|
•
Back to ONA Program
What is The Coalition?
What do we do? (Vision/Mission)
Who are the staff and Council?
Open and Affirming (ONA)
Youth and Young Adults (YYA)
Resources and materials
Newsletters and other news
Events (ours and others')
How to get involved (PDF)
How to donate
Find an ONA church/setting
Additional contacts/directory
Network with other members
Web links
Donate
NOW!
|
Adopted by General Synod XV,
UCC, Ames, Iowa, July 2, 1985
Whereas, the Apostle
Paul said that, as Christians, we are many members, but we are one body
in Christ (Rom. 12:4), and Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves
(Mk. 12:31) without being judgmental (Mt. 7:1-2) nor disparaging of others
(Lk. 18:9-14); and
Whereas, recognizing that many persons of lesbian, gay and bisexual
orientation are already members of the church through baptism and confirmation
and that these people have talents and gifts to offer the United Church
of Christ, and that the UCC has historically affirmed a rich diversity
in its theological and biblical perspectives; and
Whereas, the Tenth through Fourteenth General Synods have adopted
resolutions encouraging the inclusion, and affirming the human rights,
of lesbian, gay and bisexual people within the UCC; and
Whereas, the Executive Council of the United Church of Christ
adopted in 1980 "a program of Equal Employment Opportunity which
does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of...sexual
orientation"; and
Whereas, many parts of the church have remained conspicuously
silent despite the continuing injustice of institutionalized discrimination,
instances of senseless violence and setbacks in civil rights protection
by the Supreme Court; and
Whereas, the church has often perpetuated discriminatory practices
and has been unwilling to affirm the full humanness of clergy, laity and
staff with lesbian, gay and bisexual orientation, who experience isolation,
ostracism and fear of (or actual) loss of employment; and
Whereas, we are called by Christ's example, to proclaim release
to the captives and set at liberty the oppressed (Lk. 4:18); and
Whereas, examples of covenant of Openness and Affirmation and
Non-discrimination Policy may be found in the following:
Example 1:
COVENANT OF OPENNESS AND AFFIRMATION
We know, with Paul, that as Christians, we are many members, but are
one body in Christ-members of one another, and that we all have different
gifts. With Jesus, we affirm that we are called to love our neighbors
as ourselves, that we are called to act as agents of reconciliation
and wholeness within the world and within the church itself.
We know that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are often scorned by
the church, and devalued and discriminated against both in the church
and in society. We commit ourselves to caring and concern for lesbian,
gay and bisexual sisters and brothers by affirming that:
-
we believe that lesbian,
gay and bisexual people share with all others the worth that comes
from being unique individuals;
-
we welcome gay, lesbian
and bisexual people to join our congregation in the same spirit
and manner used in the acceptance of any new members;
-
we recognize the presence
of ignorance, fear and hatred in the church and in our culture,
and covenant to not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation,
nor any other irrelevant factor, and we seek to include and support
those who, because of this fear and prejudice, find themselves in
exile from a spiritual community;
-
we seek to address the
needs and advocate the concerns of lesbian, gay and bisexual people
in our church and in society by actively encouraging church instrumentalities
and secular governmental bodies to adopt and implement policies
of non-discrimination; and
-
we join together as a covenantal
community, to celebrate and share our common communion and the reassurance
that we are indeed created by God, reconciled by Christ and empowered
by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Example #2:
INCLUSIVE NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
We do not discriminate against any person, group or organization in
hiring, promotion, membership, appointment, use of facility, provision
of services or funding on the basis of race, gender, age, sexual orientation,
faith, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, or physical disability.
THEREFORE, the
Fifteenth General Synod of the United Church of Christ encourages a policy
of non-discrimination in employment, volunteer service and membership
policies with regard to sexual orientation; encourages associations, Conferences
and all related organizations to adopt a similar policy; and encourages
the congregations of the United Church of Christ to adopt a non-discrimination
policy and a Covenant of Openness and Affirmation of persons of lesbian,
gay and bisexual orientation within the community of faith.
back
to top
|
Subscribe to the electronic newsletter,
Ripples, via the button at left.