Anti-transgender organizers say they have enough signatures to force a vote on repeal of California’s law protecting the rights of transgender students. If the ballot measure comes to a vote, the Coalition will support our ONA churches in California to assure there’s a strong faith…
The United Church of Christ played a role in the decision Friday by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby overturning the Utah ban on same-sex marriage. Shelby argued that marriage equality would protect the religious freedom of churches that want to marry gay and lesbian…
Here’s the latest issue of RIPPLES—the Coalition’s e-newsletter for Open and Affirming churches: New Mexico is state #17 to adopt marriage equality United Methodist pastor Frank Schaefer defrocked for celebrating gay son’s marriage Coalition welcomes UCC Open and Affirming chuch #1,156
The United Methodist Church has dismissed the Rev. Frank Schaefer as punishment for officiating at the wedding of his gay son. The church’s Council of Bishops is also recommending disciplinary proceedings against retired Bishop Melvin Talbert, who also officiated at a same-sex wedding. The Coalition’s Leadership Team is…
Dave Knapp, a member of First Congregational Church in Guilford, Conn., joined the Boy Scouts of America in 1938. He was expelled 55 years later when the Scouts learned he was gay. Since then, he’s campaigned tirelessly for a change in the Boy Scouts’ policy…
By Emily Schappacher UCC News Portal December 5, 2013 For 42 years, each church in the small town of Bellevue, Ky., has participated in the annual nativity procession, when people of the community gather at the nativity scene for gospel readings and a candlelight vigil…
Samuel Loliger, longtime National Coordinator of the Coalition who shared that office with Jan Griesinger, is in hospice care at the end of a long illness. The UCC Coalition and the wider Open and Affirming movement owe Sam a deep debt: he and Jan were…
Family is at the center of the Mormon faith. So when a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity does not conform to church teachings, the result is a crisis of faith. In this trailer, a Mormon family in California choose love as the essence of…
Jay Bakker is pastor of Revolution Church in New York City, the son of televangelist Jim Bakker, and an outspoken defender of LGBT inclusion in the church. He posted this video for the “Not All Like That” (NALT) Christians Project—a video platform for LGBT Christians…
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