Welcoming Congregation

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Welcoming Congregation Program of the UUA

Welcoming Congregations (certified by the OBGLTC) are identified by icon in the UUA.org "Find a Congregation" search results.

Sacred Journey Fellowship's journey to becoming a Welcoming Congregation

For SJF, this is a matter of the heart much more than just a listing in a directory.  Over the history of our church, we have welcomed members of the LGBT community as attendees, members, friends, family and leaders of Sacred Journey Fellowship.  We know first hand just how much these people have to offer us. 

Our journey to be recognized as a Welcoming Congregation is one way we can formalize our commitment to continuing this tradition.

• 2009 – completed the Welcoming Congregation curriculum.  Many of our leaders gave their time to this class.
• Febuary 2010 – the congregation formally voted to ask the UUA to recognize our status as a member of the Welcoming Congregation program. As part of that process the congregation had to answer 16 questions or actions. Here is our response to those actions.
• 2010 - as 2010 moves forward we will be working to offer OWL classes for various ages, and will offer the Welcoming Congregations class again

The Welcoming Congregation Program

The Welcoming Congregation Program is a completely volunteer program for congregations that see a need to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people. It consists of a series of workshops developed by the UUA. The goal of the workshops is to reduce prejudice by increasing understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations. Some of the workshop titles include: How Homophobia Hurts Heterosexuals; Connections to Other Forms of Oppression; Gender Socialization and Homophobia; and Biblical Perspectives on Homosexuality.

Why Just Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and/or Transgender?

Why single out bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people? The Rev. Douglas Morgan Strong probably states it best in the Welcoming Congregation manual: “For centuries, the church has been a leading force against sexual minorities. It is not surprising that gay people are reluctant to reach out to the very institution that oppresses them. Yet, gay, lesbian, [transgender], and bisexual people have no less need for warmth, caring, and affirmation than anyone else who calls the liberal church their religious home. In fact, as a subculture in society gay, lesbian, [transgender], and bisexual people may need our support more than the general population.”

Being a Welcoming Congregation

Congregations who publicly and successfully welcome bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people have the following qualities:

• Includes and address the needs of b/g/l/t persons at every level of congregational life—in worship, in programs, in social occasions, and in rites of passage—welcoming not only their presence, but the gifts and particularities of their lives as well.
• Assumes the presence of b/g/l/t people and celebrates this diversity by having inclusive language and content in their worship.
• Fully incorporates the experiences of b/g/l/t persons throughout all programs, including religious education.
• Includes an affirmation and nondiscrimination clause in our by-laws and other official documents affecting all dimensions of congregational life, including membership, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals.
• Engages in outreach into the b/g/l/t community in its advertising and by actively supporting b/g/l/t affirmative groups.
• Offers congregational and ministerial support for union and memorial services for b/g/l/t persons, and for celebrations of...family definitions.
• Celebrates the lives of all people and welcomes same-sex couples, recognizing their committed relationships, and equally affirms displays of caring and affections without regard to sexual orientation.
• Seeks to nurture ongoing dialogue between bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and heterosexual persons and to create deeper trust and sharing.
• Encourages the presence of a chapter of Interweave.
• Affirms and celebrates b/g/l/t issues and history during the church year
• Attends to legislative developments and works to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society.
• Speaks out when the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people are at stake.
• Celebrates the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.