What is a Welcoming Congregation?  

UUOCC has undertaken an intensive 2-year education process to ensure that Gay, Lesbian Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer/Questioning (GLBTIQ) people find a safe and comfortable place to share and show themselves, their lives, and their relationships freely and without fear. In 2006, our congregation received official recognition from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) as an official Welcoming Congregation.

Why has our congregation gone through a Welcoming Congregation process?  

We realize that churches can be the most gay-unfriendly places in America. Much anti-gay feeling, legislation, and violence is couched in “religious” language. So it is particularly hard for GLBTIQ people to feel safe in a church setting. It’s not enough to say, “We welcome everyone.” Too many GLBTIQ people have gone to such churches, only to find themselves villified and condemned. That’s why we take actions that GLBTIQ people can see and hear as specifically welcoming to them.

What has our congregation done to become more welcoming?

We’ve adjusted our bylaws to affirm and promote the participation of everyone in all our activities, including membership, programming, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals, without regard to race, color, gender, gender expression, physical ability, affectional or sexual orientation, age, or national origin.

We’ve developed guidelines for speakers on inclusive and sensitive language.

We advertise our ability to perform religious services of civil union.

We participate in Gay Pride Days in Asbury Park. Click here to see pictures

We present church services to educate ourselves about GLBTIQ issues.

We raise money for GLBTIQ youth.

We foster connections to other local gay-friendly churches, to the local PFLAG chapter, and to a gay and lesbian seniors support group.

What is Interweave?

We became a chapter of the national organization, Interweave, in 2007. Our chapter is dormant, not due to lack of interest, but because our GLBTIQ members now hold leadership positions throughout the congregation.

For more information on Welcoming Congregations, see UUA Welcoming Info.