Click here to complete a form to submit your photos and stories. 

Click here to donate to this campaign to help us equip churches with new microgrants.  

Yesterday, I had to do one of the hardest things that I have ever done in my life. I had to put my beloved fur baby to sleep and say goodbye. The above photograph was taken about 10 minutes before her procedure. I knew it would be our last photo together, and I sense that she knew it as well. After I snapped our final selfie, I broke down. And just like the dutiful companion she has been for over a decade, she comforted me in her final moments.

Since then, I’ve been sitting with a lot of grief, trying to figure out how to hold it without letting it take me under. For the last few years, I have talked a lot about joy. Finding it. Protecting it. Holding onto it. Encouraging it. Recognizing it. Joy is important, especially now. Many of us are on the front lines of the fight against authoritarianism, fascism, and injustice. We are doing real work, and it is draining. As we work and fight, we constantly talk about protecting our peace and practicing self-care. But one of the most overlooked sources of that peace is the emotional support, love, strength, and courage we receive from our pets.

They are some of the most faithful, quiet supporters of this movement. They slow us down. They pull us outside. They make us laugh when we don’t feel like it. They sit with us when we’re tired. They love us in ways that are simple and steady, no matter what is happening in the world. Not everyone in our community has children, but many of us have fur babies or other beloved pet companions who show up every single day with love, play, and comfort. They help sustain us, and they help sustain this work.

As a child, I used to watch Touched by an Angel with my grandmother (it was a sort of millennial rights of passage lol), and I will never forget an episode where someone lost a pet and one of the angels said that having a pet teaches you to love without fear, because they will almost always leave before us and we love them anyway. That stayed with me. And now I understand it even more deeply. As a Black queer man navigating a world that often asks me to shrink, I know what it means to love without fear. Our pets teach us that every single day.

So as I try to keep my girl’s memory alive, and not lose myself to grief, I want to turn that love outward.

Introducing ONA’s Spring Campaign: Love Without Fear.

This is our way of honoring the companions who have loved us well by making space for joy, memory, and continued impact in our community.  Here’s how you can be part of it. Share a photo and story of your pet, and we will lift them up on our social media through the end of May as a way of celebrating joy and honoring the companions who help carry us. Help us raise $5,000. These funds will go directly into a new microgrant program launching in June, offering up to $500 to help ONA churches connect their work beyond their walls.

Let us honor our beloved companions by acknowledging their presence and importance in our lives as we keep doing good in the world. Spring is a season of new life. It feels right to mark it this way, with memory, with tenderness, and with action.

Click here to complete a form to submit your photos and stories. 

Click here to donate to this campaign to help us equip churches with new microgrants.  

Let us love without fear. Let us keep going.

With gratitude and a grieving, hopeful heart,

Rev. Derek Terry, Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition

Dear Friend,

This week, many of us are observing Kwanzaa—a time rooted in reflection, shared values, and collective responsibility. As that observance unfolds, three of Kwanzaa’s principles feel especially meaningful for the life of the Open and Affirming Coalition right now: Umoja (unity), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), and Nia (purpose).

The Open and Affirming Coalition was founded in 1972 out of unity and purpose. People came together across difference, geography, and theology because they believed LGBTQ+ people were worthy of dignity, safety, and full inclusion in the life of the church. That collective commitment has grown into a movement of nearly 1,950 Open and Affirming churches—each one having written, adopted, and lived into a public covenant of welcome and affirmation.

That did not happen by accident. It happened because people chose to stay connected, to work together, and to remain rooted in a shared purpose even when affirmation was costly.

Umoja (unity) reminds us that movements are sustained not by perfection, but by commitment—by choosing one another again and again, especially when the work is difficult or uncomfortable.

Ujamaa (cooperative economics) names a truth we live every day. Less than four percent of the Coalition’s funding comes from the United Church of Christ denomination, and even that support is not part of a regular, ongoing budget allotment. While we are grateful for a regular grant from a foundation, sponsorships, and occasional support from other organizations, the vast majority of this ministry is sustained by churches and individual supporters who believe this work matters.

At the same time, over 75 percent of Open and Affirming churches have never made a financial contribution to the Coalition. That reality places real limits on what we are able to do—how many churches we can support, how quickly we can respond in moments of crisis, and whether we can hire the staff needed to meet growing demand. It also affects our ability to show up for smaller congregations with fewer resources and for communities where affirmation carries real risk.

Nia (purpose) reminds us why the Open and Affirming Coalition has existed for 53 years. From the beginning, this work has never been symbolic. It has always been about survival, dignity, and truth. In every generation, LGBTQ+ people—especially trans and gender-expansive people—have faced political, legal, and cultural efforts to erase, silence, or end their lives. Open and Affirming churches exist because silence costs lives. They are places of refuge when the world turns hostile, places of clarity when lies are preached as faith, places of courage when standing up carries risk, and places where life-saving affirmation is proclaimed without apology.

