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1. ‘Open and Affirming' church denied standing

(Web Page; Thu Jun 12 12:24:00 CDT 2008)

On Oct. 7, 2000, the Eastern North Carolina Association (ENCA) of the UCC's Southern Conference denied standing to North Raleigh (N.C.) UCC. The decision was based solely on that church's status as an open and affirming (ONA) church, i....

Description: ‘Open and Affirming' church denied standing By Jimi Izrael January-February 2001 On Oct. 7, 2000, the Eastern North Carolina Association (ENCA) of the UCC's Southern Conference denied standing to North Raleigh (N.C.) UCC. The decision was based solely on that church's status as an open and affirming (ONA) church, i.e., one that welcomes lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender persons into the full life, leadership and ministry of the church.Needing two-thirds of the ENCA's votes, North Raleigh UCC got less than half, with 95 in favor, 105 against. The UCC is more open than any other denomination in accepting gay and lesbian persons. In 1983, for example, General Synod voted that the sexual orientation of a candidate for ordained ministry "should not be grounds for denying the request for ordination." On the other hand, UCC polity grants autonomy to the local church in most matters, including the right to accept local churches into a regional Association of local churches. The Constitution of the UCC, Article 2, paragraph 40, states: "An Association is that body which determines, confers, and certifies to the standing of the Local Churches of the United Church of Christ within its area." Local church autonomy This means that the national setting cannot dictate policy to the regional Association. The Association has the right to decide which local churches may be accepted into the UCC. Traditionally, southern churches are more conservative on matters of sexuality, and the ENCA reflects some of those same views. "Scripture says that homosexuality is a sin," said the Rev. Lee Evans on the Dec. 30 National Public Radio program "All Things Considered," "and we accept that." Evans, pastor of the United Church of Christ in rural Eagle Rock, N.C., led the vote against accepting the North Raleigh congregation. The Rev. Doug Long, pastor of the North Raleigh UCC, has a different perspective. He welcomes all people to his church, regardless of race, religious background or sexual orientation. "When I meet someone who is gay or lesbian," he says, "they are equally an image of God as I am or any straight person... and I can learn about God from them." Black churches reluctant According to the Rev. Beth Kennett, Southern Conference Minister for Church Life and Education, 63 percent of the 132 churches in the ENCA are African-American. The reluctance to welcome homosexuals may speak more to the conservatism among African- American churches and in the black community in general, says the Rev. James Forbes of the Riverside Church in New York City, the UCC's very first Open and Affirming congregation. "I would say that it is true that many times black people, who themselves have been stigmatized ... tend not to want the added burden of a position that may be considered to be sinful," Forbes said on that same NPR show. Forbes himself is African American and from North Carolina. The Rev. Raymond Hargrove, Associate Conference Minister with responsibilities in the ENCA, thinks most people would agree that the North Raleigh church will eventually become part of the Association. "How we get to that point," he says, "is what we have to wrestle with." The congregation currently averages 120 persons at worship and contributes 150 percent of each Sunday's offerings to ministries outside the church. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Feb.10. The Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC General Minister and President, and the Rev. Stephen Camp, Associate Executive Minister of Local Church Ministries, will attend as observers.

2. As I See It: 'Open and Affirming' empowers us to respond without hesitation

(Web Page; Tue May 27 12:30:00 CDT 2008)

Just over a year ago, two men were attacked in a parking lot outside a gay bar in Riverside, Calif. The friends were both gay and the crime was immediately identified as a hate crime. One of them, Jeffrey Owens, died early the ne...

