* that gay and lesbian people are welcome within the membership of this congregation (organization or synod) upon making the same affirmation of faith that all other people make; and
* that as members of this congregation (organization or synod), gay and lesbian people are expected and encouraged to share in the sacramental and general life of this congregation (organization or synod).
