If you are reading this page, chances are you (and maybe others in your faith setting) are thinking about an Open and Affirming (ONA) process. May you know peace and hope in the Spirit as you set out and move more deeply into this time of discerning God’s leading.

A key word in the above title is “your.” There is really no such thing as the ONA process. At its best, an ONA process responds to the nature and needs of the UCC setting in which it occurs. Therefore, careful planning for and flexibility during your process are important. This is an opportunity to focus on learning new things (and unlearn a few old ones, perhaps) about aspects of life that involve us all: sexuality, spirituality, the meaning of being “church,” relationships, and more. Churches/settings sometimes get bogged down in the “concerns” about ONA...keep in mind the possibilities and joys, too!

UCC settings can and do engage in all kinds of activities to further their discernment of the Spirit’s leading in regard to joining the ONA witness. They often incorporate some or all of these:

• The “ONA Study Packet” and other Coalition resources
  (See our full resource list)

• Bible study (See Claiming the Promise)

• Sermons by pastors and lay people

• Participation in justice work (e.g. ordination, equal marriage, adoption rights, etc. for LGBT persons)

• Personal testimonies by LGBT persons and their families, folks from other ONA churches, etc.

• Small conversation groups

• Updates about and prayer for the process during Sunday worship

• Videos (See our video list)

• Panels or presentations on LGBT/ONA topics

• and more!

The Coalition’s website has a great deal of ONA information, including the Open and Affirming resolution of General Synod 1985, Guidelines for ONA Statements (important reading!), sample ONA statements, and a Frequently Asked Questions section. Chances are if you found this page, you’ve seen some of the other items. If not, take a look!

ONA Resources - there are numerous resources available from the The Coalition’s ONA program. Please review our ONA resource list.

If your congregation is taking its first steps towards an ONA covenant, please contact the Coalition’s national office at office@ucccoalition.org or call us at 216-861-0779, and we’ll be glad to help you with resources and the services of an ONA consultant who can support your church on its journey.

The national UCC website, too, is a good source of LGBT/ONA materials (see www.ucc.org/lgbt). The Executive for Heath and Wholeness is another great  resource.

Below are some initial suggestions for developing a process that come from the experience of others, but they are only suggestions. Along with others in your setting, you are invited to read this and other preparation material and, then, through conversation and prayer shape opportunities which open you to the Spirit’s guidance as you consider joining the Open and Affirming witness. You may choose to mix and match various ideas and add your own creative approaches (which we’d like to know about!) Whatever you do together, may you experience again the joyful challenge of living Christ’s love in the world!

Assess your readiness for an ONA conversation.

Gather a group of persons interested in ONA for conversation and prayer.

Do not expect one person to initiate a process alone; the support and input of others is vital. Clergy support is also important and pastors are often involved along with lay people, but many churches find it important that the process be strongly lay led.(This initial group may decide to oversee the process or be responsible for finding persons who will do so. Or the church’s Council (Cabinet, etc. may appoint a group for this purpose.)

Explore your church’s history in regard to social justice, sexuality conversation, etc.

Are you able to talk together about challenging subjects? If not, what are some of the reasons for that? Do you anticipate this being a difficult conversation for your church or one about which they are excited? How might these underlying dynamics be addressed, preparing the way for you to begin an ONA study? (Sermons? Small groups? One to one conversation? Or...)

Sometimes a conversation with a person skilled in group dynamics and/or conflict management can be helpful as you begin your planning. This may help you anticipate and avoid some difficulties. Or you may wish to do some reading together. See the suggested titles below and contact your Conference office for suggestions of persons and resources. 

Consider beginning with a conversation about gender and human sexuality (not ONA, per se).

This develops a broader context for conversation about ONA’s central focus— the welcome and inclusion of persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual/same-gender-loving (sexual orientation) and transgender (gender identity/expression). Furthermore, consideration of gender and human sexuality allows people to see that this conversation is about “all of us” (not “those people”). Our experiences as embodied, sexual persons, the struggles and delights of relationships, and how our faith speaks to all of us about such matters touches all our lives. If your setting has not ever (or recently) offered the opportunity to explore these topics, consider doing this before moving into an ONA discussion.

Excellent resources and advice are available from national UCC staff in the Office of Children, Families, and Human Sexuality Advocacy.

These ideas may help you focus your work:

Keep a faith-centered approach.

ONA is about what it means to be the church—the Body of Christ. Other themes include: how we understand human sexuality/relationship in light of creation’s diversity, Biblical interpretation and authority, baptism as the criteria for inclusion in the church, Christ’s command that we love one another, and our call to do justice. Yes, there often are what some consider “political” ramifications to living as an Open and Affirming community. But what to some is “political” is to others the work of  “doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God.” (Micah 6:6-7). It means working in company with the Spirit to see that God’s people of every color, age, ability, gender identity or expression, and economic circumstance—whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or heterosexual—are equal in dignity and opportunity in church and society.

Recognize ONA is one aspect of Extravagant Welcome!

