Open and Affirming (ONA) Program

Youth and Young Adult Program

National Gathering

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Is your congregation continuing to struggle with a decision to become an Open and Affirming congregation? Has your congregation voted to be ONA, but is looking for ways to live into its covenant? Are you seeking resources that will strengthen and enliven your church as it moves toward fully embracing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in a mutual journey that We May All Be One? Do you believe that it is time to move beyond talking about ONA and other social justice issues, that it is time to take action? So do we!

Register Now for National Gathering 2011

Registration is now open for National Gathering 2011 this June in Tampa, sponsored by the UCC Coalition for GLBT Concerns. Our theme this year is ImaginACTion. This conference will provide proven ideas, effective strategies, resources, and practical tools to churches that are seeking to develop and strengthen their ONA efforts. A variety of optional strategies will be provided so that each participant in the gathering can formulate specific action steps that they will implement soon after the Gathering. We urge your church to make an investment to send several delegated leaders from your congregation, representing clergy and lay ministers of all sexual orientations and gender identities, youth delegates as well as adults. Of course we also welcome participation by interested individuals! Register now at http://www.regonline.com/NG2011.

The last day of the National Gathering coincides with the beginning of Synod in Tampa. The timing will facilitate participation in both events.

Go home energized and full of ideas on topics such as church growth and inclusiveness, advocacy and empowerment, reaching out to LGBT youth and young adults, etc.

Advance registration is available now for just $139!

Schedule

In making your arrangements to travel to Tampa, please note that the Conference begins on Monday, June 27th. Registration will be open at noon, the first choir practice will take place at 2:00 p.m. and the Conference itself will begin at 3:30 p.m. National Gathering will wrap up on Thursday, June 30th with a closing worship that will end at 11:00 a.m. -- facilitating full participation in General Synod. Note that St. Pete Pride (Florida’s largest Pride celebration) is June 25, http://www.stpetepride.com/.

PROPOSED Agenda for National Gathering 2011

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A Trifecta of Keynoters

This year, we’ve asked three LGBT justice activists to be the key presenters at National Gathering:

: The Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson

Pastor of First United Church of Tampa, the Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson also serves as president of the North American region of the World Council of Churches.

She previously served on the UCC national staff for nearly two decades, Dr. Jackson served as Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries and one of the five officers of the denomination and as the Executive Director of the UCC’s Commission for Racial Justice. Prior to that, she served as the director of the Bishop Tutu Southern African Refugee Scholarship Fund, where she also was the Archbishop’s U.S. representative.

Bernice is married to Dr. Franklyn Jackson, a retired school administrator.

: Justin Lee

Founder and Executive Director of the Gay Christian Network, Justin Lee, has been speaking to audiences for over ten years on matters of faith and sexuality. In that time, he's gained a reputation as a fun, lighthearted speaker with a knack for making audiences laugh while helping them sort through sometimes confusing and controversial issues.

Justin founded The Gay Christian Network (GCN) in 2001. He has been featured in numerous print, radio, and TV outlets, including The New York Times, OUT Magazine, The Associated Press, The Dr. Phil Show, HLN's Prime News, and CNN's Anderson Cooper 360.

: The Rev. Loey Powell

Rev. Loey Powell serves as Minister and Team Leader for Human Rights, Justice for Women and Transformation for the UCC’s national Justice and Witness Ministries. She is active in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and is the current chair of its board of directors. Prior to her current position, she was the Executive Director of the Coordinating Center for Women in Church and Society of the UCC.

In 1989, Loey was the first out lesbian or gay person called by a local congregation to serve as pastor through the regular search process. She served as pastor of the United Church of Tallahassee for 8 years before moving to the national setting of the UCC.

Loey shares her home and life with partner Brenda Joyner and is a member of Archwood UCC in Cleveland.

