We are a Welcoming Congregation

MSUS seeks to foster a climate of purposeful inclusion of all people regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or national origin.

The Welcoming Congregation Program is a voluntary program developed by the UUA for congregations seeking to be inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender (BGLT) adults and youth.  Because BGLT people are often met with a disproportionate amount of fear, ignorance, or outright hostility when attempting to participate in religious communities, the UUA developed this program to help UU churches reach out specifically to bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people.  The UUA offers sixteen action steps as a guideline for UU congregations who seek to become a Welcoming Congregation.  One of the action steps is to include specific language in the organization's non-discrimination statement in the bylaws, policies, and organizational literature.  In the United States and Canada, there are over 440 Welcoming Congregations in the Unitarian Universalist Association.

On May 12th 2004, at the annual meeting of the congregation, MSUS voted to become a Welcoming Congregation.


Our Journey to Becoming a Welcoming Congregation Began May, 2003

Around 2000, MSUS began the process of becoming a Welcoming Congregation as designated by the UUA. For a variety of reasons the process was not completed.  At the May, 2003, annual meeting the congregation voted to begin the process again. Janice and Jerry Sankot agreed to chair the committee.

Our vision was to go beyond the Welcoming Congregation Program. By taking this first step, we hoped to explore more issues than those presented - like sexism, racism, ableism, to name just a few. The hope was that becoming a Welcoming Congregation would act as a catalyst to learning more about ourselves and to ending exclusion. Only when we are truly open to the wealth of diversity in our world will the inherent worth and dignity of every person be affirmed with a large voice.

The Committee offered a series of workshops with the following goals:
        To explore thoughts, feelings, and current knowledge about sexual orientation (homosexuality, bisexuality, heterosexuality) and gender identification (transgender identity);
        To probe the origins of our beliefs about sexual orientation and gender identification;
        To understand the experiences of bisexual, gay, Lesbian, and/or transgender people;
        To see the effects of heterosexism and homophobia on people of all sexual orientations and gender identifications in Unitarian Universalist congregations;
        To devise individual and institutional strategies for UU congregations to become more welcoming to bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people and their families.

The Workshop Schedule proposal included:
1.        Wed, Oct 8, 2003 Introductions and Expectations;
2.        Wed, Oct 17, 2003 What We Know and How We learned it (cancelled);
3.        Sun, Oct 26, 2003 The Common Elements of Oppression (Sunday Sermon: "A Different Way of Playing Baseball");
4.        Wed, Nov 5, 2003 Gender Socialization and Homophobia;
5.        Thur. Nov 20, 2003 Bisexuality and Biphobia;
6.        Tue. Jan 13, 2004 Transgender Identity: What it Means;
7.        Sun. March, 2004 Panel from OutFront Minnesota on "Experiences of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and/or Transgender People".

The Committee kept the congregation informed of Welcoming Congregation Workshops through monthly newsletter articles. Topics included:

September - History of the UUA Welcoming Congregation Program
October - National Coming Out Project, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
December - Home for the Holidays? Coping with holiday stress
January - Talking Point: You Better Watch Out (Harvey Fierstein as "Mrs. Claus" in Macy's Thanksgiving Parade)
February - Suggested Reading March - Soulforce's"Talking Points" excerpts on gay marriage
April - Welcoming Congregation Proposal and summary of the Welcoming Congregation Program
May - UUA Welcoming Congregation Action Steps.

The Committee plans to continue to work with the other MSUS committees and interest groups as well as the larger outside community to promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.