October 30, 2011 | Allyson Robinson

Orlando Church Hosts Conversation about Gender Identity and Faith

http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/orlando-church-hosts-conversation-about-gender-identity-and-faith 🔗

I was blessed to join the family of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Winter Park, Florida today for a workshop on gender identity and faith, part of HRC's "On the Road to Equality" tour. The workshop, entitled "But God Looks at the Heart" (from the Hebrew Bible's story of the choosing of David as king of Israel in 1 Samuel 16), attracted a diverse crowd of church members and visitors who came to learn more about transgender communities and how congregations can better welcome and support them.

Because of widespread bias and prejudice against us, much of it fueled by religious bigotry, trans people often assume that they will not find welcome in any house of worship. Even well-intentioned congregations that have made a commitment to welcome and affirm LGBT people can struggle when a trans person comes through the door for the first time simply because of a lack of understanding. Faith communities like First Congregational in Winter Park have learned that understanding leads to empathy, empathy leads to compassion and compassion leads to the kind of radical welcome that characterizes the aspirations of the best of America's worship traditions.

I never heard of these guys, I will have to check them out. 🙂

FYI, the UCC-United Christ of Christ, is one of the few mainline Protestant Denominations that are open and accepting of LGBT persons and clergy.

http://www.ucc.org/index2.html 🔗

Ah, few? I believe every "mainline" branch has a denomination that is open towards the GLBT community.

Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyrterian, Methodist. All have a sub branch, usually the largest, that is "liberal" in regards to social issues.

The UCC goes beyond just being open, it ordains LGBT Clergy and has for years. The PCUSA after years struggling  with ordaining LGBT ministers just passed a resolution this year allowing it. The Methodist Church still does not, and in addition the UCC allows LGBT marriages to be performed by its ministers. The Episcopal Church USA has a Gay Bishop. Progress has been slow in the other denominations other than the UCC and MCC.