Below is the video of the Vigil at Amistad Chapel UCC in the UCC’s Church House in Cleveland. Below is a link to the full liturgy. Permission is granted to use any text from this service. Please use the “Comment” feature on this page to…
This page is devoted to images of vigils, prayer services and public rainbow displays in response to the Orlando Massacre. From California to Maine, Minnesota to Florida, ONA congregations responded with grief, prayer, and re-commitment to the values of inclusion, justice and reconciliation that are…
At vigils and prayer services, congregations are reading out the names of the 49 who were killed Sunday at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Most of the victims were Hispanic. It is becoming a common practice for churches to sound a bell for each name….
We’ll be updating this list as we receive new information. To add your event, please write ed@openandaffirming.org. Alabama Pray for Orlando 8 pm Wednesday, June 15 Beloved Community Church 131 41st St. S., Birmingham, AL Prayer Vigil 7 pm Wednesday, June 15 Cornerstone MCC 1007…
The following statement was released Monday morning by the Open and Affirming Coalition and the National Officers of the United Church of Christ. Later today, we’ll email suggestions for actions ONA congregations can take in response to this tragedy. Please post your own responses, prayers,…
Sacred InterSextions was a rich opportunity to explore “bodies, culture, sexuality and spirit.” A dozen of us gathered for a retreat in a beautiful spot near Minneapolis for conversation, connection, stories, exploration, laughter and truth-telling. Leaders were the Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel and Phil Porter….
The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ is launching this week a campaign to encourage ONA congregations to display their welcome effectively through rainbow images posted at or near the entrance of the church. “Our research shows that ONA churches that…
Coalition leaders Rebecca Voelkel and Phil Porter are offering a long-weekend retreat exploring the relationship between sexuality and spirituality called “Sacred Intersextions” March 31 to April 3 at the Oak Ridge Conference Center, a beautiful setting near Minneapolis/St. Paul. Rebecca and Phil have both spent many years looking at,…
We’ve just welcomed Open and Affirming church #1300! That means exactly 26 percent of UCC congregations are Open and Affirming. We’re the largest and fastest-growing LGBT-affirming church movement in the world! But 26 percent is not 100 percent. Let’s work together to build an Open and Affirming…
The Open and Affirming Coalition advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the United Church of Christ and beyond, and equips UCC congregations to become effective witnesses to Christ’s extravagant welcome. Read more