Welcoming Congregation
The Greenville UU creates special programs for inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people into our church membership and ministry
Welcoming Congregation
What is it? Why do it?
LGBT-welcoming church programs are programs by churches and synagogues that make an explicit attempt to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in church membership, programming, and ministry. Similar programs are in place across many denominations such as Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church, Reformed Catholic Church, Baptist, Episcopal Church, and many others.
In 1987 the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) established the Common Vision Planning Committee. This committee found many negative attitudes, deep prejudices, and profound ignorance about bisexual, gay, and lesbian people, which resulted in the exclusion of bisexual, gay, and lesbian people from their churches. As a result of these findings, the delegates of the 1989 UUA General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to initiate the Welcoming Congregation program to educate its members. Each congregation adapts the program according to it unique situation to best achieve the goal of welcoming status.Task Force
How was it formed?
In June, 2008, the GUUF Board appointed a Task Force to review the steps and resources necessary to becoming an official "Welcoming Congregation". The Task Force included Lynn Cusick, Mark Hauser, Jan Humphrey, Kris Beliakoff, Lori Morton, Jim Fowler, Pat Dillow, Diane Shipp and Maureen Nery.
Based on recommended steps and timeframes from the UUA and discussions with other congregations who have achieved the designation, the Task Force expects the process to take 18-24 months.
The UUA provides a detailed method to become a Welcoming Congregation in its manual "The Welcoming Congregation Handbook", which congregations may use as a guide in their educational process. But each is encouraged, as GUUF has done, to develop its own curriculum, workshops, sermons, and timeline to inform and enrich its members by learning more about the LGBT population and the discriminations they face.Task Force
What does it do?
While many of us believe we are welcoming, the official WC process and designation by the UUA will raise awareness, both within the Fellowship and in the larger community, of our commitment to this civil rights issue. It's a way to intentionally affirm and embrace our first UU principle: the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The tragic shooting in our sister congregation in Knoxville, TN on July 31, 2008 makes it all the more imperative that we formalize our commitment to inclusiveness.
The task force expects to take a congregational vote on whether to accept or reject the Welcoming designation in early 2010, following a Sunday service. Details to be announced
