Welcoming Congregations Program

Paint Branch UU Church, Adelphi, MD, congregant members make a human rainbow to show their pride as Welcoming Congregation.

Paint Branch UU Church, Adelphi, MD, is a proud Welcoming Congregation

We know that religious spaces haven’t always been welcoming places for all people, especially when it comes to gender and sexuality. We are out to change that.

For 25 years we have worked hard to make sure lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are full members of our faith communities. Being welcoming means striving for radical inclusion, and creating spaces that honor every part of our identities, backgrounds, and experiences. Find a welcoming congregation near you.

The Welcoming Congregation Program

In the 1980s and 90s, when the word “welcoming” became a code word for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, the Unitarian Universalist Association launched a Welcoming Congregation Program to help us learn how to undo homophobia—and later, transphobia (prejudice against transgender people)—in our hearts and minds, our congregations, and our communities.

Today, most Unitarian Universalist congregations are recognized Welcoming Congregations. The spiritual practice of welcome is a very important one to our faith community.

Starting a New Program

The Work of Welcome is Never Finished

The work of welcome is never done. Welcoming Congregations can learn more about how to be truly welcoming to all people by renewing their commitment.

The UU Church of Studio City, CA, celebrated the launch of their Welcoming Congregation Program during a 2011 National Coming Out Day service.

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