Open And Affirming Ministries: A History

1972– William Johnson, an openly gay man, is ordained into authorized ministry in the United Church of Christ (UCC). Read more here.

1972 – The United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian and Gay (and later, Transgender) Concerns is founded as a “special interest group.” and recognized by General Synod, a representative body of all UCC member churches. More than fifty years later, that coalition still exists, now known as The Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ.

1975 – The General Synod adopts, by vote of 546 to 135, a “Pronouncement on Civil-
Liberties without Discrimination Related to Affectional or Sexual Preference;” passes two resolutions [1] Calls on Dept. of Church Life and Leadership to provide non-judgmental counseling resources and bibliographic materials on homosexuality, and [2l commissions Board for Homeland Ministries to make a study of human sexuality.

1976 – The Historic Connecticut Conference (CT Conference) passes a resolution, “Civil Liberties for Homosexual,” which urges the Conference to work for Gay rights legislation at state and federal levels. The following year, the UCC General Synod accepts preliminary report of this study and passes a resolution deploring the violation of civil rights of gay and bisexual persons and use of scripture to generate hatred.

1980 – The Executive Council of the United Church of Christ adopts “a program of Equal
Employment Opportunity which does not discriminate against any employee or applicant
because of…sexual preference” (In 1981 – The program is amended to read “sexual orientation” rather than “sexual preference.”)

1983 – The General Synod overwhelmingly adopts a resolution on institutional homophobia.

1984 – The Massachusetts Conference passes an “Open and Affirming” resolution which calls on all Massachusetts UCC churches to declare themselves open and affirming.

1985 – The General Synod overwhelmingly adopts an open and affirming resolution
encouraging UCC associations, conferences and all related organizations, and congregations to adopt a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, volunteer service, and membership policies with regard to sexual orientation to declare themselves open to and affirming of gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the full life and ministry of the church. Read that resolution here.

1989 – The first Connecticut UCC church, United Church on the Green, in New Haven, passes an open and affirming statement.

1989 – The Connecticut Conference declares itself an open and affirming conference and urges all local congregations to study the issue and to become open and affirming. Read the resolution here.

July 27, 1990 – Center Church News publishes an article from the Christian Social Principles Committee entitled: “Feeling Like There’s Been a Little Too Much Talk About Gay People Lately?”

August 19, 1990 – Center Church Deacon, Sally St. Amant, preaches on “Born in the UCC /
Faith Works: Experience ’90.” The sermon, available here, includes a call for Center Church to become an Open and Affirming church.

January 12 through March 1, 1992 – An Adult Christian Education series on
homosexuality/homophobia is led by Warburton intern, Janis C. Johnson.

January 19, 1992 – the Rev. J. Alan McLean preaches on “Holy Ground: Homosexuality and the Church.” Read Rev. McLean’s sermon here.

September 1992 – The Prudential Committee creates a “Welcoming and Inclusive Task Force.” The Task Force helps Center Church embark on the process of becoming an “Open and Affirming” church, that is, a church which values gay, lesbian, and bisexual people and
welcomes their participation in the life of the church.

March 21, 1993 – A panel discussion entitled “Why Do We Have to Do This?” is presented by the Welcoming and Inclusive (W & I) Task Force; featuring patents of gay and lesbian children. In the Summer of 1993 – The W & I Task Force creates bulletin inserts on the issue of “What Does the Bible Say?” There are eight in total, over the course of two months.

October 1993 – Center Church hosts a candlelight vigil before the 7th annual AIDS Memorial Walk through Bushnell Park.

March 4, 1994 – The W & l Task Force hosts a panel discussion: “Gay Men and Lesbians: A Part of the Christian Community?” The panel features three “out” gay or lesbian Christians.

October 23, 1994 – After a season of discernment and congregational discussion. a “Welcoming and Inclusive Statement,” affirming that we “include into full participation in the life of this church persons of any age, race, economic status, sexual orientation,” is brought before the membership at a special Congregational Meeting. The resolution passes by a sizable majority, officially making Center Church an “Open and Affirming” (ONA) church. the eleventh church to do so in Connecticut.

April 1995 – A letter from Susan Parker (Rev. Van Parker’s daughter) written to her church, the First Church in Windsor, titled “Coming Home” appears in the Center Church Newsletter.

