Action Steps to Become a Welcoming Organization

Education

Offer religious education that incorporates bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender life issues, including the workshop series from the Welcoming Congregation Handbook.
Promote participation by the organization's leaders and members in the Welcoming Organization Program as well as in the Welcoming Congregation Program in their individual congregations.
Offer organization-wide workshop program(s) and/or conference(s), with follow-up opportunities for study and reflection.
Encourage the use of the Unitarian Universalist sexuality education program, Our Whole Lives by member congregations, when appropriate.

Form a broad-based Welcoming Organization committee to offer programs and monitor progress.
Adjust organizational bylaws and other relevant documents to include an affirmative non-discrimination clause concerning membership, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals.
Use inclusive language and content as a regular part of worship services, meetings and programs. Provide worship coordinators and speakers with guidelines on inclusive language.
Welcome bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender persons in the organization's brochure(s).
Ensure that applications and other relevant forms have anti-oppressive wording such as "gender______" rahter than "M/F" and "relational status_______" rather than "married/partnered".
Ensure that publications, public information, and programming reflect the requested status of any individual as s/he sees appropriate; recognize same-gender couples in directories and other publications as they desire.

11. Celebrate and affirm bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender issues and history during the church year (possibly including Gay Pride Week in June or National Coming Out Day in October).
12. Participate in and/or support efforts to create justice, freedom, and equality for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people in the larger society.
13. Establish and maintain contact with Welcoming Congregation efforts in local congregations; offer support and promote dialogue and interaction.
14. Advertise in appropriate press and/or other media that reaches the bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender communities.

For more information contact obgltc @ uua.org.

Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.