12/14/2025
During this retrospective time of year, many people recenter themselves. A committed group of our congregation worked hard to synthesize this set of beliefs that the entire congregation approved.
Statement of the Social Action Discussion Group
Given the current situation in our country, and our identity as a searching and engaged church, the Social Action Discussion Group proposes that the First Parish of Bolton consider activities consistent with the following principles based on the teachings of our faith:
1. Support humane and Constitutional treatment of all.
2. Respect and protect the environment.
3. Uphold the value and integrity of science, education, and the search for truth and understanding.
4. Extend generosity to all in need.
5. Strive to hear the unique voice of each of God’s children.
6. Care for the ill and promote healthy communities through preventive care.
The tenets of our faith undergirding these principles include:
Loving your neighbor (Golden rule found in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31, Greatest Commandment found in Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34 and Luke 10:25-28, the new commandment of love, John 13:31-35)
Feeding the hungry (Jesus feeds 5,000 found in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:32-44, Luke 9:10b-17 and John 6:1-15)
Welcoming the stranger (But no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler (Job 31:32), Let strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich the house of another (Proverbs 5:10), When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 19: 33-34), You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt (Exodus 23:9))
Tending the sick (all the stories of Jesus’ healings, & parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37))
Caring for all Creation (Genesis 2:15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”)
Not lying and bearing false witness (The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy (Proverbs 12:22), and Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues (Psalm 120:2) and You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (9th of Ten Commandments))
Valuing learning and the search for knowledge (Proverbs 1:5 “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Proverbs 4:7 “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight.”)