Anthony Cabrera To Serve as Music Director

: Anthony Cabrera

We are pleased to have Anthony Cabrera join the National Gathering family as music director in Tampa. Anthony is the Assistant Director of Music Ministries at Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) where he directs Cantáte – the youth performance ensemble - and the Youth and Adult Bell Choirs. He is a singer with the Chancel Choir and CGCC’s professional vocal ensemble in residence. For the national UCC, he sits on the Praise Song Advisory Team as well as the General Synod Worship Advisory Team.

Anthony is a member of Jubilate a vocal ensemble that specializes in Gospel music, African American spirituals and the music of the Caribbean.

He is also the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Miami Gay Men's Chorus and INSIGNIA – the chorus's select vocal ensemble, and he is the Choral Director and Humanities teacher at the Young Women's Preparatory Academy – Miami Dade County Public Schools’ single gender public preparatory academy for girls where he also teaches Humanities, AP Music Theory and AP European History.

Check the Coalition website (www.ucccoalition.org) frequently for updates on confirmed speakers and presentations.

Recruit Your Friends and Get a FREE Registration

Want to attend Gathering for free? Help us promote Gathering and you can. Register today for Gathering. Encourage your friends and colleagues to register as well. Once seven of them have registered and indicated during their registration that you recruited them for Gathering, we’ll refund you the cost of your basic registration (not including hotel, meals or other add-ons). And, if you also purchase the meal plan or a banquet ticket, we’ll reserve a table at the Gathering banquet for you. You can either invite the friends you recruited to sit with you or you can host the new friends you’ll meet at Gathering.

Conference Hotel and Meal Plan

Gathering will be held at the Tampa Marriott Westshore where we have negotiated a discounted rate of $85 per room including the option to book your room for several nights before or after Gathering if you want to spend a few days sightseeing in the Tampa area or stay for Synod. Note that St. Pete Pride (Florida’s largest Pride celebration) is June 25, 2011. Rooms may be booked by calling the hotel directly, 813-287-2555, or the Marriott reservation line, 800-228-9290, be sure to identify yourself as being in the Coalition for LGBT Concerns group.

The hotel is located at 1001 North Westshore Boulevard in Tampa’s Westshore area. The hotel provides a free shuttle to and from the Tampa International Airport (TPA), free parking and free high-speed Internet service in the guest rooms and public areas. It’s just three blocks from the Westshore Plaza Mall and a short, free hotel shuttle ride from the International Plaza. Clearwater Beach is a twenty mile drive from the hotel. Start your day off with your favorite specialty coffee beverage at the Starbucks coffee bar in lobby. All of the hotel's newly renovated guest rooms are equipped to meet your every need with 2-line cordless telephones, personal voicemail, high speed internet access, and 32-inch LCD HDTV flat screen televisions with connectivity panel to provide guests with enhanced video and audio.

Details about the hotel’s accommodations and facilities can be found online. Be sure to bring your swimsuit so you can enjoy the beautiful indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub. The facilities also include a fitness center and a sauna.

Attendees may also purchase a meal plan for $175 which includes two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and the National Gathering Banquet (all taxes and gratuities are included). Or you can opt for just the Banquet for $50. Other options for meals include the hotel’s restaurant and a number of casual dining options within a few blocks.

Travel and Event Expense Assistance

We are seeking financial contributions to an Assistance Fund to enable us to provide financial aid to folks who need help covering the cost of attending National Gathering. You may make a tax-deductible contribution to this Fund during the registration process or by calling the Coalition office. If you need financial assistance in order to attend Gathering, please contact the office and have your name placed on the list, until March 31^st, priority will be given to those who did not receive financial aid to attend last year’s National Gathering.

More information about the agenda for National Gathering will be posted as it becomes available on the Coalition’s website, www.ucccoalition.org. You may also contact the Coalition office at 216-861-0779 with additional questions.

National Gathering 2011

Join us June 27-30, 2011, in Tampa, FL!

National Gathering 2010

The Coalition celebrated 25 years of ONA at National Gathering 2010. Participants explored the theme, "Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body," July 14–17, 2010, in San Diego, CA.