December 1, 1996 – Center Church joins other churches around Connecticut in recognizing World AIDS Day, tolling our steeple bell 16 times in memory of the 16 years of devastation due to AIDS.

1997 – The Historic Connecticut Conference passes the resolution, “Justice and Civil Rights for Lesbian/Gay/ Bisexual Persons” urging churches to work for needed legislation, provide opportunities for open, honest, and respectful discussion within their Christian Education departments and youth programs. Center Church takes this to heart and would go on to sponsor film series, faith formation curricula for all ages and community discussions.

February 1997 – “First Friday;” a movie and discussion series on issues of sexual orientation and society, is launched. Movies presented and discussed during the inaugural season include: The Wedding Banquet, The Sum of Us, The Incredible True Story of Two Girls in Love, Salut Victor, Breaking the Code; and Strawberry and Chocolate.

June 1997 – Center Church, Hartford’s Central Baptist Church and Hartford Metropolitan Community Church hosts an ecumenical Pride Day Prayer Service, after which members of Center Church march in the Gay Pride Parade with members of other UCC churches.

October 1997 – The church commemorates the third anniversary of the adoption of the ONA statement with a series of adult classes on gay; lesbian, and bisexual issues. On
October 26, 1997, a special worship service celebrating the third anniversary. of Center Church’s ONA statement is held; members of the W&I task force and others make remarks. The sermon, created from quotations from a variety of sources, is entitled “Meditation on Love and Affirmation.”

February 1998 – The “First Friday” movie and discussion series is renamed “NOW SHOWING!” Movies presented in 1998 include: Any Mother’s Son, Priest, Philadelphia,
Straight from the Heart, Maurice, One Nation Under God, Torch Song Trilogy, Doing Time on
Maple Drive.

June 1998 – Center Church, Central Baptist; and Hartford M.C.C. once again facilitate an
ecumenical Pride Day Prayer Service on the morning of the Gay Pride Parade. The event takes place at Center Church. A city-wide ecumenical service will again be hosted in June of 1999 in Center Church’s Historic Meetinghouse.

September 1999 – The back of the Sunday bulletin now indicates that Center Church is, open to ceremonies of commitment on the same basis that it is available to wedding-ceremonies. This reflects action taken by the Board of Deacons and affirmed by the Prudential Committee. In September of 2000, Center Church hosts its first same-gender commitment ceremony in the historic meetinghouse.

October 29, 2000 – Immanuel Congregational Church, UCC, in Hartford’s West End votes to declare itself and ONA Congregation.

2003 – A resolution is approved at the General Synod of the United Church of Christ affirming the “participation and ministry of transgender people” within the UCC, “supporting their civil and human rights.” It is resolved that all congregations “are encouraged to welcome transgender people into membership, ministry, and full participation. “

October 13, 2003 – Center Church is picketed (along with St Patrick & St. Anthony Catholic
Church in Hartford and three churches in Southington) by representatives of the Westboro Baptist Church (Topeka, Kansas). As suggested by the Hartford Police Department, church members did not engage the protesters, but simply went about our usual Sunday activities.
Center Church member Harold Buckingham is pictured in the Hartford Courant the following day standing in silent opposition to the protesters.

2004 – More than 450 of the 6000 UCC churches in the U.S., including 24 in Connecticut, have passed open and affirming statements (inching toward 10% of alt UCC churches).

April 30, 2006 – Asylum Hill Congregational Church, UCC, in Hartford, votes to become Open and Affirming.

October 24, 2014 – Center Church celebrates 20 years of Open and Affirming Ministries, the Rev. Dr. James Melville “Mel” White, former dean of the Cathedral of Hope and National Justice Minister for Metropolitan Community Churches and author of Stranger at the Gate,
preaches a sermon: “The Lord’s Prayer: Why We Celebrate!”

July 1, 2018 – The First Congregational Church of New London, UCC, becomes the 100th
congregation in the historic Connecticut Conference to become Open and Affirming.

2024 – To date there are more than 1,800 congregations, conferences and ministries affiliated with the United Church of Christ that have gone through the discernment process to become Open and Affirming.

2024-2025 – Center Church celebrates 30 years of Open and Affirming Ministries with a year of intergenerational faith formation programming, myriad fellowship opportunities and a celebratory worship service on October 13, 2024.