We are a Welcoming Congregation, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association.

This means we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people.

Our History as a welcoming fellowship:

OUUF – a Welcoming Congregation

In the 1980s and 90s, when the word “welcoming” became a code word for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, the Unitarian Universalist Association launched a Welcoming Congregation Program to help us learn how to undo homophobia—and later, transphobia (prejudice against transgender people)—in our hearts and minds, our congregations, and our communities. OUUF created a Welcoming Congregation Committee, which had a workshop series and film festival to increase understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations. (I wasn’t a member of that committee, but my husband, Jack, was.) After an overwhelming affirmative vote in the early 2000’s, OUUF was granted Official Status as a Welcoming Congregation by the Unitarian Universalist Association!

Submitted by Vivian Mulligan

As a Welcoming Congregation we have pledged to:

Honor the lives of all people and equally affirm displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation.

Celebrate diversity by using inclusive language and content in worship.

Incorporate an understanding of the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons throughout all of our programs, including religious education.

Affirm and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues and history.

Affirm marriage equality and conduct same-sex weddings.

Advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, promoting justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society.

We speak out when the rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are at stake.

We recognize that there’s always something more to learn, and remain open to deepening our understanding about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.