By Kimi Floyd Reisch On September 28, 2019, I joined denominational leaders, friends, colleagues, and other transgender and nonbinary people for the first National Transgender Visibility March in Washington D.C. When I sat down to write a reflection of that time, I tried to be…
Protect Every Family Statement from the United Church of Christ on Laws Allowing Adoption Agencies to Discriminate Against Same-Sex Couples and Transgender Parents In Oklahoma, Gov. Mary Fallin has signed a law that allows state-funded adoption agencies to turn away lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender…
This commentary was published Aug. 26, 2018, in “Witness for Justice,” a weekly opinion column distributed by the United Church of Christ Justice and Local Ministries. By Andy Lang I’m sometimes asked why there are 1,500 Open and Affirming (ONA) congregations in the United Church…
The Rev. Mak Kneebone, pastor of Plymouth United Church in Spring, TX, is the Open and Affirming Coalition’s new president. Kneebone was elected by the Coalition’s Leadership Team at its meeting in July in Baltimore. “I’m so pleased that Mak is willing to take on…
The United Church of Christ and the Open and Affirming Coalition stand today with our transgender members, neighbors, friends and family throughout this country. This morning, President Trump imposed a total ban on service by transgender Americans in the United States Armed Forces. The action…
By Jason Carson Wilson Justice and Peace Policy Fellow, Justice and Witness Ministries We asked Jason Carson Wilson from Justice and Witness Ministries’ Washington office to blog about “Creating Change,” the annual gathering of the National LGBTQ Task Force. Creating Change created community and connections. That…
December 2016 Dear Open and Affirming family: The new year will bring new challenges to the Open and Affirming movement. I’m asking for your support, and your congregation’s support, so we can meet these challenges with confidence and strength. It’s too early to predict exactly…
Read the latest issue of RIPPLES, the Coalition’s free email newsletter for the Open and Affirming movement in the United Church of Christ. In this issue: Latest on Trump transition, with a focus on potential threats to marriage equality, LGBTQ civil rights, and the transgender…
Join Andy Lang at our ONA 201 webinar Nov. 15 or Dec. 6 to learn about next steps for your ONA church. Dear Open and Affirming family: If there was ever any question that the Open and Affirming movement is urgently needed–in our church,…
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