Our Open and Affirming Ministry:
"Everyone is welcome here... No, really"
Outside almost every church in the world, there's a sign that says, "All Are Welcome." Only, along the way, some of us find out that sign doesn't include us, particularly if we are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. By contrast, an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ is a church who has taken a public stand for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in the life of the church and society.
As a covenant community we are committed to the belief that all people are created equal before God. In affirmation of the inclusive love of Christ Jesus, we welcome persons of any race, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability and economic circumstance to full participation in our community life and ministry. We strive to reflect these beliefs in the language and content of our worship and in our lives together.
The Congregational Church of Needham, UCC adopted this Open and Affirming covenant back in 2000, and currently we are in the process of amending it to make explicit our affirmation of gender identity and gender expression, too.
What does being Open and Affirming mean in our day to day church life? LGBTQ+ folks are fully integrated in our life together, in our pews, volunteer leadership, and professional staff, and seeking fuller justice for LGBTQ+ folks is part of our mission in the wider world.
To learn more about the Open and Affirming program of the United Church of Christ, as shepherded by the Open and Affirming Coalition, click here.
What does being Open and Affirming mean in our day to day church life? LGBTQ+ folks are fully integrated in our life together, in our pews, volunteer leadership, and professional staff, and seeking fuller justice for LGBTQ+ folks is part of our mission in the wider world.
To learn more about the Open and Affirming program of the United Church of Christ, as shepherded by the Open and Affirming Coalition, click here.