UUFP     

From Lauren Fureymoore

Welcoming Congregation Committee Annual Report

July 1 2007 through Jun 30, 2008

 

 

Committee Members:  Lauren Fureymoore, Chair; Jacquie Ream, Pam Tenney, Judy Remsberg, Bryan Hess, Steve Kadar 

 

Purpose: The Welcoming Congregation Committee was established in 2006-2007 for the purpose of presenting UUA-approved spiritual and educational resources/counseling to gage congregational position on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues; fulfilling UUA requirements toward offering opportunity for congregational vote on UUFP designation as a Welcoming Congregation, and creating a foundation for ongoing congregational responsibility to members/friends of the GBLT community.

 

Activities: This year the committee, working with the Social Concerns Committee, has collected and charted survey results, presented 2 Sunday services and one workshop featuring guest speakers; Robyn Ochs (a long-time activist, and the editor of the Bisexual Resource Guide and the new anthology Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World.  She has taught courses on topics including GLBT history & politics in the United States, the politics of sexual orientation, and the experiences of those of us who transgress the binary categories of gay/straight, masculine/feminine, black/white and/or male/female.  Her writings have been published in numerous bisexual, women's studies, multicultural, and GLBT anthologies.), Maggie Chubb (LCSW specializing in the Transgender community), and Dyana Mason (Executive Director of Equality Virginia). Consciousness-raising efforts included distribution/presentation of GLBT-friendly literature, images and testimonials, as well as self-identification of supportive members/friends with rainbow flags affixed to name tags. Fund-raising efforts included sale of promotional pins, bumper stickers and cards.  Our minister and chair have participated in outreach/lobbying efforts such as “Equality Virginia Day” at the Virginia Legislature and membership in HRBOR, Hampton Roads Business Outreach.

Goals:

Our congregation will vote on becoming a Welcoming Congregation at this year’s annual meeting.

 

In the coming year, the committee will maintain a presence as a resource for GLBT issues within the congregation; fulfill UUA-established guidelines, and present consciousness-raising and educational efforts as needed.

 

Lots to do

If you haven't been enlisted to work on a committee, read these reports and find one that appeals to you. The membership committee can help! 

This is a growing, dynamic church!