Diversity and Inclusion

In 1987 the Unitarian Universalist Association established the Common Vision Planning Committee. This committee found many negative attitudes, deep prejudices, and profound ignorance about bisexual, gay, and lesbian people, which resulted in the exclusion of bisexual, gay, and lesbian people from their churches. As a result of these findings, the delegates of the 1989 UUA General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to initiate the Welcoming Congregation program to educate its members. Each congregation adapts the program to best meet its goals and each unique situation can bring positive changes to individuals and congregations.

The Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston (UUCR) has always been an inclusive religious community, welcoming all who enter our church. Several Years ago, we entered into a special committment to become a designated Welcoming Congregation, promising to educate our members on bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender issues, dispel our own prejudices, and make a commitment to accept certain responsibilities in that regard, specifically, to:

• Include and address the needs of LGBT 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 LGBT people and celebrate this diversity by having inclusive language and content in our worship.
• Fully incorporate the experiences of LGBT 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 LGBT community in its advertising and by actively supporting LGBT affirmative groups.
• Offer congregational and ministerial support for union and memorial services for LGBT 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 LGBT 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.
• Celebrate the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.

Visit the Unitarian Universalist Association website for more about our faith, including Welcoming Congregations.