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,…
Latest issue of RIPPLES, the Coalition’s free email newsletter for UCC churches. In this issue: ONA 201 webinars Oct. 25, Nov. 15, Dec. 6! New resource on the Bible and transgender experience Building an Inclusive Church workshops may be near you! Spirit Day 2016: get…
Latest issue of RIPPLES: the Coalition’s free email newsletter for ONA churches! In this issue: No one is free until all are free Recharge your ONA batteries! This week’s global LGBTQ news Welcome 8 new ONA churches! Calendar of events Help the ONA movement…
A slightly smaller, but powerful group of advocates gathered in St. Joseph, MN in June for the Coalition’s National Open and Affirming Coalition Gathering. Plenary and workshop topics focused on two main goals: to continue working towards a denomination that is “100% Open and Affirming”…
Below is the video of the Vigil at Amistad Chapel UCC in the UCC’s Church House in Cleveland. Below is a link to the full liturgy. Permission is granted to use any text from this service. Please use the “Comment” feature on this page to…
This page is devoted to images of vigils, prayer services and public rainbow displays in response to the Orlando Massacre. From California to Maine, Minnesota to Florida, ONA congregations responded with grief, prayer, and re-commitment to the values of inclusion, justice and reconciliation that are…
At vigils and prayer services, congregations are reading out the names of the 49 who were killed Sunday at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Most of the victims were Hispanic. It is becoming a common practice for churches to sound a bell for each name….
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