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…
We’ve just welcomed Open and Affirming church #1300! That means exactly 26 percent of UCC congregations are Open and Affirming. We’re the largest and fastest-growing LGBT-affirming church movement in the world! But 26 percent is not 100 percent. Let’s work together to build an Open and Affirming…
“Religious Exemption” laws—an attempt to give private business owners and public officials a legal basis for discrimination—is the latest threat to LGBT civil rights, says Andy Lang, executive director of the UCC’s Open and Affirming Coalition. The Coalition is asking General Synod to approve a resolution…
RIPPLES June 12, 2015 Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ Are you ready for marriage equality? The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on marriage equality. If the decision overturns the remaining state laws banning same-sex marriage, UCC clergy and…
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,…
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…
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…
A call from the Human Rights Campaign: Let’s come together as a community to serve LGBT homeless youth on MLK Day of Service. On Monday, Jan. 20, MLK Day of Service is a “day on, not a day off.” It is a way to transform…
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…
Here’s the latest issue of RIPPLES—the Coalition’s e-newsletter for Open and Affirming churches: New Mexico is state #17 to adopt marriage equality United Methodist pastor Frank Schaefer defrocked for celebrating gay son’s marriage Coalition welcomes UCC Open and Affirming chuch #1,156
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