| 1. |
A ‘Welcoming Congregation’
is inclusive and expressive of the concerns of bisexual, gay, lesbian,
and/or transgender 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)
|
A Welcoming Congregation
does not assume that everyone is heterosexual. Vocabulary of worship
reflects this perception; worship celebrates diversity by inclusivity
of language and content.
|
| b) |
An understanding
of the experience of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender
persons will be fully incorporated throughout all programs, including
religious education.
|
|
|
2.
|
The
bylaws and other official documents of a Welcoming Congregation include
an affirmation and nondiscrimination clause affecting all dimensions of
congregational life, including membership, hiring practices, and the calling
of religious professionals. |
| 3. |
A
Welcoming Congregation engages in outreach into the bisexual, gay, lesbian,
and transgender communities, both through its advertising and by supporting
actively other gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender affirmative groups. |
| 4. |
A
Welcoming Congregation offers congregational and ministerial support for
services of union and memorial services for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or
transgender persons, and celebrations of evolving definitions of family. |
| 5. |
A
Welcoming Congregation celebrates the lives of all people and welcomes same-gender
couples, recognizing their committed relationships, and equally affirms
displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation. |
| 6. |
A
Welcoming Congregation seeks to nurture ongoing dialogue between gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender and heterosexual persons, and to create deeper trust
and sharing. |
| 7. |
A
Welcoming Congregation encourages the presence of a chapter of the Unitarian
Universalists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender concerns. |
| 8. |
A
Welcoming Congregation affirms and celebrates gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender issues and history during the church year (possibly including
Gay Pride Week, which is in June). |
| 9. |
A
Welcoming Congregation, as an advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender
people, attends to legislative developments and works to promote justice,
freedom, and equality in the larger society. It speaks out when the rights
and dignity of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people are at stake. |
| 10. |
A
Welcoming Congregation celebrates the lives of all people and their ways
of expressing their love for each other |
| |
|
Award
from GLHS [Gays and Lesbians Health Services, U of S ]
The Unitarian Congregation received an award in 2004 for its actions and
policies with respect to
‘alternative lifestyles’: see our 
press release about it.
|
| |
|
Canadian
Unitarians achieve intervener status with
the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage
Our national organization, the Canadian Unitarian Council,
has news about this achievement
here (May,
2004)
|