Our Mission and Purpose

We are called to welcome all who yearn to strengthen their relationship with God

Our Values

Ours is to “Value as God Values”

So that we might bring the “Kingdom to Community”

Therefore, we will…

“Cultivate” our relationship with God

“Emulate” the Life of Jesus

“Relate” to People of our Communities

Our Welcome Statement

(This statement was unanimously adopted on January 30, 2022)

New Life Church, on Madison’s East side, is a family of faith for all people where we affirm everyone is created in the image of God as beloved children of God. We believe God calls us to advocate for justice, equity, inclusion, and peace among all people while respecting the dignity of every person.

We welcome and celebrate diversity in age, race, nation of origin, citizenship status, gender identity, sexual orientation, social and economic status, judicial history, political view, background, ability, marital status, and anything else that makes us unique. We commit ourselves to the work of anti-racism and the building up of non-oppressive systems. Our uniqueness is essential to our community – all have a seat here at Christ’s table of love and in the faces of our leadership.

We believe that it’s not about perfection. In fact, we won’t always get it right but believe that we can grow by staying open as teachable spirits, called to be partners in God’s creative work. We embrace this sacred invitation to engage together in a life-giving, wondrous (albeit messy and stretchy) vision of love, inclusion, and grace for all.

All are invited to begin, continue, or renew journeys of faith and discovery, and to pull up a chair to the Lord’s table.

Our Core Beliefs

As you continue your journey – your path of faith – it’s important to know what this community believes; what we hold as common convictions. We are a church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and as such we follow the beliefs of that denomination to the best of our ability. For more about the ELCA, we encourage you to check out their website HERE.

Here are some ways that the people of New Life live out our Mission, Purpose, and Values:

• Loving God – we believe that, as Christ’s followers, we are continually encouraged into a profound experience and renewed understanding of the power of God’s love for us and the privilege of our love for God. We love God. Matthew 22:37 – You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
• Loving People – we believe that because of God’s eternal and essential love for us, we are moved to share the same love with others. In doing so, God’s love for us becomes even more apparent. We love people. 1 John 4:7, 12 – Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God…if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
• Building Christian Community– we believe that, through the joy of discovering and using our spiritual gifts, we function as a unified community for the purpose of giving honor to God. We are a Christian community. Romans 15:5-6 – May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Growing Spiritually – we believe that we are called into a transformational relationship with our Lord. As we deepen our experience of God, becoming more spiritually mature, our lives are changed and we find ourselves living in a way that honors God. We are spiritual beings. Colossians 3:15-16 – Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of the one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of God dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
• Sharing Jesus – we believe that our lives reflect to others the presence of God’s glorious spirit. We are living witnesses of the presence and power of Jesus, whether through our words or actions. We share Jesus. Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

More Ways We Live Out These Core Beliefs:

First of all, we hope you feel God’s love and welcome the minute you walk through the door!

That welcome extends into our life together in these ways:

• We practice open Communion, meaning that everyone (and we mean EVERYONE!) is able to receive Holy Communion as we practice this sacrament together in worship.
• We celebrate the diversity of God’s created world in that we actively welcome all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, political party, previous lifestyle choices, disability, age…you name it. When we say all, we mean all!
• We practice hospitality in as many ways as we can and do so because we have experienced it ourselves – both from God and from others in this community.

Land Acknowledgment Statement:

As people of faith, we acknowledge the generations of the Ho-Chunk (Hoocąk) peoples on whose land we worship and serve God. We thank their traditional knowledge keepers for their care of the land, and their continued connection to the land, waters, and community. We are grateful guests and strive to be good stewards of place and privilege. We reject the Doctrine of Discovery* and all systems of oppression that have taken names, language, stories, traditional food, and land from our Native American relatives.

For more information, please see www.doctrineofdiscovery.org

For more history of Indigenous tribes, please see https://native-land.ca/