We think that you will find that First Church Unitarian Universalist is a welcome home for all people regardless of affectional orientation. But we are not yet an official “Welcoming Congregation” in accordance with the guidelines of the UU Association of Congregations. We take those guidelines seriously and are looking to become

Education

1. Offer religious education that incorporates bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender life issues, including the workshop series from the Welcoming Congregation Program.

Status: An RE guideline has been approved which states:

Guidelines for Depicting Family Units and Life Partnerships in Religious Education

In general, the full range and variety of loving, human, life partnerships should be represented in religious education materials. Religious education should strive to depict to children the full range of families and life partnerships including but not limited to different-sex couples, same-sex couples, adoptive families and families headed by a single parent or a grandparent.

When love or marriage is the topic of discussion, same-sex relationships should be included and presented alongside different-sex relationships. Over the course of the year, educators should be aware of the loving relationships depicted during other class presentations. If loving human relationships are mentioned during the course of other non-relationship lessons, a balanced representative sampling of the range of relationships should be presented over the course of the year.

Our Christmas pageant featured, as is the church’s tradition, the most recent newborn and parents playing the Holy Family. This happened to be a lesbian couple and their daughter.

2. Promote participation by the congregation's minister, religious education minister or director, president, and/or moderator in the Welcoming Congregation Program.

Status: First Church UU and its minister have consistently been in the forefront of affirming GBLT rights.

3. Offer a congregation-wide workshop program(s), with follow-up opportunities for study and reflection.

Status: The workshop programs have been offered.

4. Use the Unitarian Universalist sexuality education program, Our Whole Lives (OWL).

Status: An awareness campaign has been mounted to educate the congregation about OWL. Those interested in engaging this program may be able to participate in neighboring congregations

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Building a Welcoming Congregation

Action Steps to Become a Welcoming Congregation

First Church, Leominster, MA

978-537-0310

officially “Welcoming” with a congregational vote at the May 2008 meeting. Below you will find the steps needed and where we are in the process.