Welcoming Congregation « Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Augusta, Maine

Welcoming Congregation

In the fall of 2005, UUCC embarked upon the process of becoming a Welcoming Congregation.

To date, the Welcoming Congregation Task Force has sponsored several events, including a workshop at the Fall 2005 Annual Church Retreat, a Sunday worship service and a film series. In June 2006, it presented a series of workshops recommended in ‘The Welcoming Congregation Handbook’ developed and written by the Unitarian Universalist Association.

This is a long range project of the church which is intended to result in a congregational decision to become an officially recognized Welcoming Congregation. As with any cultural change to a church community, there are many miles to be covered, many emotions, thoughts, feelings to be examined, many honest, deep conversations to be held.

Welcoming Congregation Task Force held its first weekend retreat on a rainy, steamy weekend in June, 2006, Participants worked their way through 8 of the 14 workshops recommended in the UUA published Welcoming Congregation Handbook, Resources for Affirming Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and/or Trans gender People.

HOW THE WELCOMING CONGREGATION PROGRAM CAME TO BE

In 1987 the Unitarian Universalist Association, sensing that there was a great deal of unexamined and hurtful homophobia in local congregations, established the Common Vision Planning Committee (CVPC). It was the task of this diverse committee of clergy and laity from across North America to assess the degree to which bisexual, gay and lesbian persons felt welcomed and accepted in their own congregations, so that if necessary, a remedial program could be developed.

In response to the information gathered by the CVPC, a program and handbook was developed and presented to any congregation interested in undertaking this journey of self-examination and congregational education.

WHO TO CONTACT

If you are interested in learning more about UUCC’s Welcoming Congregation Task Force and its goals, contact us. If you are interested in learning more about the Unitarian Universalist Association’s history and views on issues concerning bisexual, gay, lesbian and/or trans gender people, you can find information on their web page.