- Welcome to the UUCLC
Welcoming Congregation Committee's Home Page
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- In the Summer of 2005,
the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces began the
process of becoming a Welcoming Congregation. In becoming a
Welcoming Congregation, we seek to increase our
understanding and acceptance of individuals of different
sexual orientations. Nine individuals were selected to sit
on the WC committee and participate in a 14-week program
developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
The committee reports regularly to the congregation on its
progress. In addition, the WC Committee conducts workshops
and events designed to increase awareness of GLBT
(Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered) issues. It is expected
that a formal proposal for the Church to become registered
with the UUA as a Welcoming Congregation will occur in the
Fall of 2006 on or about National Coming Out Day (October
11).
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- Update (3/8/06). The WC Committee has
completed its 14-week program. The experience was a moving
one for all involved. Everyone realized significant growth
in their awareness of and support for GLBT issues. We are
saddenned to see our regular meetings come to an end, but
joyful that we can now share our program and experiences
with our congregation. Welcoming Congregation workshops will
be offered as part of UUCLC's adult/spiritual education
program beginning Fall, 2006. See the Adult Religious
Education page for details (coming August 2006).
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- WHAT IS THE WELCOMING CONGREGATION PROGRAM?
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- 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. Many congregations offer the workshop series several consecutive times as an adult religious education curriculum open to all members and friends. In some congregations the workshop series (and later the entire program) is sponsored by a Welcoming Congregation Task Force/Committee created for just this purpose, while other congregations sponsor the workshop series through their Interweave chapters. In either case, the workshops are best facilitated by those that have experienced the curriculum.
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- WHY JUST GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND/OR TRANSGENDER?
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- Why single out gay,
lesbian, Bisexual, 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.
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- Continued...
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