This work continues only if our community commits to sustaining it.

Now through December 31, we need to raise $10,000 to unlock a $20,000 matching grant for The Beloved Fund—tripling the impact of every gift. In this moment, each contribution has an outsized effect, strengthening the education, advocacy, and direct support that Open and Affirming churches depend on as they face increasing pressure and risk. These funds allow us to train pastors and lay leaders, accompany congregations navigating fear and conflict, respond quickly when LGBTQ+ people are under attack, and remain present in communities where affirmation is not symbolic, but life-saving and costly.

You can check our progress and give here:
https://openandaffirming.networkforgood.com/projects/265515-the-beloved-fund-2-for-1matching-grant

Umoja (unity) built this movement by bringing people together across difference. Ujamaa (cooperative economics) sustains it through shared commitment and shared resources. And Nia (purpose) calls us forward—grounding our work in faith and guiding us toward the future we are still building together.

Thank you for being part of a community that understands that affirmation is not optional—it is holy, necessary, and worth investing in, especially now.

With gratitude and resolve,

Rev. Derek Terry
Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

Click here to Donate Now!

On this third day of Christmas, we are still lingering in the glow of the manger. Advent has given way to Christmas, and we are slowly making our way toward Epiphany—the season when the light keeps building, even if the nights still feel long.

This year has been hard.

Many of us are tired in ways that feel deeper than exhaustion. We are watching harmful legislation move forward, listening to cruel rhetoric grow louder, and bracing ourselves for what the coming year may bring—especially for transgender and gender-expansive people, immigrant communities, and all who already live close to the margins. With the passage of the “Big Ugly Bill,” rising insurance costs, renewed attacks on gender-affirming care, and expanded enforcement powers for I.C.E. expected to take effect in 2026, fear feels closer to the surface for so many families. These are not abstract policy debates—they are questions about safety, healthcare, stability, and belonging.

And still, Christmas comes anyway.

As a child, my Christmas lists were filled with things I wanted and hoped for—small joys, simple delights. But this year, my Christmas list looks different. It’s a grown-up Christmas list. A faithful one. A list shaped by love for God’s people and concern for the world we are living in.

This year, my Christmas list includes churches brave enough to speak clearly when silence would be easier. It includes sanctuaries where LGBTQ+ people—especially trans and gender-expansive people—are not just welcomed, but affirmed, protected, and named as beloved by God. It includes pastors and lay leaders equipped with theology that heals rather than harms. It includes families finding courage because their church stood with them when the world did not.

My Christmas list includes Open and Affirming churches doing more than symbolic inclusion—churches practicing courage, education, accompaniment, and advocacy. Churches willing to say out loud and without apology: you are beloved, your life matters, and God is not confused about you.

These churches are necessary.

They are necessary for young people navigating fear and misinformation. They are necessary for parents searching for safety and truth. They are necessary in communities where compassion is being criminalized and care is being politicized. And they are necessary in a time when too many churches are being pulled toward exclusion rather than transformation.

This is why the work of the Open and Affirming Coalition matters so deeply right now. And it continues only because people like you believe that affirmation is not optional—it is holy.

As we move through Christmas toward Epiphany, the light is building. But light needs tending. It needs fuel. It needs people willing to help carry it forward.

Through December 31, your gift to The Beloved Fund will be tripled through our 2-for-1 matching grant. Every contribution strengthens the coaching, education, advocacy, and resources that help churches live out their calling with clarity and courage in fearful times.

You can give here:
https://openandaffirming.networkforgood.com/projects/265515-the-beloved-fund-2-for-1matching-grant

Another powerful way to support this work is by becoming a Sustainer through Faithful Resistance: The Sustainers Circle. Monthly giving—at any level—provides steady, reliable support that allows the Coalition to plan ahead, respond quickly, and remain present where affirmation is costly but life-giving. Even a sustaining gift of $5, $20, or $50 a month helps ensure that Open and Affirming churches continue to be places of refuge, resistance, and radiant love in the year ahead.

You can join the Sustainers Circle here:
https://openandaffirming.networkforgood.com/projects/264217-faithful-resistance-the-sustainers-circle

Thank you for walking this journey with us. Thank you for believing that love still matters. Thank you for helping the light grow—even when the world feels fragile.

With gratitude, hope, and resolve,

Rev. Derek Terry
Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC

Friends!

Thank you. Because of your generosity and commitment, we are excited to share that we’ve raised $195 in new monthly sustaining gifts and $1,880 toward our $10,000 matching grant. Your support is helping us build real momentum as we enter the final stretch of the year.