ONA is focused on preparing a UCC church or other setting to better understand and fully include LGBT persons in the life and ministries of the church. This does not mean, however, that a setting’s statement must be restricted to welcome in regard to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. ONA is one aspect of the wide, extravagant welcome in the UCC. In their initial ONA study process, churches/settings  concentrate on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, homophobia and heterosexism, the spectrum of gender identity, etc. in order to ensure that they have a strong foundation for living out an ONA welcome. But this process frequently raises broader questions about the church’s welcome in relation to other identities: color, age, abilities, etc. We encourage churches to explore these so that people may be welcomed “in the wholeness” of who they are! (In this regard, national UCC materials about being a “Multiracial/Multicultural” and “Accessible to All” may be very useful (see the “Getting Ready” section above). And expressing a wide welcome in an ONA statement is fine. (See sample ONA statements on this website) 

• ORGANIZE a group to “shepherd” the process (This could a standing body in your church or a group selected to serve in this way.) It is very helpful for this group to spend some time reviewing ONA materials so they have a good understanding of the ONA vision and process ideas to present to others.

• INVOLVE leadership (Council, Deacons, Boards, etc.) by presenting an ONA overview and asking their endorsement of church/setting-wide ONA study, if that would be helpful.

• PRESENT ONA to the whole church/setting. Ask for a vote to support the study process itself or agree together (using a litany or other ritual during worship) to pray and discuss this together. Encourage the congregation’s participation in whatever way is meaningful.

• BE  SURE people know this is an ongoing process...the study is just the beginning, and should an affirmative decision about being ONA occur, that is only one more step in a continuing process of learning and witness. (This to counter the “We voted! Whew, that’s over” idea!)

• OFFER various opportunities for learning and discussion: Bible study, panels, lectures, videos, sermons, plays, small groups for reading and conversation, etc. in morning and evening sessions.

• PREPARE an ONA Statement - this might be drafted by a small group and then should be circulated to the whole congregation/setting for comment. When a final text is ready, it should be sent to the whole church/setting again prior to the date of decision on adopting it. If you wish to have your ONA statement reviewed before taking it to a vote (an option, not required), please send it to the UCC Coalition office at ONA@UCCcoalition.org. 

• ANNOUNCE the date/location of an ONA decision ahead of time. This is often done during an Annual Meeting of the church. It may be adopted by vote, consensus, or whatever process is acceptable to the setting and allows the statement to speak on behalf of it.

• REPORT your church/setting’s action to the ONA Program of The Coalition. Send to: ONACoord@UCCcoalition.org.  (Send: Text of statement, date, body which acted, and a sentence saying the church/setting  requests that it be publicly listed as ONA.) When all information is received, we will a) rejoice! b) post the setting on our website, notify the national UCC and Welcoming Church groups, etc. 

• INCLUDE  both lesbian, gay, bisexual (sexual orientation) and transgender (gender identity and gender expression) topics/experience in your process. These topics reflect encouragement from General Synod 1985 (sexual orientation) and General Synod 2003 (gender identity/expression). Both are part of the “ONA Study Packet” materials.

• LISTEN. Don’t RUSH. Take the time needed to let people share their ideas and feelings. If people feel “railroaded” by an unduly brief process they may be more resistant to living out an ONA witness even if the church adopts an ONA statement. ONA, like our Christian witness in general, is about word and deed!

• IDENTIFY/SPEAK to “real issues.” Respond to the questions and need for information that people express. 

• BE FLEXIBLE -  change, add to your process activities as you go along in order to respond to ideas, concerns etc. that are voiced. Offer various ways for people to express their suggestions, hopes, questions, and so forth (e.g. a comment box, pastor available to talk, etc.).

• CARE for everyone during the process: those who  favor ONA, those who don’t, and those who are struggling. Encourage people to pray for one another and the Spirit’s leading as your process unfolds.

• BE OF GOOD COURAGE and know that through your prayer, study, and conversation, you are involved in a vital aspect of your life together in Christ—discerning your witness to God’s love and justice.

• BE IN TOUCH if we may be of help!

Fostering Dialogue Across Divides: A Nuts and Bolts Guide from the Public Conversations Project. A basic, thorough guidebook for dialogue. 2006  www.publicconversations.org  (Print and electronic versions) 617-923-1216.

listening to the spirit: A Handbook for Discernment (What is the Gospel Message to Our Church as We Relate to Gay and Lesbian Christian?) Chalice Press, 2001. A suggested process grounded in prayer and theology from the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.)

Scripture & Discernment: Decision Making In The Church by Luke Timothy Johnson. Abingdon Press, 1996. In the power of the Spirit, exploring how God is at work in our lives and our direction for the future. 

talking about homosexuality: a congregational resource (holy conversations series) Olivet, Turney, and West. The Pilgrim Press, 2005. A workbook for theological conversation and growth in light of “a faith that does justice.”

Is there a resource that you have found helpful in shaping your process? Let us know!

Thank you!