The “God is Still Speaking” Adult Sunday School
class is sponsoring a series based on the book, “What the Bible REALLY Says
about Homosexuality” by Daniel Helminiak, PhD. The class is meeting in the
Fellowship Hall on the left side at 10:00 a.m.
This year Parkway UCC will be providing a Dignity
Award for a current high school student who has made the school environment safe
for students and teachers who identify or are perceived as gay, lesbian,
transgendered, or bisexual. Parkway offers a safe environment for students and
families regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
National affiliation
For more than 30 years the national setting of the United
Church of Christ has been on a clear course of welcome and inclusion, calling
for serious study of human sexuality, supporting the civil rights of Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) persons, and in 1985 adopting the
Open and Affirming (ONA) resolution.
For many lay and clergy members, the United
Church of Christ is both a joy and a refuge. Our denomination is a place to
celebrate the wide diversity of the body of Christ. It is a haven for many who
have come from less welcoming places.
Scores of people have been transformed by the ONA witnessed
of the UCC. It is a witness that is changing the world, saving lives and helping
to build God's community of welcome, justice and peace.
The LGBT pages of the UCC web site are dedicated to those who
wish to learn more and want to help the Open and Affirming movement go forward.
For more information, visit
UCC/LGBT.
The UCC
Coalition for LGBT Concerns provided significant leadership in
the ONA movement, developing resources and urging congregations to become ONA.
Since 1985, more than 730 UCC congregations have engaged in ONA study programs
and voted to be ONA congregations, and many of them are among the most vital and
vibrant congregations in the UCC. Conferences, associations, seminaries and
UCC-related colleges and universities are among the various other settings and
related institutions of the UCC which have declared themselves to be Open and
Affirming. What has made the difference in this movement is the
churches and other settings which have not only declared themselves Open and
Affirming, but have faithfully lived the values of a church with an
extravagant welcome.
Regional affiliation
We are members of the Southern Conference, networking with
other ONA churches in North Carolina and Virginia.
Local affiliation
We participate with other welcoming churches in Winston-Salem
in a local coalition sponsored by PFLAG
(Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). This group fosters education and support for
faith communities.
RESOURCES
Call Me Malcolm
“This is a beautiful movie about a UCC ministerial student who found
himself faced with the painful yet spiritually transforming journey as a
transgendered person. Sharing his spiritual insights, interviews with other
transgendered acquaintances as well as family struggles, Malcolm lets us examine
his life challenge in this well-made film.“
Ana Tampanna, Parkway UCC.
Selected for 11 film festivals.
For the Bible Tells Me So
This film documents the experience of five Christian families and how they handle the realization of
having a gay child. Including interviews with Bishop Desmond Tutu and Reverend
Jimmy Creech, "For the Bible Tells Me So"
offers healing, clarity and
understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of
scripture and sexual identity. This movie has won 9
significant honors at various film festivals. UCC is featured in the credits.
"Living in Sin? A Bishop Rethinks
Human Sexuality"
by John Shelby Spong
LINKS
Out in Scripture
This Human Rights
Campaign resource places weekly comments about the Bible alongside real life
experiences and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of
faith and our allies.
Photo Exhibit Traveling photo exhibit
on diverse families
UCC Coalition Home site for the
Coalition for LGBT Concerns
Welcoming Resources Resources for ONA
trainings
Whosoever An online
magazine for GLBT Christians
Gay Christian A non-profit ministry
for LGBT Christians (not affiliated with UCC)