At The Open Church, we believe that everyone is a minister and has gifts, skills, and experiences that can edify the congregation and enhance the world. Thus, ministry is not the “exclusive possession” of the clergy. Ministry is what the entire congregation does.

In all aspects of ministry, The Open Church seeks to empower the entire congregation for active participation. We especially invite the congregation to provide care for one another in times of joy and sorrow. As we often say, we are a care-full congregation, and as sisters and brothers made in the image of our Heavenly Father who is Divine Mother of us all, we are all kinfolk.

Kinship Care at The Open Church is how we care for each other by encouragement, visitation, intercessory prayer, and other acts of kindness as people experience sickness, stress, death, and other times of sorrow as well as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other joyous occasions.

At The Open church, we believe that in order to be whole each person needs at least three hugs a day. So, we hug each other a lot. Kinship Care is another form of hugging—the holy embrace of each other that leads to healing

At The Open Church, radically inclusive love, courageous social justice activism, and compassionate interfaith collaboration are out in the open for all to see.

One of the ways we put our mission and vision into action is through the Faith Communities of Baltimore with Pride (FCBWP).

Faith Communities of Baltimore with Pride is an interfaith coalition of faith-based communities that are proud about the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons. TOC is a founding member of FCBWP, and we serve on its coordinating team.

As a member of the FCBWP coordinating team, we help to plan, lead, and provide volunteers for annual events.

Events we lend our hands to support:

June/July: Baltimore Pride

September/October: Baltimore Black Pride

October: National Coming Out Day

November: Transgender Day of Remembrance

December: World AIDS Day

The Open Church joined 40 West, an alliance of 12-14 churches along the 40 West Corridor of Baltimore, Maryland, when we worshiped on Briarclift Road. These churches joined together to provide assistance to church members and neighbors residing in the 40 West Corridor. 40 West provides a variety of services, including a food pantry, food stamp assistance and referrals to a number of services such as counseling, eviction prevention, water shut off, help with transportation, a small clothing bank for back to work and referral to services through the Mayor's Office. 40 West is run by a volunteer staff, volunteer Board of Directors and part time paid staff. It is truly a beneficial and helpful 501(c)(3) organization.

We are a group of loving crocheters and knitters who create shawls, blankets, pillows, hats and scarves for people in our community who are grieving, ill, welcoming new life, or simply in need of a tangible expression of love! All levels are welcome (we will teach newbies!).

To live on purpose, we believe you must care for your mind, body, and soul. The RE:HEALTH Ministry, in partnership with LifeBridge Health, coordinates a wide range of health-related information sessions and activities to do just that.