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All are welcome in the United Church of Christ!
The Southwest Conference UCC is an open and affirming (ONA) Conference!
ONA churches have adopted an "Open and Affirming" covenant welcoming all people, without regard to sexual orientation, into the life and ministry of the congregation. However, many UCC congregations that for various reasons have not adopted an ONA covenant are nevertheless welcoming and safe communities for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians.
Of the 47 churches in the Southwest Conference, 22 have made public statements confirming their Open and Affirming (ONA) support of the national position.
At the 2009 Southwest Conference UCC Annual Meeting, church delegates overwhelmingly approved a resolution declaring the Conference to be Open and Affirming. Read more
| UCC LGBT Ministry News |
| Welcoming Church/Open and Affirming Trainings |
This training has been designed specifically with local churches and their leaders in mind. In offering these trainings, the Health and Wholeness Advocacy Office is a partner with the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns, along with the welcoming church programs of several other denominations.
Each training will explore topics which will help you become a more effective leader on issues related to human sexuality and gender identity for the purpose of helping a local church discern God's call to live the values of ONA.
Participation in the trainings is ecumenical and there is time in each training session devoted to denominationally specific information, especially related to learning about resources, planning and other things particular to the denomination of the participant.
Information about the trainings, including the training schedule
Building an Inclusive Church toolkit
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| UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns' Board expands criteria for new Open and Affirming (ONA) Statements |
 At its fall meeting in Cleveland, the Coalition Board voted to expand the criteria for new ONA statements to include gender identity and gender expression, effective July 14, 2010 (National Gathering). The Coalition has been actively encouraging the inclusion of gender identity and gender expression for many years and views this action as another step in living more fully into the values of extravagant welcome. The policy does not effect the current listing of local churches or other settings prior to July 14, 2010.
The text of the resolution adopted by the Coalition Board:
Whereas the General Synod of the United Church of Christ voted to include transgender people in the full life and ministry of the church in 2003, and the Coalition has encouraged transgender inclusion since 1997, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Open and Affriming resolution and in order to more fully live God's extravagant welcome, the Coalition expands its criteria for new ONA Statements to include gender identity and gender expression effective at Naitonal Gathering, July 14, 2010.
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