Description: 'Open and Affirming' empowers us to respond without hesitation By Michael D. Schuenemeyer July-August 2003 Just over a year ago, two men were attacked in a parking lot outside a gay bar in Riverside, Calif. The friends were both gay and the crime was immediately identified as a hate crime. One of them, Jeffrey Owens, died early the next day from complications due to his injuries. The parking lot where the crime took place was half a block from First Congregational UCC in Riverside, and its pastor, the Rev. Jane Quandt, immediately took a leadership role in the community in response to what had happened. A few weeks later, at a candlelight prayer vigil, Quandt eloquently shared how her congregation's Open and Affirming (ONA) statement had empowered her response. The pastor remarked that that while she had never been against the ONA program, she had not really warmed up to it. The death of Jeffrey Owens changed that. The church's ONA statement, she said, gave her a stronger sense of confidence when she spoke publicly against the hate crime and for public policies that protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. She celebrated the leadership role she was able to take in planning and leading a community vigil. She knew that not everyone in the congregation was gung-ho about this, but the ONA statement made clear and supported the leadership she felt called to take. Such leadership by the pastor and the congregation is a gift to the church and the community. Much of the work I do on behalf of the church is informed and guided by the significant body of social policies adopted by the General Synod. Last December, I received a request to work on an Amici Curiae, a Òfriend of the courtÓ brief, which was filed in the U.S. Supreme Court case that led to the recently-issued decision to overturn the sodomy laws in Texas and 12 other states. I knew that the UCC's General Synod, the most representative body of the national church, had adopted several resolutions that are crystal clear on the issues before the court. We joined the Amici Curiae in the name of the General Synod. But, in doing so, I recognized that within the UCC there is much diversity on many different issues. I knew not every individual member, local congregation, Association or Conference would agree with the positions General Synod has adopted. Our way of being church simply doesn't work that way. The UCC is not organized in a hierarchical way and, therefore, we are not a doctrinal church. The local congregation, as the basic unit of the church, has the freedom to determine its own mission in light of God's call. Similarly, the delegates sent to the General Synod meeting are called to prayerfully consider and deliberate over the matters before them and cast their votes faithfully as they feel led by the Spirit. I trust this process, and I know it has enabled the UCC to be a powerful voice and witness in the world. Our various statements about being open and affirming, just peace, multiracial, multi-cultural and accessible to all are important. If for no other reason, they empower us to respond without hesitation to situations of critical need and advocacy. While none of us has a market on truth, we are called to speak and act from our convictions, especially when those convictions have been adopted by the church. Martin Luther King Jr. said, ÒOur lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Ó As I see it, the voice of the United Church of Christ, in all its diversity, is a voice that our communities and our world need to hear. The Rev. Michael D. Schuenemeyer is executive and minister for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender concerns and HIV/AIDS ministries with the UCC's Wider Church Ministries. As I See It is a column to help readers become better acquainted with UCC leaders.

3. Open and Affirming

(Web Page; Mon May 21 19:50:00 CDT 2007)

Resolution "Calling on UCC Congregations to Covenant as Open and Affirming" 85-GS-76 VOTED: The Fifteenth General Synod adopts the Resolution now titled "Calling On UCC Congregations to Covenant As Open and Affirming." Calling on UCC C...

4. Open and Affirming Resolution

(File; Thu Jul 17 14:22:00 CDT 2008)

Description: In 1985 the General Synod Resolution upholding the UCC as an Open and Affirming Church (ONA)

5. Open and Affirming in the UCC

(Web Page; Wed Mar 24 09:05:00 CDT 2010)

ONA Resources and Contact Information Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Open and Affirming (ONA) UCC ONA churches, organizations and other settings Open and Affirming (ONA) Information and Resources UCC Resources Online ...

6. 'M-word' deepens the conversation for Open and Affirming congregations

(Web Page; Wed May 23 06:35:00 CDT 2007)

"In the years that we were going through the process, we never actually talked about gay marriage," said the Rev. Mike Holland, senior minister. "It certainly was not intentional, but at the time the language we used was about unions and...

7. Sign defaced at open-and-affirming UCC church near San Jose

(Web Page; Thu Aug 23 13:33:00 CDT 2007)

After an anti-gay slur was painted across the sign outside Campbell UCC near San Jose, Calif., on Aug. 18, a member of the Campbell City Council is now asking city residents to show support for the congregation by offering donations for ...

Description: After an anti-gay slur was painted on the sign outside Campbell UCC near San Jose, Calif., on Aug. 18, a member of the Campbell City Council is asking city residents to show support for the congregation by offering donations for the purchase of a new church sign.

8. Oklahoma congregation urges UCC's 'Open and Affirming' churches to stand up financially

(Web Page; Wed May 23 06:39:00 CDT 2007)

In a challenge to its sister "Open and Affirming' (ONA) churches in the UCC's Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, the Rev. Leslie Penrose and Community of Hope UCC in Tulsa are urging churches supportive of gay and lesbian persons to "go the ext...

9. Ann B. Day, friend to hundreds of 'open and affirming' churches, is stepping down after 20 years

(Web Page; Wed May 23 06:39:00 CDT 2007)

Day and her partner, Donna Enberg, who has served as the program's Administrative Assistant, will complete their work at the close of the denomination's next national General Synod in June 2007. They have led the grassroots movement sinc...

10. 1985---CALLING-ON-UNITED-CHURCH-OF-CHRIST-CONGREGATIONS-TO-DECLARE-THEMSELVES-OPEN-AND-AFFIRMING.pdf

(File; Wed May 02 00:49:00 CDT 2007)

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