Coalition 2:1 Matching Grant!
By UCC Coalition | December 2, 2025
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.
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
