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The Werewolf Prophet
Posts:2
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| 04/20/2006 1:32 AM |
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I am a 50 year old gay man, disabled with HIV, who has not (voluntarily) darkened the door of a mainline Christian church in about 40 years.
However, the UCC's "Bouncer" and "Ejector Seat" ad campaigns really caught my attention, so I attended a UCC church Easter Sunday, chosen because it's the only one in my area that's ONA (Open aNd Affirming, of GLBT folk).
I was very, very impressed with the genuine warmth of the welcome me and my two friends (a male couple) received. If you'd like to know more about my experience, read my diary entry on Street Prophets, a blog dedicated to faith and politics from a progressive POV. |
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innervisions
Posts:29
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| 04/21/2006 2:17 PM |
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I'm so glad!!!! I always love to hear about when people practice what they preach.
I read your blog, and I have to agree about your summation on the best singers of hymns! LOL. Now, I hate to brag, but if you like good music, you need to come to my church, Trinity UCC, in Chicago! And we even have more than cookies after service! We have full meals!!! (Fried chicken, potato salad, ribs, the works!)
Again, I'm happy to hear that you had a wonderful experience. |
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chelle523
Posts:3
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| 04/23/2006 5:37 PM |
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I am so glad to hear that you had an uplifting experience! I just saw the "ejector pew" commercials last night, and I have to say, it's the first time in a VERY long time that I felt a connection with regard to religion.
I am probably not one of those who would be "ejected" - white, middle class, married mom of 3 (well, unless people worry about my eyebrow piercing). But I was subjected to many years of real Bible belt hellfire and brimstone preaching, and have chosen to live my adult life outside the church and its influences for the most part. I have done things in my life that made me feel very unwelcome at most of the churches I have attended. But what bothers me more about the idea of an "ejector pew" is that I don't WANT the entire world to be made up of people who look, love and believe exactly as I do. What fun would that be and how could I possibly hope to learn more about the other people on this planet? I have always maintained that because Jesus chose to associate with those who had been cast aside by the rest of society, there is no way he would snub someone based on their sexuality, race or religious beliefs. And I have been looking for so long to find a spiritual base that believed the same thing.
I was a bit skeptical watching the ad campaigns, I must admit that. And your post has gone a long way toward dispelling the reservations I had in attending a UCC for the first time. I am really excited about attending church next week. I never in a million years thought I would say that. It feels so good to know that there are other people who feel as I do. So many of us go through our lives aching for a spiritual connection with other people, and the bigoted snubbing that goes on in so many churches today has done a lot to alienate many people from practicing their faith. What a tragedy.
I'm looking forward to attending services next Sunday and meeting the UCC members in my area.
Peace,
Michelle |
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lisa
Posts:38
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| 04/25/2006 9:32 AM |
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Yahoo! Reading your blog and some of the replies just makes me want to stand up and dance. I am a minister in the UCC. I have known for a long time that our beliefs of being welcoming and accepting were something many in the world needed to hear about! I am so glad you and others are seeing the commercial, exploring this virtual community, and trying out some of our UCC churches. Welcome! welcome!
Lisa
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Blaise
Posts:1
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| 04/28/2006 2:48 AM |
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Ok, so you're telling me that the UCC doesn't have a problem with Gays? |
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JMcKenrick
Posts:13
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| 04/28/2006 10:04 AM |
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Most of them don't some of them do. Do a search and find an ONA UCC. ONA means (open and affirming) gay affirming. There are none around here, but I still emailed the pastor of one of the UCCs and he said he agrees with the ONA thing but conservatives attend there too and that's why they didn't adapt that title. But he said I was welcomed there and I wouldn't be condemned. So just serch for a ONA UCC, but if you don't find one, still contact the others, they may stull welcome you!
Josh |
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baronsabato
Posts:78
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| 04/28/2006 2:23 PM |
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It's actually surprising how many churches really should be listed ONA but aren't because they haven't gone through the process. I've met many a person from a UCC church that is very welcoming towards gays and lesbians, but because of whatever reason, they haven't decided to be ONA.
Anyway, is the UCC "okay" with gays and lesbians? Well, we were the first mainline Protestant denomination to ordain a gay man, and a lesbian. We were the first to pass a resolution supporting same-sex marriage. And all this from the descendents of the Puritans!
Basically, the denomination itself seems to be fairly "okay" with GLBT people, although individual congregations and congregants definitely vary. |
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"the whole irreducible point of the faith,
God thrown in human waste, submerged and shining.
We have grown used to beauty without horror.
