Welcoming Congregation

At the Annual Meeting of June 1, 2003, our congregation voted YES on the following Welcoming Congregation resolution:

"Mindful of the Unitarian Universalist Association's commitment to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person and to promote acceptance of one another in our congregations;

Heeding our own Fellowship's mission to be an open and compassionate community;

And recognizing that religious doctrine and religious institutions have played large roles, both past and present, in perpetuating prejudice and misunderstanding toward those of us who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender;

We, the congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bellport, hereby declare our desire to be known as a WELCOMING CONGREGATION—a community in which we celebrate the lives, relationships, religious quests, and contributions of people regardless of affectional orientation or gender identification/expression.

We make this declaration while acknowledging that our work to dismantle heterosexism and homophobia is not complete and will continue, both within our own Unitarian Universalist community and in the wider society."

The Welcoming Congregation workshop series was developed by the UUA OBGLT (Unitarian Universalist Association Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Concerns). Visit the OBGLT page to learn more.

Help us stand up/speak out for BGLT rights, and reach out to Long Island's BGLT communities with our welcoming message. The UU Fellowship of Bellport's Welcoming Congregation committee invites your bright ideas and enthusiastic energy! Contact us at jrg123@optonline.net.