written by Rev. David Klingensmith
I am proud to be a member of this congregation that proudly flies the rainbow flag and welcomes members of the LGBTQ+ community to join us on the journey. More than 1,760 UCC congregations have adopted Open and Affirming covenants. This is so important because LGBTQ+ folks are facing continued discrimination and backlash on many fronts.
The national setting of the UCC has asked congregations to particularly focus concern this year on trans and non-binary people, particularly youths. There are policies and laws aimed at maligning and even criminalizing trans folks. Let us be vocal and public allies, speaking out in the face of such discrimination. Our siblings in Christ deserve justice and security, not silence in the face of State violence.