6900 Stenton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19150, USA

Welcoming Congregation

The Eight Principles

  1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
  3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
  6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
  7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
  8. And our Eighth Principle… We affirm and promote the following 8th Principle:Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by building a diverse, multicultural Beloved Community that by our actions accountable dismantle racism and other oppression’s in ourselves and our institutions.

We Are A Welcoming Congregation 

Being a Welcoming Congregation – those who publicly and successfully welcome bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people have the following qualities:

  • Include and address the needs of b/g/l/t persons at every level of congregational life-in worship, in programs, in social occasions, and in rites of passage-welcoming not only their presence, but the gifts and particularities of their lives as well.
  • Assume the presence of b/g/l/t people and celebrate this diversity by having inclusive language and content in their worship.
  • Fully incorporate the experiences of b/g/l/t persons throughout all programs, including religious education. Include an affirmation and nondiscrimination clause in our by-laws and other official documents affecting all dimensions of congregational life, including membership, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals.
  • Engage in outreach into the b/g/l/t community in its advertising and by actively supporting b/g/l/t affirmative groups.
  • Offer congregational and ministerial support for union and memorial services for b/g/l/t persons, and for celebrations of family definitions.
  • Celebrate the lives of all people and welcome same-sex couples, recognizing their committed relationships, and equally affirm displays of caring and affections without regard to sexual orientation.
  • Seek to nurture ongoing dialogue between bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and heterosexual persons and to create deeper trust and sharing.
  • Encourage the presence of a chapter of Interweave.
  • Affirm and celebrate b/g/l/t issues and history during the church year.
  • Attend to legislative developments and work to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society.
  • Speak out when the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people are at stake.

— from the UUA website