Phoenix Affirmations

The Phoenix Affirmations are twelve statements created by CrossWalk America (in Phoenix, Arizona), in an attempt to define a new kind of Christianity that is overtly progressive in nature, including in regards to social justice issues, concern for the environment, and an emphasis on the importance of creativity. It is centered in what it sees as the three central loves of the Bible: Love for God, love for our neighbors, and love for the self. The affirmations as of 2006 are:

# Being sincerely Christian without denying the legitimacy of other religions.
# Listening for God's Word, which comes through praying, studying the Bible, and attending to God's activity in the world.
# Celebrating the sanctity of God's Creation, including Nature, the sacred and the secular, the Christian and non-Christian, etc.
# Worshipping in a way that is sincere, artful, and biblical.
# Treating all people as creations made in God's image, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, economic class, nationality, religion, physical or mental ability, etc., just as Jesus did.
# Standing up for the poor, for the margianalized, for the oppressed, seeking justice and peace for all.
# Preserving religious freedom and maintaining the separation of church and state.
# Humbly acknowledging our own shortcomings while sincerely trying to see and bring out the best in others, even if they consider us their enemy.
# Basing our lives on the faith that Christ restores all things and that all of us are loved beyond our wildest dreams.
# Recognizing the sanctity of both our minds and our hearts and that both science and faith, doubt and belief, serve the pursuit for truth.
# Realizing the benefits of prayer, worship, recreation, and healthiness in addition to work.
# Acting on the faith that we born with a purpose, a vocation that serves to strengthen God's Kingdom and extend God's love.

References

* Elnes, Eric. "The Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity". (San Francisco : Jossey-Bass Books, 2006) "(The affirmations have been paraphrased for this article.)"