We now have less than 30 days left in 2025 to reach our goals and strengthen the movement we share. The Open and Affirming Coalition has been doing this work since 1972, and the social and political climate we are living through right now is among the most difficult our community has faced in decades. The rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation is not only deeply painful; for many, it echoes the darkest moments of our past.

In the midst of this, the Coalition remains committed to equipping churches, supporting vulnerable communities, and growing a movement of justice and affirmation across the United Church of Christ. But we are severely understaffed, stretched thin, and working hard to update resources, revitalize our ONA coaches program, and sustain a national movement at a time when the need is great and the harm is real.  We cannot do this alone. We need your help.

Here are three meaningful ways you can support the Coalition right now:

1. Join the Sustainers Circle with a recurring monthly gift to keep this movement strong year-round.
2. Encourage your church to pledge as a Sustaining Church, giving once or twice a year (December and June, or more if possible).
3. Give to our matching grant campaign, The Beloved Fund, where every dollar is doubled and helps us unlock the full $10,000 match.

As a thank-you, the first 30 people who makes a new $20/month sustaining gift or a $250 one-time gift toward the matching grant will receive a free copy of the newly released book about Rev. Robert Wood, a pioneer of LGBTQ+ Christian history.

We also encourage congregations to consider making a regular pledge. Only a small percentage of our ONA churches support the Coalition financially, yet we continue to offer resources, guidance, and technical assistance to every congregation without any financial requirement. Our webinars and trainings are open to all, even when participants cannot contribute. And while we are grateful for occasional sponsorships and support from the national UCC, that assistance averages only about 3.5 percent of our annual budget. 

Your generosity helps sustain a movement that has changed—and continues to change—lives.

Thank you for standing with us, for believing in this work, and for helping us meet the challenges of this moment with courage, hope, and love.

With gratitude and hope, 

Rev. Derek Terry, Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

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At the heart of the Open and Affirming movement is a simple truth: every person is BELOVED!

Click here to Donate to help us unlock our Matching Grant Goal!

IT’S GIVING TUESDAY! 

Today is Giving Tuesday, a day when people across the country invest in the causes and communities that matter most. For us in the Open and Affirming Coalition, this day is about strengthening a broad and growing LGBTQ+ movement of faith—one rooted in affirmation, justice, and the sacred dignity of every person.

This year, your generosity goes even further.

From now through December 31, every gift to the Coalition will be tripled through a 2-for-1 matching grant. For every dollar you give, a generous supporter will contribute two more—up to $10,000 raised. If we meet our goal, the match will add $20,000, bringing $30,000 into this movement at a time when it is urgently needed.

Today, we’re also excited to offer something special in gratitude.

A Giving Tuesday Thank-You Gift

The first 30 people who give $250 or more will receive a complimentary copy of The Story of Bob | The Life and Times of Rev. Robert W. Wood by Steven C. Law.
You can see the flyer for this campaign above and share it widely.

Who Was Rev. Robert W. Wood?

Rev. Robert Wood was one of the earliest and most courageous pioneers of LGBTQ+ faith activism in the United States. In 1960—decades before “affirming” language entered church life—he published Christ and the Homosexual, the first book by a Christian pastor openly affirming LGBTQ+ people without demanding their silence or celibacy. He marched in early gay-rights protests, preached inclusion from the pulpit, and lived openly with his partner Hugh at a time when such visibility was nearly unheard of. Rev. Wood’s ministry helped lay the foundation for the LGBTQ+ faith movement we inherit today, and the Coalition has long regarded him as one of our most prophetic ancestors. Honoring his legacy this Giving Tuesday is a reminder that our movement exists because brave leaders paved the way with truth, courage, and love.

The biography releases in February 2026, and we will ship copies to qualifying donors as soon as it is available.

Click here to read Bob’s Biography from the LGBT Religious Archives Network website

Why Your Giving Tuesday Gift Matters

Your support today strengthens a national movement that:
• Accompanies congregations committed to LGBTQ+ affirmation, not mere welcome
• Supports ministries across traditions working for justice and inclusion
• Provides coaching and care when churches face hostility or backlash
• Equips leaders, volunteers, and communities with resources and training
• Builds networks of advocacy, solidarity, and transformation
• Helps queer and trans people find spiritual homes where they are fully known and celebrated

This work extends far beyond any single denomination. Your gift strengthens a movement of faith rooted in liberation, courage, and radical affirmation.

Give Today and Triple Your Impact

Your generosity on Giving Tuesday keeps Rev. Wood’s legacy alive and fuels the next generation of LGBTQ+ faith leadership and justice work.

Click here to Donate Now!

Thank you for standing with us—and for strengthening the movement so LGBTQ+ people everywhere can live, lead, worship, and thrive with dignity and joy.

With deep gratitude,
Rev. Derek Terry, Acting Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