UCC at Valley Forge - Open and Affirming Educational Process

Dear Members and Friends of UCC/VF,

Sponsored by the Board of Elders, and with Council’s approval, our church is ready to embark on an educational process to explore the United Church of Christ’s “Open and Affirming” designation for our church. As defined by the 1985 General Synod (national delegate body of the UCC) which adopted the Open and Affirming Resolution; an Open and Affirming (ONA) designation for a church in the UCC means that a church has “…publicly declared that “gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are welcome in its full life and ministry (e.g. membership, leadership, employment, etc.). It bespeaks a spirit of hospitality and a willingness to live out that welcome in meaningful ways.”

“Why are we doing this?” is an anticipated response to the Board of Elders’ decision to be engaged in an ONA study. One of the reasons is that in April 2006, two members of our church approached the Board of Elders with a request that our church consider becoming an Open and Affirming congregation. As with all requests that come to the Elders, this one was given serious consideration. The Elders created an Open and Affirming subcommittee whose members have met on a regular basis since 2006 to study numerous resources about the ONA process in UCC congregations. In addition, the sub committee has met with and has interviewed members from other UCC churches who have undergone this study process, many of which have taken from one to two years to complete.

Most important, the primary impetus for the Board of Elders’ support of an ONA study process for our church is that we have a clear Biblical mandate to be intentional and vigilant in offering Christ’s invitation and hospitality to all of God’s children to be a part of our worshipping community. An extravagant welcome is important, especially to those who have not felt welcomed in other faith communities. An ONA designation is one more way our church can intentionally and visibly share its rich heritage of hospitality and welcome to all.

Throughout their planning sessions, the ONA sub committee has been intentional in trying to design a study process that encourages the participation of every member of our church. In this packet, you will find a proposed timeline for the study, resources that address the history of the ONA designation in the UCC, common frequently asked questions about ONA, how the ONA designation might impact our church life, and samples of ONA statements that other UCC churches have written and adopted. You will notice that these statements range from rather narrowly focused to very broadly inclusive, and yet they each meet the national church’s criteria for a valid ONA statement. Also in the packet is a listing of Internet links to relevant UCC websites about ONA in the United Church of Christ.

In the study process, a significant amount of time will be spent in settings as a church family, where we will explore biblical passages that speak to the subject of homosexuality. How does the Bible inform us in our discussions about inclusion of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community? The Elders are in strong agreement that a biblical foundation for our study process and ensuing discussions in a variety of formats is imperative.

We hope that you will participate in this study as much as you possibly can. God truly is still speaking to us. May we have the patience, wisdom and Christian love to listen…and to respond as God would have us respond.

In Christ’s service,

The Open and Affirming Study Sub Committee of the Board of Elders

Lynn Bigelow
Valerie Emerson
Rich Lanzilotti
Vicki McKeefery
Russ Moore
Catherine Smith

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