A Welcoming Congregation
Many members will remember that a number of years ago this congregation began the process of becoming a Welcoming Congregation. Our efforts several years ago were sidetracked by other events, but we are determined to start anew and see this process through!
The Welcoming Congregation Program is a volunteer program for congregations that would like to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people. The program includes a series of workshops with the goal of reducing prejudice by increasing understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations.
There are a number of Action Steps that we must meet in order to become a Welcoming Congregation that address Education, Congregational Life, and Community Outreach. Once we have achieved the Action Steps and taken a congregational vote in affirmation of being recognized as a Welcoming Congregation, we will submit notification of our completion of the process to the UUA Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Concerns. We will receive a letter of congratulations and a poster proclaiming us as a Welcoming Congregation. We will also join our sister congregations in Auburn, Huntsville, and Montgomery, all of which are Welcoming Congregations.
Becoming a Welcoming Congregation is a laudable goal for us to achieve! By becoming a Welcoming Congregation, we will better celebrate the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other. And of course, understanding and confronting our own prejudices will lead to individual spiritual growth and congregational unity.
If you are interested in helping by serving on the Welcoming Congregation Committee, please contact Stacey Grayson or Carla Craft at board_carla@uucbham.org.
Preliminary Steps Have been Very Successful!
The Welcoming Congregation Workshops are part of the necessary Action Steps that are prerequisites for the Welcoming Congregation status. They ran from February through May, were well-attended and very successful. There was a special Welcoming service which was well-received. People who have participated in the effort and the workshops spoke personally about why the effort is important to them and to the congregation.
BAGSLY t-shirts show you support full and equal rights for all people - no matter what their affectional orientation. Purchase the t-shirts for only $10 in the narthex Sunday or contact the church office. We have sizes medium - 2XXL in teal, periwinkle, pink and black (not all colors in all sizes).
BAGSLY web site link temporarily unavailable...
keep watching for updates
Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
A member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association
Location: 4300 Hampton Heights Drive · Birmingham, Alabama · 35209 · U.S.A
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 19786 · Birmingham, AL 35219
Phone: (205) 945-8109 · Fax: (205) 945-8111
E-mail: office@uucbham.org
Copyright © 2006-2008 Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
All Rights Reserved.