CLEVELAND, Oct. 26, 2015—In a joint statement, the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ and the UCC Collegium of Officers urged congregations to join local observances of Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20 and to renew their commitment the following…
We’ve changed the date for our ONA Evangelism 101 webinar! Join ONA Coalition executive director Andy Lang at 7 pm Wednesday, Nov. 4, to learn best practices from growing ONA churches. How can congregations effectively reach their LGBTQ neighbors, and how can churches revive their…
Black Lives Matter Minneapolis held a vigil and press conference on recently to deliver the signatures of 45,000 people, including 3,000 faith leaders from around the country, to Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson demanding that charges be dropped against the organizers of the peaceful protest…
Letter from the Open and Affirming Ministry Team Connecticut Conference United Church of Christ September 24, 2015 Dear Open and Affirming Community, Churches living into their open and affirming statements are saving lives. Communities who throw their doors open and say, “Really, we mean it,…
Intersectionality: A Promised Covenanted Relationship with all God’s Creation The Rev. Dr. Maritza Ivette Angulo Matos de Gonzalez Keynote, National Open and Affirming Gathering Cleveland, OH June 25, 2015 There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females and we need…
By Phil Porter Sept. 21, 2015 An Open and Affirming covenant is your congregation’s vow to work for a church and a world where everyone is wanted and valued. The ONA Coalition’s focus on building churches and communities where LGBTQ people can live their lives…
We grieve for the passing of Eleonore Powell, one of the Coalition’s founders. With her death, and Bob Strommen’s a week earlier, we stand in honor for the passing of a generation of proud parents who changed our church. We join the Rev. Loey…
By a vote of 567 to 41 (with 15 abstentions), the 30th General Synod of the United Church of Christ voted June 30 to adopt the Coalition’s proposed resolution reaffirming protection for LGBTQ Americans and opposing laws that would allow private business owners and public…
The following is the report by Andy Lang, executive director of the Open and Affirming Coalition, at the Open and Affirming Banquet June 26, 2015, at the 30th General Synod of the United Church of Christ. June 26, 2015, is a date you won’t soon…
The Supreme Court ruled this morning that state bans against marriage equality are unconstitutional. After lower courts move to enforce this ruling, the right to marry–our long-sought dream–will be the law of the land. I know your hearts are full this moment. For more than…
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