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HISTORY
In 1987 the Unitarian Universalist Association 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 to best meet its goals and each unique
situation can bring positive changes to individuals and congregations. WHAT IS THE WELCOMING CONGREGATION PROGRAM?
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The Welcoming Congregation Program is a completely volunteer
program for congregations that see a need to become more inclusive towards bisexual,
gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people. It consists of a series of workshops
developed by the UUA. The goal of the workshops is to reduce prejudice by increasing
understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations. Some of
the workshop titles include: How Homophobia Hurts Heterosexuals; Connections to
Other Forms of Oppression; Gender Socialization and Homophobia; and Biblical
Perspectives on Homosexuality. |
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A WELCOMING CONGREGATION?
Toronto First publicly welcomes bisexual, gay, lesbian and/or
transgender people in many ways. Specifically, we:
- Include and address the needs of b/g/l/t persons at every
level of congregational life—in worship, in programs, in social occasions, and
in rites of passage—welcoming not only their presence, but the gifts and
particularities of their lives as well.
- Assume the presence of b/g/l/t people and celebrate this
diversity by having inclusive language and content in our worship.
- Fully incorporate the experiences of b/g/l/t persons
throughout all programs, including religious education.
- Include an affirmation and nondiscrimination clause in our
by-laws and other official documents affecting all dimensions of congregational
life, including membership, hiring practices, and the calling of religious
professionals
- Engage in outreach into the b/g/l/t community in our advertising and by actively supporting b/g/l/t affirmative groups
- Offer congregational and ministerial support for union and
memorial services for b/g/l/t persons, and for celebrations of differing family
definitions.
- Celebrate the lives of all people and welcome same-sex
couples, recognizing their committed relationships, and equally affirm displays
of caring and affection without regard to sexual orientation.
- Seek to nurture ongoing dialogue between bisexual, gay,
lesbian, transgender, and heterosexual persons and to create deeper trust and
sharing.
- Encourage the presence of a chapter of Interweave.
- Affirm and celebrate b/g/l/t issues and history during the
church year.
- Attend to legislative developments and works to promote
justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society.
- Speak out when the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and
transgender people are at stake.
- Celebrate the lives of all people and their ways of
expressing their love for each other.
| For more information, visit the UUA's Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Concerns. Their Vision
Statement reads" The Office is guided by the vision that someday we will be able to put ourselves out of business and that oppression against bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people, whether it be overt or subtle, will be a thing of the
past. ' |
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