The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ offers our deepest sympathies to the Rev. Ann B. Day and all who mourn the passing of Donna Enberg. We hold Ann, their loved ones, and all who grieve in our hearts and prayers, asking for peace and comfort during this time of profound loss.

Donna, along with her wife, Ann, created the UCC’s Open and Affirming (ONA) program in 1987. Enberg continued as the program’s treasurer for 20 years until her retirement in 2007.

Together, Ann and Donna were instrumental in developing the most successful and fastest-growing LGBTQ+-affirming church movement in the world. Building on General Synod’s 1985 resolution urging congregations to adopt “Open and Affirming covenants,” they designed the resources and training programs that empowered hundreds of congregations in the UCC to open their doors to LGBTQ+ members and seekers.

The ONA resolution is one of the most impactful in the history of the UCC, transforming the church and saving thousands of lives. This transformation was made possible through the tireless work of supporting congregations on their journeys toward inclusion and justice.

Donna Enberg’s legacy is honored through her lifelong commitment to inclusion and justice in the church. David Lohman’s hymn, For All the Children, was written in recognition of Donna and Ann’s retirement from the ONA program in 2007 and remains a fitting tribute to Donna’s transformative work. A recording of the hymn can be found here:

For more information about Donna’s life and contributions, her biography can be found at lgbtqreligiousarchives.org.

With deepest honor and respect,

The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