Where to find an Open and Affirming church


ONA CHURCHES BY CONFERENCE

Q. What can I expect in an ONA church?

A. A community of faith where you and your family are safe!

Because each congregation in the United Church of Christ is independent, and therefore free to make its own decisions, there is a broad diversity of theology and practice in our tradition. In the UCC, there is no hierarchy that can impose uniformity on our churches. Each ONA congregation has independently adopted an Open and Affirming covenant after a journey of dialogue, study and prayer. There are differences between congregations, but generally, an ONA church:

  • is a safe space for open and honest conversation about human sexuality and gender identity.
  • encourages LGBT members to serve in lay and ordained leadership.
  • celebrates same-sex weddings.
  • celebrates the anniversaries of LGBT married and partnered couples.
  • advocates for marriage equality and LGBT civil rights.
  • is willing to host meetings of support groups like PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
  • advertises that it is a safe space for LGBT and questioning youth.
  • participates as a group in the local LGBT Pride Parade.
  • celebrates ONA Sunday once a year and annually renews its ONA covenant.

 

ONA Colleges and Campus Ministries

Agape House, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Berg UCC, Heidelberg University, Tiffin, OH
Campus Ministry at Shaw Center, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT
Disciples on Campus, Chapman University, Orange, CA
FEAST, University of California at Santa Cruz, CA
United Campus Ministries, Ohio University, Athens, OH
United Christian Fellowship, Bowling Green, OH
Westminster House United Campus Ministry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

ONA Health and Human Service Ministries

Council for Health and Human Service Ministries
United Church Homes, OH
Bethany Children’s Home, PA

ONA National Ministries

National Setting of the United Church of Christ
Council for Health and Human Service Ministries
The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
Order of Corpus Christi

ONA Online and Virtual Congregations

Extravagance UCC: an Online Community
First UCC on Second Life

ONA Seminaries

Andover Newton Theological School
Chicago Theological Seminary
Eden Theological Seminary
Lancaster Theological Seminary
Pacific School of Religion
Union Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
Vanderbilt Divinity School

ONA Conferences

Central Atlantic Conference
Central Pacific Conference
Connecticut Conference
Florida Conference
Illinois Conference
Maine Conference
Massachusetts Conference
Michigan Conference
Minnesota Conference
New Hampshire Conference
New York Conference
Northern California Nevada Conference
Ohio Conference
Pacific Northwest Conference
Rhode Island Conference
Rocky Mountain Conference
Southern California Nevada Conference
Southwest Conference
Vermont Conference
Wisconsin Conference

ONA Associations

Intermountain Association
New York Metropolitan Association
Metropolitan Denver Association