First Parish Bridgewater is a Welcoming Congregation
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First Parish Bridgewater is a Welcoming Congregation |
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| At our annual meeting on June 3, 2001, First Parish Bridgewater voted
overwhelmingly to become a Welcoming Congregation, affirming our commitment
to welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in our community,
and to advocating on their/our behalf.
This page was originally built as part of the educational process in becoming a Welcoming Congregation. It will be modified to reflect new events and opportunities related to this ongoing process. |
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.
A Welcoming Congregation is inclusive and
expressive of the concerns of b/g/l/t persons at every level of congregational
life – in worship, in program, and in social occasions, welcoming not only
their presence but the unique gifts and particularities of their lives as
well.
A Welcoming Congregation does not assume
anyone's affectional/sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Vocabulary
of worship reflects this perception; worship celebrates diversity by inclusivity
of language and content.
A Welcoming Congregation engages in outreach
into the b/g/l/t communities, both through its advertising and by actively
supporting other b/g/l/t affirmative groups.
A Welcoming Congregation offers congregational
and ministerial support for services of union and memorial services for b/g/l/t
persons, and celebrations of evolving definitions of family.
A Welcoming Congregation Celebrates the
lives of all people and welcomes same-sex couples, recognizing their committed
relationships, and equally affirms displays of caring and affection without
regard to sexual/affectional orientation.
A Welcoming Congregation seeks to nurture
ongoing dialogue between people of different affectional/sexual orientations
and gender identifications, and to create deeper trust and sharing.
A Welcoming Congregation affirms and celebrates
b/g/l/t issues and history during the church year.
A Welcoming Congregation attends to legislative
developments and works to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger
society.
A Welcoming Congregation speaks out when
the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people are at stake.
A Welcoming Congregation celebrates the
lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.
Only when we are truly open to the wealth of diversity in our world
will the inherent worth and dignity of every person be affirmed with a large
voice.
| Some of this material is quoted directly from a publication of the Unitarian Universalist Association's Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns . |
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For links to other web sites about issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, please visit the Pride Page of James Hayes-Bohanan, a member of our Welcoming Congregation Task Force. |
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