welcoming-congregationWe are a Welcoming Congregation, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This means we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people.

As a Welcoming Congregation we have pledged to:

  • honor the lives of all people and equally affirm displays of caring and affection without regard for sexual orientation.
  • celebrate diversity by using inclusive language and content in worship.
  • incorporate an understanding of the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual,  transgender, and queer persons throughout all of our programs, including religious education.
  • affirm and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues and history.
  • affirm marriage equality and conduct same-sex weddings.
  • advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, promoting justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society. We speak out when the rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are at stake.

One of the principles of the Unitarian Universalist faith is the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The AUUF, as a Welcoming Congregation, welcomes bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people into our community.

We strive to:

  • Include and address the needs of b/g/l/t persons at every level of congregational life in worship, in programs, in social occasions, and in rites of passages welcoming not only their presence, but the gifts and particularities of their lives as well.
  • Fully incorporate the experiences of b/g/l/t persons throughout all programs, including religious education.
  • Offer congregational and ministerial support for union and memorial services for b/g/l/t persons, and for celebrations of family definitions.
  • Seek to nurture ongoing dialogue between bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and heterosexual persons and to create deeper trust and sharing.
  • Speak out when the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people are at stake.
  • Celebrate the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.