THE UCC AND THE LGBT COMMUNITY 

White other mainline Protestant denominations are struggling with the issue of gays and lesbians in the church, the United Church of Christ addressed the issue positively over 30 years ago when it ordained its first openly gay minister in 1972, the first of many.  And since then -- in statements by leaders, by votes of the General Synod of the UCC, in actions taken by local congregations, in word and in deed -- the United Church of Christ lives out its progressive heritage.

Local churches of the United Church of Christ are autonomous and make policy and theology decisions at the congregational level.  This is a legacy of the Congregationalist forbearers of the UCC.

The national United Church of Christ (not to be confused with the very conservative "Church of Christ" denomination) is at the forefront on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) issues.  In 1985 the General Synod called upon all congregations to welcome LGBT persons as full members and leaders of the church.  If congregations wish to state officially that they extend a welcome to all people -- regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity -- into the full life and leadership of their churches, they make a public written statement to that effect.  In the United Church of Christ, they are known as Open and Affirming churches.

Some notable items in UCC history regarding LGBT persons:   from various sources

• 1972:  Ordination of Rev. Bill Johnson, the first openly gay minister in the UCC.  Rev. Anne Holmes, the first openly lesbian minister in the UCC, was ordained in 1977.

• 1973:  United Church Coalition for LGBT Concerns was formed (as the UCC Gay Caucus).  Since then, it has received official standing at General Synods.

• 1975:  General Synod passed a resolution supporting equal protection under the law and full civil liberties for people of "all affectional or sexual preferences."

• 1977:  General Synod passed a resolution deploring the use of the Scriptures to generate hatred and violate the civil rights of gays and bisexuals and calling on churches to work for civil rights legislation in all levels of government.

• 1983:  General Synod asked regional UCC associations not to consider sexual orientation as a reason for denying a request for ordination.  It also declared that sexual orientation should not be a basis for discrimination within the UCC for volunteers or staff.

• 1985:  General Synod called on churches to adopt a Covenant of Openness and Affirmation to lesbian, gay, and bisexual people.  This launched the Open and Affirming Program within the UCC in 1987.

• 1987:  General Synod declared opposition to all "sodomy laws" and resolved to witness publicly against laws criminalizing homosexuality whenever meeting in a state where a sodomy law is still on the books.

• 1991:  General Synod called on Virginia to repeal its sodomy laws.  It also passed a resolution in which it "boldly affirms, celebrates and embraces the gifts of ministry of lesbian, gay and bisexual persons."

• 1993:  General Synod called on churches to provide even greater leadership to end discrimination against gays and lesbians and denounced the military's ban on gay soldiers.

• 1994:  Seattle church called on a gay couple to serve as co-pastors.  Also in 1994, UCC leaders participated in "March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Equal Rights and Liberation."  Rev. Paul H. Sherry, UCC President, was one of the participants.

• 1998:  Rev. Paul H. Sherry, UCC President, issues a strongly-worded pastoral letter entitled Now, No Condemnation: The Rights of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Persons in Society and Their Membership and Ministry in the Church.

• 1999:  Executive Council of the UCC sent a General Synod resolution entitled Justice and Civil Rights for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Persons directly to the appropriate UCC agencies for implementation.  Also in 1999, the General Synod passed a resolution entitled Prevention of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Suicide.

• 2003:  General Synod affirmed the participation and ministry of transgender persons in the UCC and called for civil and human rights.

• 2005:  General Synod passed a resolution supporting equal marriage rights, regardless of gender.  The resolution was endorsed by Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President of the UCC.

• 2007:  General Synod reaffirmed the same-gender marriage stance of the previous General Synod.  Also, the Florida Conference of the UCC voted to encourage and promote an understanding of the Open and Affirming process through educational efforts at the local and regional levels and through the UCC Florida Conference LGBT Coalition ministry team.  Delegates voted in near unanimity for the resolution, and no one spoke against it.