What Is "Open and Affirming"?

Within the United Church of Christ, an Open and Affirming (ONA) Church is one that has publically declared that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) persons are welcome into the full life and ministry of the congregation.  It witnesses to a spirit of hospitality and a willingness to live out that welcome in visible and meaningful ways.  For information on the ONA movement in the United Church Christ, please visit the National UCC website: www.ucc.org/lgbt. 

ONA at Middleton Community UCC

Middleton Community UCC is NOW OFFICIALLY an 
Open and Affirming Church.  On Sunday, January 27, 2008,
members of MCC voted unanimously to become
an Open and Affirming congregation.

OPEN AND AFFIRMING STATEMENT

 We, the Congregation of Middleton Community Church, United Church of Christ, are a community of faith-keeping and faith-seeking people who affirm that every person has worth as a unique creation made in the image of God. We recognize, celebrate and give thanks for the many diverse gifts of God among us.
 
As followers of Jesus Christ, we openly befriend all people and welcome them to the table as he did. Jesus affirmed all people, respecting and cherishing them as children of a loving God. So shall we.
 
With God's Grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, as well as racial, ethnic, or social-economic background. We believe that through our diversity, everyone can grow and practice a unity of faith that transcends our differences.
 
We welcome all to share in the full life and leadership, ministry, and fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and blessings  of participation in our congregation. Following the example of Jesus Christ, we hereby declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming Church.

ONA Resources used at MCC:

ONA Bible Study

Pennings Ministry of the Foot in the Door

Welcoming the Stranger

Woosley_Word and Spirit

Woosley_Interpretation

Kuhn_Discerning the Word

Kuhn_Holy Scripture

Kuhn_Recasting Torah

Additional Resources:

Wisconsin Conference UCC Gay and Lesbian Task Force:  http://www.wcucc.org/GayLesb.htm

Biblical Witness Fellowship of the UCC:            http://www.biblicalwitness.org/

General Information on Religious Tolerance and Spirituality: http://www.religioustolerance.org/                          http://www.beliefnet.com/