Interweave (LGBT)
First Unitarian church seeks to be enriched by the experiences of everyone in the human community. The following are some ways in which our community includes lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender persons.
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The Unitarian Universalist Association ordains gay and lesbian ministers.
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UUA ministers, including those at First Church, perform ceremonies of union for gay & lesbian couples.
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Gay & lesbian members of our congregation are active in every aspect of the church.
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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.
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Our congregation has an "" affinity group which gathers monthly.
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. 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.
Interweave met in September to get organized again for this church year with Gerry Parchman named chairperson. We see our mission as oriented mainly towards three different constituencies: 1) BGLT members or our own church community 2) BGLT visitors to our church, and 3) BGLT residents of Philadelphia who have not yet visited our church. 1) For the first mission, 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. 2) 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. 3) 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.
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