Welcoming Congregation Committee

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What is the Welcoming Congregation Program?

The Meaning of Welcoming
Unitarian Universalism has been on record as supporting the rights of bisexual, gay, and lesbian people since 1970. The Office of Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian Concerns was formed in 1973.  They have advocated against sodomy laws and job and housing discrimination.  They have advocated for ceremonies of union and same-gender marriage, the right to serve in the military, the right to lead congregations as ministers and religious professionals, and the right to be parents. They are now on record as supporting the rights of transgender people. The number of Welcoming Congregations in the UUA is growing, having nearly doubled in the last 18 months. As there is still much homophobia and heterosexism, the work and the story are still in progress. Each of us has the opportunity to be a part of the work and the story.  Cedars UU Church became a Welcoming Congregation on January 20, 2002.

Like many of our congregations, we voted to be recognized as a Welcoming Congregation, received our poster and then stopped; from exhaustion, from feeling the need to address other matters, and because we thought that we were finished with the work of being a Welcoming Congregation.

Now, we are recognizing the need to continue and to deepen the work we have started.  While our work of being a Welcoming Congregation has been successful, and we are recognized as a welcoming and safe place for bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people, we realize that there is a need to reach beyond where we are.

To that end, we will again begin the work of the Welcoming Congregation, presenting workshops to make those who did not participate in the original series of workshops aware of what had gone before, and to understand what it is to be a Welcoming Congregation.  We will then embark upon the curriculum of Living the Welcoming Congregation.  The UUA’s Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns (OBGLTC) has created a curriculum that offers us a pragmatic approach, with a fair amount of fun and creativity thrown in for good measure.  This is work designed to deepen understandings, create change, and make a difference. It is good work for us to do.

If you have an interest, please contact Warren Read, Chair.

History
At its Annual Congregational Meeting held on January 20, 2002, the members of the Church approved a resolution to become a Welcoming Congregation.  The Declaration, approved by an overwhelming 97% affirmative vote, was the culmination of a year-long process of workshops and information prepared and presented by the Welcoming Congregation Committee.  The Church voted unanimously to amend the By-laws to reflect this decision, and the UUA was notified of the Declaration.  See the Declaration and By-law changes below.

The Welcoming Congregation Committee continues the work that culminated with the congregation’s declaration that it is a Welcoming Congregation, welcoming to all, especially to those who are bisexual, gay, lesbian or transgender (BGLT).  The Committee supports BGLT activities in the Church and the wider community, and presents an annual program to the Church.  

Declaration
Resolution for Becoming a Welcoming Congregation:

Whereas, The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Board of trustees, in 1988, established the Welcoming Congregation  Program for congregations interested in becoming more inclusive; and

 Whereas, The 1989 General Assembly of the UUA adopted the following Commitments as an outline for the Welcoming Congregation Program:

1. A Welcoming Congregation is inclusive and expressive of the concerns of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender persons at every level of congregational life¾in worship, in program, and in social occasions, welcoming not only their presence but the unique gifts and particularities of their lives as well.
2. A Welcoming Congregation does not assume anyone’s affectional/sexual orientation and/or gender identity.  Vocabulary of worship reflects this perception; worship celebrates diversity by inclusivity of language and content.
3. An understanding of the experience of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender persons will be fully incorporated throughout all programs, including religious education.
4. The bylaws and other official documents of a Welcoming Congregation include an affirmation and non-discrimination clause affecting all dimensions of congregational life, including membership, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals.
5. A Welcoming Congregation engages in outreach into the bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender communities, both through its advertising and by actively supporting other bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender affirmative groups.
6. A Welcoming Congregation offers congregational and ministerial support for services of union and memorial services for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender persons, and celebrations of evolving definitions of family.
7. A Welcoming Congregation celebrates the lives of all people and welcomes same-gender couples, recognizing their committed relationships, and equally affirms displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation.
8. A Welcoming Congregation seeks to nurture ongoing dialogue between people of different affectional/sexual orientations and gender identifications, and to create deeper trust and sharing.
9. A Welcoming Congregation encourages the presence of a chapter of Interweave (Unitarian Universalists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender concerns).
10. A Welcoming Congregation affirms and celebrates bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender issues and history during the church year (possibly including Gay Pride Week, which is in June).
11. A Welcoming Congregation, as an advocate for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people, attends to legislative developments and works to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society.  It speaks out when the rights and dignity of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people are at stake.
12. A Welcoming Congregation celebrates the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.

and Whereas, This Fellowship has conducted a series of workshops over the past twelve months to educate our community on issues dealing with bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender issues and history; and

Whereas, It is the intent of this Fellowship to accept the Commitments described herein and to be recognized as a Welcoming Congregation; now, therefore, be it

Resolved: That The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap declares itself to be a Welcoming Congregation.

By Law Changes
The following by laws changes, prepared by the Welcoming Congregation Committee, were approved at the January 20^th congregational meeting:

Article III:  Non-Discrimination

Section 1:    The Fellowship affirms and promotes the full participation of persons in all our activities, including membership, programming, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals, without regard to race, color, gender, gender expression, physical ability, affectional or sexual orientation, age, or national origin.

Section 2:   The Fellowship shall offer congregational and ministerial support for services of union and memorial services for all evolving definitions of family.

Section 3:   The Fellowship affirms the practice of affirmative action to remedy the results of historical discrimination.

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.

UUA History of the Program