pccoberlin.org

Peace Community Church of Oberlin (PCC) is a welcoming and affirming Baptist church in Oberlin, Ohio. It describes itself as an inclusive congregation rooted in Baptist life but nourished by many Christian traditions. If you are looking for a church that explicitly affirms LGBTQ+ people and women's leadership, PCC states that its stance on these matters is clear. Sunday worship is held at 10 a.m., and all are invited.

Core identity and stance

PCC presents itself as a congregation that embraces "the call of the teacher Jesus to seek God's realm." Its self-description emphasizes three commitments:

• Worship and praise — gathering regularly to worship God.
• Authentic community — building a community marked by harmony, joy, and celebration.
• Prayer and care — praying for and caring for one another.

The church explicitly identifies as "inclusive, welcoming, and affirming," and notes that "it's clear where we stand on LGBTQ+ lives and women's leadership."

Affiliations

PCC is rooted in Baptist life and lists the following affiliations:

These affiliations signal a progressive, justice-oriented Baptist identity rather than a strictly conservative one.

Worship and community life

• Sunday worship: 10 a.m., open to all.
• Community news and prayer requests: The church invites people to sign up with an email address to receive community news, prayer requests, and more. It states that it respects privacy and will never share information with anyone else.
• Justice and peace work: PCC says it works "to bring peace and justice to our world."

Indigenous land acknowledgment

PCC includes a land acknowledgment in its self-description. It acknowledges with respect the various Native peoples on whose ancestral lands it worships, encourages members to learn about the original inhabitants of the land, and commits to cultivating meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities in its region. It also pledges to support their efforts against systemic racism and to listen to and honor their accounts of oppression and cultural genocide, recognizing them as "the authorities on their own history."

Practical notes

• Location context: Oberlin, Ohio.
• Giving: PayPal appears as a payment platform on the site, indicating an online giving option.
• Mailing list: Subscription is by email; the church states it will not share subscriber information.

If you are considering visiting or getting involved, the most direct step is to attend Sunday worship at 10 a.m. or subscribe to the email list for community news and prayer requests.

Peace Community Church of Oberlin (PCC) uses "welcoming and affirming" to describe a specific stance, not just a general friendliness: the congregation states that it fully includes LGBTQ+ people and supports women's leadership, while working for peace and justice and remaining rooted in Baptist life. If you are looking for a church that names these commitments openly, PCC's own description makes them explicit. If you want a congregation that avoids taking a position on these questions, this is probably not the fit.

The core meaning of "welcoming and affirming"

In many Christian traditions, "welcoming and affirming" is a deliberate term. It signals that a congregation does not merely allow LGBTQ+ people to attend, but affirms them as full participants in the life of the church. PCC's own language points in that direction: it describes itself as "an inclusive, welcoming, and affirming congregation" and says plainly, "It's clear where we stand on LGBTQ+ lives and women's leadership."

So the phrase carries two commitments at once:

• Full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people — not tolerance from a distance, but acceptance as members of the community.
• Support for women's leadership — women are not restricted from roles of teaching, ministry, or governance.

Where these commitments come from

PCC is not an independent congregation inventing its own categories. It says it is "rooted in Baptist life and nourished by many Christian traditions," and it lists affiliations that reinforce its stance:

The combination matters. A church can be Baptist and still differ widely on inclusion; PCC's affiliations place it on the affirming side of that spectrum while keeping its Baptist identity.

Beyond inclusion: peace, justice, and Indigenous relationships

"Welcoming and affirming" at PCC is tied to a broader mission. The church says it gathers to worship God, build "an authentic community of harmony, joy, and celebration," and care for one another. It also states that it works "to bring peace and justice to our world."

One concrete expression is its relationship with Indigenous communities. PCC acknowledges the Native peoples on whose ancestral lands it worships, encourages members to learn about the original inhabitants of the land, and commits to supporting Indigenous efforts against systemic racism. It adds a notable principle: Indigenous peoples "are the authorities on their own history and our role in that history."

What this means if you are deciding whether to visit

• If full LGBTQ+ inclusion and women's leadership are non-negotiable for you, PCC states both clearly, so you can expect them to be part of the church's identity rather than a topic it avoids.
• If you value a Baptist foundation with wider Christian influences, the church describes itself that way rather than as strictly one tradition.
• If social justice and Indigenous reconciliation matter to you, these are named commitments, not side projects.
• If you want to see the community before deciding, PCC invites everyone to worship on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. and offers an email signup for community news and prayer requests. It states that it respects privacy and will not share your information.

The practical test is straightforward: read the church's own statements, then visit a Sunday service and see whether the community reflects them.

Peace Community Church of Oberlin (PCC) holds its Sunday worship service at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend. The church describes itself as an inclusive, welcoming, and affirming congregation, so visitors can expect to be received as they are.

