The Welcoming Congregation

			The Welcoming Congregation

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Resources for Affirming Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Persons

Editor: Scott Alexander

Publisher: Unitarian Universalist Association

Pub. Date: 1990

Available From: UUA Bookstore

Theme and Description The resource manual for The Welcoming Congregation, a voluntary program that helps congregations become more inclusive by looking at themselves and homophobia, and by choosing to welcome gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. This manual includes an attitude questionnaire, leader guidelines, 10 workshops, and extensive background reading.

Goals for Participants

To learn more about themselves
To learn more about their congregation in terms of inclusion
To actively make their congregation more welcoming to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and others.

Age Range Adult

Size of Group The program is intended to involve as many people in the congregation as possible, including those in leadership roles.

Space Requirements The Welcoming Congregation (TWC) is a congregational process that is not limited to one space. Participants design the program, which may involve small and large meeting spaces, worship, committee meetings, films, and recreational activities.

Number of Sessions 10 workshops; flexible design

Length of Sessions About 2 hours; congregational processes vary widely

Leader Training The Welcoming Congregation is introduced in the congregation by specially trained co-leaders invited by the congregation. Interested people in the congregation coordinate the follow-up.

Leader Preparation After the introduction by trained TWC leaders, people committed to including and affirming gay, lesbian, and bisexual people work to continue the process of education and action.

Strengths

Offers good workshop models ? Includes extensive resources
Has a flexible design ? Provides effective consciousness-raising activities
Moves participants toward action
Leads to the designation "A Welcoming Congregation."

Limitations

Although this is not really a limitation, the workshop requires a commitment to begin with trained co-leaders available through the UUA Office of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns, phone (617) 742-2100
Requires congregations to design their own process.

Adaptability

This is not one program, but a resource manual to be adapted by each community
Older teens can be included fully in the process; all-church programming can also include children.

Unitarian Universalist Values Deepens understanding of and commitment to UU Principles, particularly the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; and a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.