We have grown used to useless beauty." |
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innervisions
Posts:29
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| 04/29/2006 1:03 PM |
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[QUOTE]baronsabato wrote
It's actually surprising how many churches really should be listed ONA but aren't because they haven't gone through the process. [/QUOTE]
There's a specific process you have to go through? I didn't know that. Perhaps that's why my church is unlisted. I know we're ONA because we have a singles ministry for SGL singles and couples. |
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JMcKenrick
Posts:13
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| 04/29/2006 3:10 PM |
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| The UCC I currently go to has a reason for not being ONA. The pastor does in fact believe that God loves all people even LGBT people. He says the reason is that there are some conservatives that attend there and he doesn't want to lose them. He says I am welcome to come and attend a service and meet with him after. That just shows that most UCCs are probably welcomong of gays, but they have a good reason for not listing themselves as ONA. |
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baronsabato
Posts:78
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| 04/29/2006 8:33 PM |
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[QUOTE]innervisions wrote
baronsabato wrote
It's actually surprising how many churches really should be listed ONA but aren't because they haven't gone through the process. |
There's a specific process you have to go through? I didn't know that. Perhaps that's why my church is unlisted. I know we're ONA because we have a singles ministry for SGL singles and couples.[/QUOTE]
I'm pretty sure there is a process, but I'm not completely positive. When I talked to the minister of one of the churches I attend, she told me that the congregation spent about a year or so undergoing education courses, formulating statements of intent, and etc. to become ONA. Perhaps one of the pastors here can give some more insight into that, but that was what I understood. |
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"the whole irreducible point of the faith,
God thrown in human waste, submerged and shining.
We have grown used to beauty without horror.
We have grown used to useless beauty." |
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WWJD
Posts:40
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| 05/08/2006 11:02 PM |
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[QUOTE]Blaise wrote
Ok, so you're telling me that the UCC doesn't have a problem with Gays?
[/QUOTE]
Most definately not! |
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WWJD
Posts:40
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| 05/08/2006 11:04 PM |
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[QUOTE]innervisions wrote
baronsabato wrote
It's actually surprising how many churches really should be listed ONA but aren't because they haven't gone through the process. |
There's a specific process you have to go through? I didn't know that. Perhaps that's why my church is unlisted. I know we're ONA because we have a singles ministry for SGL singles and couples.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I don't know what it is but it takes several years (I believe). I wasn't there when my congregation went through it but I talked with one of the leaders of the church who was explaining it to me. |
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bmrathbun
Posts:68
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| 05/31/2006 10:56 AM |
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Because the UCC's polity (governance) is congregational, each local church decides for itself whether to have the conversations that lead to a vote by the congregation to become open and affirming. I know of a church that took 7 years to complete the conversation/study. Others take a single year, or something in between, or begin by being O&A when they become a UCC church. It will depend on the congregation.
We believe that the Holy Spirit moves within the gathered community, and that making the business, mission, and spiritual decisions that are a part of being church is a right and responsibility of the congregation--not the minister, not the board or council, not an overseeing body outside the church. We're pretty clear when somebody tries to ramrod something through without the input of the community: we won't stand for it. And proud of our ability to talk, to listen, and to decide for ourselves.
Pastor Barbara, i guide for Opening the Bible |
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MegnSal
Posts:1
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| 06/15/2006 10:37 AM |
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I am a 49 year old lesbian with a partner of 2 1/2 years, we are currently looking for a church, and the only ones in this area (Indiana) are not ONA, so I emailed the one close to our home and am currently waiting for a reply, I sure hope i get the answer Im looking for.
Glad to hear others have been welcomed. |
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WWJD
Posts:40
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| 09/23/2006 11:01 AM |
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[QUOTE]JMcKenrick wrote
The UCC I currently go to has a reason for not being ONA. The pastor does in fact believe that God loves all people even LGBT people. He says the reason is that there are some conservatives that attend there and he doesn't want to lose them. He says I am welcome to come and attend a service and meet with him after. That just shows that most UCCs are probably welcomong of gays, but they have a good reason for not listing themselves as ONA. [/QUOTE]
That is NOT a good reason for not listing oneself as ONA. It flies in the face of what Jesus taught. This should not be about NUMBERS but about doing what is RIGHT!
I would never attend such a church. Would you go to a church that wasn't welcoming to people of color? Could you excuse not being that way because of a few conservatives who might leave? How hypocritical!
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zipline
Posts:1
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| 10/10/2006 11:50 PM |
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baronsabato wrote
It's actually surprising how many churches really should be listed ONA but aren't because they haven't gone through the process.
Many are very open, but do not believe that churches need to be labeled as such. I personally believe that this is the way all should be, but I am not naive. I know that many are not as open and welcoming as they think, or as they should be. don't let the fact that a church has not labeled themselves one way or another scare you off. I am a member at a small church in a small Ohio town that is just as open as the "ONA" label churches that I know. (I am very active on the association ans conference levels....I am familiar with a lot of churches.) Truthfully, our church would rather spend their engergies toward active outreach than the process. Being small, we have to decide where God is focusing out energies. I do know that ANYONE would feel very welcome worchiping with us. I have put this to the test on numerous occasions. I invite everyone i know to attend. Let's just say I have a very diverse friend bas:)
Zip
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