What to Know Before You Go

PCC is rooted in Baptist life but draws nourishment from many Christian traditions. Its affiliations include:

• The Rochester Genesee Region of the American Baptist Churches USA
• The Alliance of Baptists
• The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists
• The Baptist Peace Fellowship / Bautistas por la Paz

The congregation gathers to worship and praise God, build an authentic community of harmony, joy, and celebration, and pray and care for one another. It also works together to bring peace and justice to the world.

Who Is Welcome

The church states plainly that all are invited to worship on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Its identity as a welcoming and affirming congregation means it takes a clear, public stance on LGBTQ+ lives and women's leadership. If you are looking for a church where full inclusion is part of the stated mission rather than an open question, this is a relevant signal.

PCC also acknowledges with respect the Native peoples on whose ancestral lands it worships, encourages members to learn about the land's original inhabitants, and commits to supporting Indigenous communities in their efforts against systemic racism.

How to Stay Connected

If you cannot attend in person or want to keep up with the community, PCC offers an email list. According to the church's sign-up page:

"Sign up with your email address to receive community news, prayer requests, and more from PCC."

The page also states, "We respect your privacy. We'll never share your information with anyone else."

To subscribe, you provide your email address and confirm that you want to join the mailing list. This is a practical way to receive prayer requests and community updates between Sundays.

Quick Reference

For the most current information — such as any changes to the schedule around holidays — check the church's website directly before visiting.

You can subscribe to Peace Community Church of Oberlin's (PCC) mailing list by entering your email address in the sign-up form on their website and clicking "Subscribe." The form is described as a way to "sign up with your email address to receive community news, prayer requests, and more from PCC." No account creation or payment is mentioned—just an email address.

What You'll Receive

According to the church's website, subscribers get:

• Community news — updates about the congregation and its activities
• Prayer requests — shared needs and concerns from the church community
• "And more from PCC" — the site leaves this open-ended, so expect general church communications

This is a mailing list for staying connected with the congregation, not a paid service or membership.

Privacy

The website states plainly: "We respect your privacy. We'll never share your information with anyone else." So your email address is used only for PCC's own communications.

How to Sign Up

1. Go to pccoberlin.org.
2. Find the email sign-up form (the site prompts: "Sign up with your email address to receive community news, prayer requests, and more from PCC.").
3. Enter your email address in the field labeled Email.
4. Click Subscribe.
5. If there's a checkbox or option reading "I want to subscribe to your mailing list," make sure it's selected.

Expected result: Your email is added to PCC's list, and you begin receiving their community news and prayer requests.

Common Questions

Do I need to be a member or attend services? Nothing on the site restricts the mailing list to members. The church describes itself as inclusive and welcoming, and the invitation to worship is extended to "all." The sign-up form itself doesn't state a membership requirement.

Is there a cost? No pricing or payment is mentioned for the mailing list. (The site does reference PayPal elsewhere, but that's not tied to newsletter sign-up.)

What if I want to attend in person instead? PCC holds Sunday worship at 10 a.m., and "all are invited." The mailing list is simply a way to stay informed between services.

Can I unsubscribe later? The website doesn't detail an unsubscribe process, but standard mailing-list practice—and the "I want to subscribe" framing—suggests you can opt out through a link in the emails you receive.

Peace Community Church of Oberlin (PCC) lists four affiliations: the Rochester Genesee Region of the American Baptist Churches USA, the Alliance of Baptists, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, and the Baptist Peace Fellowship/Bautistas por la Paz. Together they place PCC within a network of Baptist bodies that emphasize inclusion, peace, and justice — a positioning the church itself describes as "rooted in Baptist life and nourished by many Christian traditions."

The Four Affiliations at a Glance

Why These Affiliations Matter

The list is not just administrative. PCC describes itself as "an inclusive, welcoming, and affirming congregation embracing the call of the teacher Jesus to seek God's realm." Each affiliation reinforces a different part of that identity:

• Regional Baptist life (Rochester Genesee Region) keeps PCC connected to a broader denominational structure rather than standing alone.
• The Alliance of Baptists aligns the church with a tradition known for progressive theology.
• The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists directly supports the church's statement that "it's clear where we stand on LGBTQ+ lives and women's leadership."
• The Baptist Peace Fellowship/Bautistas por la Paz connects the congregation to peace and justice work that extends beyond its own community.

How the Affiliations Shape PCC's Work

PCC says it works "together to bring peace and justice to our world," and its affiliations give that work a wider context. The church also acknowledges the Native peoples on whose ancestral lands it worships and commits to supporting Indigenous communities in fighting systemic racism — a stance consistent with the justice-oriented bodies it belongs to.

Practical Takeaways

• If you are looking for a Baptist church with progressive and inclusive affiliations, PCC's list is a concrete indicator.
• If you want to understand where PCC sits in the broader Baptist landscape, these four names are the starting point.
• If you are considering visiting, PCC invites all to worship on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., and you can sign up with your email address to receive community news, prayer requests, and more.