Welcoming Congregation
UUCM is proud to be recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) as a Welcoming Congregation to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) people.
In our sanctuary hangs a beautiful stained glass Rainbow Flag, complete with a pink triangle chalice. The pink triangle is the symbol Nazi Germany forced gay men to wear in concentration camps, and it has since been reclaimed as a symbol of solidarity and pride. This artwork was designed by one of our former interim ministers, Rev. Margaret Keip. It was sponsored by UUCM's Interweave Committee and created by local artist Joy Del Santo.
What Does it Mean to be a "Welcoming Congregation"?
Congregations that publicly and successfully welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) people have the following qualities in that they:
- Include and address the needs of LGBTQ persons at every level of congregational life — in worship, programs, social occasions, and rites of passage — welcoming not only their presence, but the gifts they bring as well.
- Assume the presence of LGBTQ people and celebrate this diversity by having inclusive language and content in worship and religious education.
- Include an affirmation and nondiscrimination clause in 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 LGBTQ community in advertising and by actively supporting LGBTQ affirmative groups.
- Offer congregational and ministerial support for union and memorial services for LGBTQ persons and for celebrations of all families.
- Celebrate the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.
- Seek to nurture ongoing dialogue between LGBTQ and heterosexual persons to create deeper trust and sharing.
- Encourage the presence of an Interweave chapter. Affirm and celebrate LGBTQ issues and history during the church year.
- Attend to legislative developments and work to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society by speaking out when the rights of LGBTQ people are at stake.
