1st Congregational UCC – Charlevoix Votes Overwhelmingly to
Become an Open & Affirming Congregation!
On Sunday, June 4, 2023, after a full year of study, discussion, book groups, panel discussions, and guest speakers, our congregation voted overwhelmingly to become an Open and Affirming church as the United Church of Christ defines it. This vote makes official what our congregation has felt for a long, long time, namely that we want our purple doors to be open to everyone…period. Just as our communion table has a place for everyone, so does the full range of activities and ministries that our church provides. Here is our church’s official statement, the covenant we made with each other and with God when we voted to become Open and Affirming:
We, as participants of 1st Congregational United Church of Christ, Charlevoix, Michigan, seek to follow the life and teachings of Jesus in all we do, so that we may obey the Great Commandment to Love. We will open our purple doors more widely to all people who seek God.
In this particular age, we seek to be especially sure that people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or family configuration will find safety, love and full inclusion among us. We affirm people in the LGBTQ+ community as children of God and enthusiastically invite their full participation in the life and leadership of this congregation.
We officially adopt the UCC’s Open and Affirming designation. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, our family of faith will continue to learn and grow by ongoing education, sensitivity, language, and action to truly become a spiritual home for all people.
We will never exclude anyone on the basis of their gender identity, expression, or family configuration. If you want a church that celebrates and fully includes all people, the church with the purple doors at 101 State St. in Charlevoix may be the right one for you. Check us out!
Listed below are some suggested readings and links for more information about the Open & Affirming Movement.
Open and Affirming Media List
BOOKS
Informational Titles
What does God Think? Transgender People and the Bible – by Cheryl B. Evans
The ABC’s of LGBT+ – by Ashley Mardell
Beyond the Gender Binary – by Alok Vaid-Menon
God and the Gay Christian – by Matthew Vines
Memoir Titles
*TORN – by Justin Lee
I Have Something to Tell You – by Chasten Buttigieg
Boy Erased – by Garrard Conley
God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage – by Gene Robinson
Affirming: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality, and Staying in the Church – by Sally Gary
In the Margins: A Transgender Man’s Journey with Scripture – Shannon T.L. Kearns
Fictional Titles
Small Town Pride – by Phil Stampler
VIDEOS
https://mamabearsdoc.com/texas-strong/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQjNJUSraY Matthew Vines’ talk on gay christians
https://www.fromthisdayforwardfilm.com From This Day Forward Documentary
https://geekyjustin.com/videos/gay-christian/
Ted Talks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu8aVmsT_pI Non-binary talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugl5hDuaVwQ The Baptist Pastor and his Trans Friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmstbKVebM Hey Doc, Some Boys are born Girls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvJTsrWarrw What Kindergarten Taught Me about Gender
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP01bH9Ljf4 Why I Chose My LGBTQ Daughter Over the Evangelical Church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGNZQ64xiqo What the Bible Says About Homosexuality
WEBSITES
https://reformationproject.org/ videos and resources about the church and LGBTQ
https://serendipitydodah.wordpress.com/resources-2/resources/ Great resource list of books
https://www.realmamabears.org/tips-for-lgbtq-allies helpful list of what LGBTQ allies can do to show support and affirm.
https://www.freedhearts.org/resources great website for resources
PODCASTS
Freed Hearts with Susan Cottrell
