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Rector's Blog: We Believe

This blog post is also available as a podcast

Friends, in the weeks to come, I will be devoting my blog(podcast) to the conversation about reproductive rights, and especially abortion. It is a difficult topic. The Christian community is founded in the unconditional love of God and is not meant to shy away from difficult conversations, but to enter into them with care and intention, with prayer and wholeheartedness.

I will seek to use this space for that kind of engagement, and as always, I will welcome your feedback.

I want to begin this extended conversation by speaking directly to women, and all people who are able to get pregnant, since you are the ones who are most directly affected by the decisions made regarding your reproductive rights.

We believe that you are made in the image of God.

We believe that you are not a mere reflection of men. You are not an addition, an appendage, or a rib: You yourself are fully human. You carry your own dignity, your own rights, your own belonging in this world.

We believe that you don’t need a man like me to tell you this for it to be true. Because you already know this to be true deep within your marrow.

We believe in helping to create a culture that honors you, that honors your body rather than objectifying it.

We believe that your body should not be treated as a partisan battlefield or political tool by those in power.

We believe your body is your own.

We believe that you should have the same rights to bodily autonomy as men.

We believe that the decision to terminate a pregnancy belongs to the person who is pregnant.

We believe that God loves you. Period.

We believe that sometimes abortion is your best option.

We believe that all life is sacred. Which means your life is sacred. And we have a responsibility to honor the sanctity of your life, of your agency.

We believe that the life within a pregnant person is sacred, and the termination of that life is always serious, and sometimes devastating.

We believe that the sanctity of unborn life should not undermine your agency.

We believe that the sanctity of unborn life should not override your health and safety.

We believe that access to a safe, legal abortion is healthcare, and treating it otherwise serves to diminish the fullness of your humanity and weaponize your own bodies against you.

We believe you don’t need us to explain to you the complexity of carrying life within you, and the decision to terminate that life.

We believe that Christians can in good conscience disagree with one another about abortion without taking it out on you.

We believe that choosing abortion does not make you less faithful, less loved, less of anything.

We believe God knows this better than we do.

We believe God Is compassionate and understanding, and will never abandon or forsake you.

We believe that the church should not be a source of judgment and shame, but a community of love and support that stands with you unflinchingly.

We believe you.

We believe the Bible never defines when human life begins, nor does the Bible articulate any injunction against abortion.

We believe using the Bible to shame or guilt you in your time of suffering is spiritual abuse.

We believe trying to take away your rights, your agency, the fullness of your humanity in Jesus’ name is blasphemy.

We believe that staying silent while other Christians shame and dehumanize you in Jesus’ name is sinful – and we know we are guilty of it.

We believe that forcing you to carry a pregnancy to term without putting into place a support system that helps and cares for you in practical ways is not reflective of God’s love.

We believe that advocating for an unborn life at your expense without putting into place a support system that helps and cares for that life in practical ways once its born is not reflective of God’s love.

We believe that even if these systems were in place and our society did reflect and embody God’s love, the choice to terminate a pregnancy would still belong to you.

We believe in Jesus Christ, whose earthly ministry acknowledged, humanized, respected, and elevated women.

We believe in Jesus Christ, who rebuked those in power when they sought to use the law to diminish, subjugate, harm, and kill women.

We believe that if the Church really is the Body of Christ, we should sincerely follow Jesus and do likewise.

We believe that privileging our comfort in avoiding hard conversations while you endlessly struggle for basic rights is sinful. We have so much work to do.

We believe you. We do not show it well enough. We do not show up often enough. We do not advocate for the repentance of our society for its treatment of you with the ferocity of John the Baptist. We have to repent of that.

We believe you.

We believe that the church and the world need to do a better job of listening to you, learning from you, being transformed by your experience.

We believe we need to learn how to entrust ourselves to your leadership and be better about following you as you lead the way.

We believe you.


Tags: Rector's Blog

Sermons

  • Mar 20 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    The Present Past
  • Mar 12 | Tym House
    Direct Access to Grace
  • Mar 6 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Being Righteous
  • Feb 27 | The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane
    Two Sides of the Same Coin
  • Feb 20 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Superman Transfigured

Rector's Blog

  • Mar 24 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, When God Feels Like It
  • Mar 17 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, But Through Me
  • Mar 10 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Conversions - Part 2
  • Mar 3 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Conversions - Part 1
  • Feb 24 | The Rev. Philip DeVaul
    Rector's Blog, Better Not Easier

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2944 Erie Ave. · Cincinnati, OH 45208
(513) 321-6700
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The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
2944 Erie Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45208

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Welcome Children Service Times Membership Contact Us

Welcome to Church of the Redeemer! We invite and welcome ALL to join us in worship and community. In addition to worship, we have a vibrant music community, a fun and welcoming community for children and youth, plus offerings for everyone from young adults to seniors, covering many varied interests.

The Rev. Philip DeVaul, Rector

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We love children, and children love Church of the Redeemer!

Children are at the heart of life at Church of the Redeemer. Children learn about the word of God through our Children's Christian Education programs; they are involved in worship services, they play music in our services, and they form lifelong friendships with each other through their experiences.

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On Sundays we have an 8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I service, a 9:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II service (which is also livestreamed), an 11:00 am Banquet Eucharist service and a 5:00 pm Celtic Eucharist service.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we offer Morning Prayer on our Online Worship Podcast.

On Wednesdays, we offer Holy Eucharist, Rite II at 6:00 pm in the Chapel.

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The community of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer welcomes you! We are glad that you have chosen to explore your faith here and hope that this document can answer some of the questions you may have about Church of the Redeemer. We seek to be an open, inviting community. Our invitation to you is to join us as we grow in faith and reach out in love to others. At Church of the Redeemer we are always seeking to know Jesus and grow in love. We hope that in whatever ministries you undertake will strengthen your relationship with him through your ministry and fellowship here.

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PARKING: Parking is on the street. Please pay attention to the signs indicating proper parking zones. Handicapped parking is available in the front on Erie, in the back parking lot, and on the south side of Raymar.

ACCESSIBLE REDEEMER: The front entrance has a ramp and there is an elevator inside the back door and to the left. Accessible restrooms are located in the Lobby inside the front entrance.


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Flowers in our holy worship spaces are a beautiful gift to God and those who attend services at Church of the Redeemer as well as those being honored or remembered. A contribution to the Flower Fund is a meaningful way to honor or remember a loved one for special life events such as birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, confirmations, thanksgivings, or in memory of a loved one.

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The Church of the Redeemer is blessed to have received special gifts from parishioners who wanted Redeemer to have permanent savings to care for our facilities and to supplement our pledge income.

Such permanent savings are often called an “endowment.” The endowed funds are permanently set aside by donors or by the Vestry. Some of our donors have specified uses for their endowment gifts. A limited portion of the funds is distributed each year to supplement our general budget. All funds are invested with professional advice.

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What about your connection to Redeemer changes the way you live in this world? Your financial commitment is a response to the work that God is doing with you here. It is a practical way to ensure that others are able to experience the relationships of holy connection and communion that are shaping your life.

For 2023, we ask that you make your commitment through regular scheduled electronic giving, if possible. Whether it be weekly or annually, giving electronically is a safe and sustainable way to ensure your continued financial support.

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Your planned legacy gift to the Church of the Redeemer is a practical way for you to empower generations to come. It is a powerful witness of faith, love, and gratitude. This type of gift recognizes the heritage left by those who came before us and acknowledges that we bear a responsibility to the future faithful - to insure the continuation of God’s work within and beyond Church of the Redeemer.

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