We are a Welcoming Congregation
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota has earned the
designation of “Welcoming Congregation.”
History: The Welcome Committee held workshops for a year during 2006-2007, offering both day and night sessions, learning and earning the support of the general congregation. In 2007, with approval by a unanimous vote at the annual congregational meeting, we petitioned the UUA for the Welcoming Congregation designation. It was promptly approved and our plaque hangs proudly just inside the front door of our sanctuary.
How We Live Our Values: Our church by-laws state that we “do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, occupation, gender, past religious affiliation, or sexual orientation.” Church membership includes bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender persons (b/g/l/t) as active members. Special recognition as a Welcoming Congregation allows us to
- open our church as safe space for b/g/l/t persons;
- take positions on oppression in our larger communities; and
- accomplish outreach.
Interweave: The church supports the presence of a chapter of Interweave Continental, a membership organization actively working toward ending oppression based on sexual orientation and gender identity, recognizing that we will not be free until all oppression is a thing of the past. Through the local Interweave chapter we
- attend to legislative developments and work to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society in cooperation with our social justice committee;
- engage in outreach into the b/g/l/t community through advertising and by actively supporting b/g/l/t affirming groups;
- provide heightened awareness of human diversity through monthly movie offerings;
- hold monthly meetings with guest speakers
In simplest terms, the Welcoming Congregation actively celebrates the lives of all people and their ways of expressing love for each other. As a Welcoming Congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota lives those values.
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