Open and Affirming

WHAT IS OPEN AND AFFIRMING?

ONA is "shorthand" for Open and Affirming, the designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the United Church of Christ which make public statements of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

The 185th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference adopted the first conference level Open and Affirming resolution within the United Church of Christ in 1984. (Read the text here.)pdf

The ONA movement in the United Church of Christ (UCC) began, on a national level, in 1985 when the General Synod (the national delegate body of the UCC) adopted the resolution, "Calling on United Church of Christ Congregations to Declare Themselves Open and Affirming" (Read the text here.)pdf

Building on this extravagant welcome, the 2003 General Synod adopted a resolution "Affirming the Participation and Ministry of Transgender People within the United Church of Christ and Supporting Their Civil and Human Rights." (Read the text here.)pdf

The basis of an Open and Affirming statement is that

"people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions" (or "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people") are welcome in the full life and ministry of the church."

Note: This language reflects the change in ONA policy.  Effective July 14, 2010, all ONA statements will need to include “gender identity and gender expression” (or “transgender”) in addition to “sexual orientation” (or “lesbian, gay and bisexual persons”).  The Coalition (the keeper of the ONA listing) strongly encourages churches submitting statements before that date to include “gender identity and gender expression” as well.

ONA STATEMENTS - EXAMPLES

The Coalition provides excellent examples of various ways that a church can state its welcome while including the necessary elements.  Please note that nearly all churches choose to expand their welcome to name other groups that have been oppressed and include them in their welcome statement. Go here for samples.

ONA IN THE MA CONFERENCE

There are now 100 ONA churches in the Massachusetts Conference (which includes one new church start that is ONA).  There are also 3 settings that have adopted an Open and Affirming statement: Massachusetts Conference Annual Meeting, the Andover Newton Theological School, and the Harvard Divinity School. There are more than 840 ONA congregations in the United Church of Christ nation-wide. In deciding whether to become an ONA church, most congregations enter a study process that involves prayer, reflection, educational events and discussion designed to involve all members and friends of the congregation. (To find a list of Massachusetts ONA congregations, go here.

RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE FOR THE ONA PROCESS

The MA Conference Open and Affirming (ONA) Task Team

The Task Team is available to provide guidance and assistance to local churches exploring this issue, and can provide consultation, referrals and workshops.  The Task Team can assist you in designing an ONA process and in creating an ONA statement that expresses your church’s welcome and also meets the criteria of the UCC Coalition. We encourage you to contact the Task Team so that your process will be a smooth one.

ONA Task Team 2010

Ms. Kathie Carpenter, Chair kacarp@comcast.net

Mr. Douglas Anderson  douginmass@gmail.com  

The Rev. Ms. Judith Arnold  jarnoldfccw@verizon.net  

The Rev. Dr. Frances A. Bogle  fbog@aol.com  

Ms. M. Virginia Curll  curllg@verizon.net
Mr. Robert Ochoa-Schutz  rochoas@charter.net

Staff Person The Rev. Dr. Peter Wells wellsp@macucc.org
Staff Assistant Ms. Karen Methot methotk@macucc.org

NEW RESOURCE: Click here for questions and answers about the ONA process and important information about new criteria for ONA statements(pdf)

The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns

Resources for local churches considering becoming ONA, and other information can be found through the web site of the United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns. Click here.

For links to specific pages on that site, please see our LGBT Resources page.

Open and Affirming Study Packet This study packet has a multi-session curriculum for use in local churches that seek to understand the open and affirming process in the UCC. Includes: Attitudes about sexuality; Understanding sexual orientation; Sexism, heterosexism and homophobia; Family and relationships; Youth and gay/lesbian/bisexual issues; Bisexual; Transgender; and the ONA process. The cost is $59. To order, contact the UCC Coalition.