Webinar: DO NO HARM- Transgender Inclusion in Faith Spaces
By UCC Coalition | February 24, 2026
Creating Healing and Belonging for Transgender People in the Church
This webinar invites faith communities to prophetically reimagine the Church as a place of healing, belonging, and liberation for transgender and gender-expansive people.
In a time when trans lives and families are under increasing pressure, the Church is called to respond with clarity, courage, and care. Together, we will explore practical and faithful ways to create spiritual spaces that are safe, brave, and deeply affirming communities where all people can thrive and live fully into their divine purpose.
Grounded in Micah 6:8, we will center the call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly, as we honor the dignity, wholeness, and sacred gifts of our transgender and gender-expansive siblings in the life of the Church and the beloved community.
Participants will leave with theological grounding, pastoral insight, and concrete practices to strengthen their congregation’s commitment to transgender inclusion and care.
Featured Speaker
Rev. Elder Carmarion D. Anderson is an ordained minister, faith leader, and advocate for justice whose ministry centers the full inclusion and flourishing of marginalized communities.
She currently serves with National Ministries of the United Church of Christ as Minister for Congregational Leadership. Previously, she served as Alabama State Director for the Human Rights Campaign, becoming the first transgender person of color to hold a senior leadership role in the organization’s history. In that role, she worked with local, state, and national leaders, including the White House, to advance equity and shape public policy.
Rev. Anderson is a respected public theologian and educator whose work has been featured in national media, including CNN’s United Shades of America and the Emmy Award–winning documentary Prideland. She serves as Associate Pastor of First Congregational Church UCC in Birmingham, Alabama, and is a Committee on Ministry Privilege-of-Call candidate in the Southeast Conference of the UCC.
A proud parent and grandparent, Rev. Anderson brings deep pastoral wisdom, theological insight, and a powerful commitment to justice, liberation, and the transformative love of God in the public square.
Registration & Contribution
We believe deeply in accessible spiritual formation, and we also believe in paying queer leaders and trained theologians fairly for their labor. Your contribution helps sustain this work and supports the creation of original teaching materials and theological scholarship for the wider Church.
Registration is offered on a sliding scale (honor system):
Individual Rates
Student Rate – $15
Sages Rate (65+) – $15
Standard Rate – $30
Pay-It-Forward Rate – $45
Church Rates (one registration covers your whole congregation)
$75 for churches under 75 members
$125 for churches with 75 or more members
We trust you to choose what is right for you.
Scholarships are available, including a limited number of full scholarships offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If cost is a barrier, please contact us at office@openandaffirming.org We do not want finances to prevent anyone from participating.
Come ready to learn, reflect, and engage scripture in a way that is honest, liberating, and unapologetically queer.
Faith and fabulousness belong in the same room.
Recording & Privacy
This session will be recorded for registered participants only and will not be posted publicly.
You are welcome to keep your camera off if you prefer.
To maintain a safe and respectful space, AI meeting note-takers and transcription bots are not permitted.
