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

 

• Includes and address the needs of g/l/b/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 g/l/b/t people and celebrates this diversity by having inclusive language and content in their worship.
• Fully incorporates the experiences of g/l/b/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 g/l/b/t community in its advertising and by actively supporting g/l/b/t affirmative groups.
• Offers congregational and ministerial support for union and memorial services for g/l/b/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 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and heterosexual persons and to create deeper trust and sharing.
• Encourages the presence of a chapter of Interweave.
• Affirms and celebrates g/l/b/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 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are at stake.
• Celebrates the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.

AREN'T WE ALREADY A WELCOMING CONGREGATION?

Is it true that our church probably meets most of the qualifications for a Welcoming Congregation? Our church by-laws state that we do "not discriminate on the basis of age, race, occupation, gender, past religious affiliation, or sexual orientation." Our membership already includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons who are active members, willing to give of themselves and share their experiences with us. However, official recognition as a Welcoming Congregation allows us to open our church as safe space for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons; to take positions on oppression in our larger communities; and to accomplish outreach.

HOW WILL BEING A WELCOMING CONGREGATION BENEFIT ME?

Confronting our prejudices in a non-judgmental, non-threatening group allows us to explore their origins and offers an opportunity to replace those prejudices with knowledge.

 

Understanding our prejudices leads to individual spiritual growth and congregational unity.