LGBTQ

Interweave is the support and advocacy group for the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer community (and our straight allies) both within First Church and to the larger community outside our walls. We strive to promote and increase the understanding, equality, and civil and human rights of all l/g/b/t/q people.

We are a certified Welcoming Congregation!

Interweave is dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of our members, as well as to involving our church community in the larger l/g/b/t life of the city and inviting the l/g/b/t community to participate in church life. First Unitarian church seeks to be enriched by the experiences of everyone in the human community.

The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person

The following are some ways in which our community includes lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender persons.

• The Unitarian Universalist Association ordains gay and lesbian ministers.
• All Unitarian Universalist ministers, including those at First Church, perform ceremonies of union for gay & lesbian couples.
• Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members of our congregation are active in every aspect of the church.
• In 2004, First Church completed a "Welcoming Congregation" process
  which included introspection and action statements. At the end of
  that process we hung a banner on Chestnut Street which serves as an
  enduring symbol of our active support for the GLBT community.
• Our Minister, Reverend Nate Walker is an openly gay man and is very active in the Marriage Equality movement.
• Interweave is a membership organization affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association, dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of Unitarian Universalists who are confronting oppression as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender
  persons, and their heterosexual allies; and facilitates the
  celebration of the culture and lives of its members.
• Unitarian Universalists in general are supportive of issues important to the bisexual/gay/lesbian/transgendered (BGLT) community, and our church is affirming of the worth and dignity of all people. BGLT members are generally integrated into the life of
  the church, and the church performs ceremonies of union for couples
  who are interested.

Faith in Action

Interweave is also dedicated to involving our church community in the BGLT community, and also invites the BGLT community to participate in our church community. We see our mission as oriented mainly towards three different constituencies:

• BGLT members or our own church community: Interweave fosters the integration of BGLT members of our own church community into our church family and provides them with support when needed. We continue to participate/sponsor Sunday brunches every Sunday
  after service. We ask for suggestions about the best way to make
  this attractive to all interested, including straight members of
  the church. We also will have regular monthly meetings to provide
  information and get feedback from group members. We will inform our
  church community of issues and ongoing activities in the
  Philadelphia and national BGLT communities. Input for how best to
  do this is requested from all church members. Every February, the
  national Interweave organization holds a Convo in different cities.
  These meetings are always informative and interesting, with
  attendees from all over the country. We would like for members of
  our church to attend.

• BGLT visitors to our church: Interweave reaches out to all visitors at our church, and encourages all church members to greet all visitors in a friendly way to make them feel at home in our extended family. Brochures about our community and sign-up
  sheets for activities are available during Coffee Hour after the
  service. Also at Coffee Hour, members of Interweave are available
  for discussions with BGLT visitors who want to know more about our
  faith, or who are struggling with their own spiritual identity and
  would welcome guidance about how our church can satisfy their
  spirtual and religious needs. We sponsored the Welcoming
  Congregation Workshop in our congregation that led to the hanging
  of the welcoming banner in front of the church. If needed, support
  groups could be convened.

• BGLT residents of Philadelphia who have not yet visited our church: Interweave reaches out to the wider BGLT community, through education and participation in community events. We use our monthly meetings at church for those interested in becoming
  involved in the activities of the BGLT community of Philadelphia.
  We have information tables about our church and about Interweave at
  Philadelphia BGLT community events such as Gay Pride in June. Other
  possible activities include a book discussion group to discuss
  relevant books (e.g. Sex and the Sacred: Gay Identity and Spiritual
  Growth by Daniel A Helminiak), potlucks, sponsoring a group to Gay
  Bingo, and interacting with other religious BGLT groups in
  Philadelphia. Other ideas are welcome.