The “Welcome Home” Spirit of Bethlehem Farm

All are Welcome in this Place
Bethlehem Farm values a spirit of “Welcome Home” among the members of this community as an integral part of our Christian witness, specifically the gospel cornerstones of prayer, simplicity, community, and service. We value the uniqueness of all persons as God’s creatures. We welcome all people, regardless of age, race, color, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, political affiliation, income, marital status, familial status, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, & military status, for example, precisely because of Christ’s calling to treat others as we desire to be treated. We value vulnerable or minority members of this community as we value all members of this community. We condemn harassment of any kind, and our policies prohibit any such acts. We intentionally create an environment of mutual respect, hospitality and warmth in which none are strangers and all may flourish.

Inclusion in Catholic Social Teaching
We align with our one of our partner schools, the University of Notre Dame, in their Spirit of Inclusion document (2020): “One of the essential tests of social justice within any Christian community is its abiding spirit of inclusion. Scriptural accounts of Jesus provide a constant witness of this inclusiveness. Jesus sought out and welcomed all people into the Kingdom of God — the gentile as well as the Jew, women as well as men, the poor as well as the wealthy, the slave as well as the free, the infirm as well as the healthy. The social teachings of the Catholic Church promote a society founded on justice and love, in which all persons possess inherent dignity as children of God. The individual and collective experiences of Christians have also provided strong warrants for the inclusion of all persons of good will in their communal living. Christians have found their life together enriched by the different qualities of their many members, and they have sought to increase this richness by welcoming others who bring additional gifts, talents and backgrounds to the community.”