The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ is launching this week a campaign to encourage ONA congregations to display their welcome effectively through rainbow images posted at or near the entrance of the church. “Our research shows that ONA churches that…
Coalition leaders Rebecca Voelkel and Phil Porter are offering a long-weekend retreat exploring the relationship between sexuality and spirituality called “Sacred Intersextions” March 31 to April 3 at the Oak Ridge Conference Center, a beautiful setting near Minneapolis/St. Paul. Rebecca and Phil have both spent many years looking at,…
We’ve just welcomed Open and Affirming church #1300! That means exactly 26 percent of UCC congregations are Open and Affirming. We’re the largest and fastest-growing LGBT-affirming church movement in the world! But 26 percent is not 100 percent. Let’s work together to build an Open and Affirming…
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…
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 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 Rev. Bob Strommen, a strong supporter of the movement for LGBT liberation in the United Church of Christ and beyond, passed from this life on Friday, June 19. We join with his wife, Joyce, and their family in grief for Bob’s passing and gratitude…
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