What Does It Mean To Be a UCC ONA Church?

From General Synod’s first resolutions advocating for the civil rights of LGBT citizens to the church’s historic affirmation of marriage equality, the Coalition has been a spur to the conscience of our beloved church.

In 1985, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ adopted the resolution “Calling on United Church of Christ congregations to declare themselves Open and Affirming” (ONA).

In 2005, Neighborhood Congregational Church took the first steps of investigating whether NCC was ready and willing to become publicly and “officially” listed as Open and Affirming, (ONA).  An ONA Task Force was formed consisting of members Marge Koss, Jim Kerr, Jan Osborne, Bobbi Irwin, Bo Powell, Amy Mancini, Paul Mancini, and Julie Phillips, including ex-officio members, Sharon Garrison and Phyllis Truppa and Advisor Pastor Lisa Maddox.  Our first meeting was on April 14, 2005.

Additional information about our journey of becoming an ONA UCC Church will continue in the weeks following to the 10th Anniversary of the NCC General Membership vote taken on June 25, 2006.

Please acquaint yourselves with our all inclusive Open and Affirming Statement, printed here and in the Sunday Worship Bulletin:

“We, the congregation of Neighborhood Congregational Church, declare ourselves to be Open and Affirming.  With God”s grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background.  We welcome all to share in the life and leadership, ministry and fellowship, worship and sacraments, and responsibilities and blessings of full participation in our congregation”

There will be a special service celebrating the anniversary on Sunday, June 26