by the Rev. Rebecca Voelkel June 5, 2015 As a lesbian minister, a daughter, a partner and a mother, I have loved and been involved in the Open and Affirming movement since the early 1980’s. As a youth delegate to General Synod in Ames, Iowa,…
The Open and Affirming Coalition Tuesday joined the Collegium of the United Church of Christ in a statement opposing Indiana’s law legalizing anti-LGBT discrimination on the basis of “religious freedom.” “Public businesses should not be allowed to deny service in restaurants, evict tenants from their…
CLEVELAND, March 15, 2015–The Coalition’s Leadership Team has declared support for Bishop Yvette Flunder, pastor of City of Refuge UCC in Oakland, CA, and presiding bishop of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries. A group of clergy has challenged Bishop Flunder’s invitation as a guest lecturer…
A Building Inclusive Church workshop–cosponsored by Equality Pennsylvania and the National LGBTQ Task Force–is coming to a city near you! February 20-21 King of Prussia (Southeast PA) March 6-7 Harrisburg (Central PA) May 1-2 Pittsburgh (Western PA) May 15-16 Kingston (Northeast PA) Building an Inclusive…
Open and Affirming Coalition Executive Director Andy Lang at Friday’s vigil for Leelah Alcorn in Cleveland: “It’s critical for Christians and Jews and Muslims and other people of faith who know that the transgender community are made in the image and likeness of God not…
December 17, 2014 NATIONAL ONA GATHERING: OUR 30TH BIRTHDAY! The Coalition’s National Open and Affirming Gathering meets in Cleveland June 24 and 25—right before General Synod! Get your Synod experience off to a great start with this family reunion for our nationwide ONA community, with…
UCC Coalition Executive Director Andy Lang spoke at the National Press Club Oct. 10 on the eve of National Coming Out Day and the opening of the Religious Right’s “Value Voters Summit.” The anti-LGBT lobby doesn’t speak for most American Christians, he said. More than…
The United Church of Christ played a role in the decision Friday by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby overturning the Utah ban on same-sex marriage. Shelby argued that marriage equality would protect the religious freedom of churches that want to marry gay and lesbian…
Dave Knapp, a member of First Congregational Church in Guilford, Conn., joined the Boy Scouts of America in 1938. He was expelled 55 years later when the Scouts learned he was gay. Since then, he’s campaigned tirelessly for a change in the Boy Scouts’ policy…
The World Council of Churches (website and Facebook page) is the largest international ecumenical body. Founded in 1949 in the aftermath of World War II, it unites Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox Christians. Its General Assembly is meeting this week in Busan, Republic of Korea. The…
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