In July 2017, an Open and Affirming task force was formed at the request of the Church Counsel. Over the next 18 months, eight members of the task force met regularly and had the assistance of two consultants from Massachusetts Conference of the UCC.

This discernment process included individual reading and exploration by the task force members to educate themselves about the relevant issues, what open and affirming means to different churches, and then to begin to speak to and hear from the congregation about their interests and concerns around this issue. The task force met with many of ACC’s committees and organizations, had a facilitated discussion with the congregation, provided resources to the congregation, solicited written comments and concerns in writing, and heard presentations from other churches about how their churches became ONA.

As the congregation became more familiar with the process of becoming ONA, several individuals offered personal testimonies as part of our Sunday services and we heard a sermon as well as a panel of pastors talking about ONA and its relationship to scripture. At this time the Search Committee was preparing its profile of the congregation and, as it was of interest to most potential applicants, the Committee sent a confidential questionnaire to members of the congregation about their views on ACC becoming ONA.

With largely positive feedback from the congregation, the task force and its consultants began refining what an ONA Covenant might look like for ACC. After a lot of hard work and feedback from the congregation, the Covenant was presented to a congregational meeting in January 2019 and adopted by the members. After ratification by our UCC Conference, we joined the other 1,400 UCC churches that are ONA.

When ACC first developed and then accepted the ONA Covenant by a congregational vote in January 2019, it was just the first step in an ongoing process of welcoming, discerning our mission, and expanding our reach as an ONA congregation. 

The Open and Affirming Committee at ACC sees its role as bringing this welcoming spirit into all facets of church life – not just a welcoming environment, but into the serving ministries of the church, engaging the congregation, and deepening our faith together. If you have an interest in this ministry or ideas about how we can live out Covenant, we would love to hear from you.

The Coalition has extensive resources for congregations and individuals as well as opportunities to learn and get involved. Click the button below to learn more. You can also reach out to members of the ONA Committee by sending an email to info@actonc.org

The Coalition has extensive resources for congregations and individuals as well as opportunities to learn and get involved. You can explore further at https://openandaffirming.org/ You can also reach out to members of the ONA Committee; please contact [see above – how best to do that?] for more information