STEPS TO BECOME O&A IN OTHER SETTINGS

As you join us in God's work of transformation of the church, you will find that there is no "one" way to transform God's church. You will find many resources, conversation partners, and processes to aid you and your congregation on this website. If you talk to our leadership, you will find myriad people to help you in your journey. Looking at our resources, you can read about testimonies and ideas for education and leading. Below is one suggested process for the journey. For a packet of more information, please contact Kerry Armstrong.

SUGGESTED PROCESS

FOR THE JOURNEY

TO BECOME

AN OPEN & AFFIRMING CONGREGATION

OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

1. Contact the Open and Affirming Ministries program of GLAD to express interest in the O&A program. The O&A Ministries team will send a packet of information to assist in the process and provide the names of local resources.

2. Form a core group to guide the congregation through the discernment process. The team should be composed of those already supportive of becoming an open and affirming congregation and should include persons of diverse gender and sexual identities.

3. Evaluate the congregation's readiness to engage in the process and plan a strategy based on the needs of the congregation, the support of the leadership, and the decision making .

4. Bring the vision to an official leadership body of the congregation (i.e. Church Board or Elders). It is important to inform the ministerial staff of plans and ask for their support in addressing the church leadership as well as their participation in the process. However, it is important that the process of becoming O&A not be seen as a clergy-sponsored activity.

5. Covenant as a congregation to complete the O&A process. Perhaps include this as part of a worship service or congregational meeting at the beginning of the process.

6. Engage in a study about inclusion, gender, and sexuality.  The GLAD O&A Ministries Program will be glad to suggest resources.

7. Outline for members of the church how the church’s decision-making process works. Will your congregation need to vote or will this be a process of reaching consensus?

8. Appoint a task force to write an open and affirming statement that clearly specifies that persons of ALL gender and sexual identities are welcome in the membership, leadership, and employment of the congregation and will be afforded equal protections and benefits. The GLAD O&A Ministries Program strongly urges that this be part of an overall mission statement so that the congregation will not be voting on JUST the inclusion of persons of diverse gender and sexual identities.

9. Ensure that at least 85 percent of the congregation is supportive through a straw poll. Survey Monkey is a great resource for this poll.

10. If less than 85 percent is supportive, stop and spend more time studying and building relationships.

11. If 85 percent or more is supportive, proceed to the discussion of the open and affirming statement.

12. Following the discussion of the open and affirming statement, and following its own established processes for decision-making, the congregation should formally adopt the statement. It is recommended that if a vote is taken, that the resolution pass 85 percent or greater. Support. It is also recommended that there be at least three options: Yes, I support this decision and I am personally supportive; Yes, I support this decision, but I can't personally agree with this right now; No, I don't support this decision.

13. The governing board of the congregation should ensure that its policies concerning employment encourage applications from persons of ALL gender and sexual identities and provide equal protections and benefits for gender and sexual minorities once they are employed by the congregation.

14. Once the statement is adopted and the congregation’s policies are amended to reflect the setting’s commitment to the inclusion of persons of all gender and sexual identities, the governing board should publish the statement with GLAD, the General Church (via Disciple Digest/Disciple News Service), the Regional Church (via the regional newsletter) and the congregation’s website. The congregation is also encouraged to publicize the decision within its local community.

15. The congregation should clearly brand itself as an Open and Affirming setting through the use of the GLAD logo and the words “an open and affirming congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).”

16. The congregation should hold a reception of some type to celebrate its commitment to inclusivity and its witness to justice as an Open and Affirming setting of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

17. The congregation is encouraged to include GLAD in its regular mission budget.

18. The congregation is encouraged to continually revisit and deepen its commitment to being a more inclusive community of faith through continual engagement with communities and persons who have traditionally been marginalized and excluded from the church and in society.

    --Adopted March 2011

    
    

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