About Us

Open and Affirming

Beginning in February 2001, Brookside Church engaged in a year-long process to determine whether we might become an “Open and Affirming Congregation” in the United Church of Christ . This movement began in the UCC in 1985 when local churches were invited to state forthrightly that beginning with an “open table,” they would invite gay and lesbian persons to participate fully in church life. At our annual meeting in January 2002, we voted to amend our mission statement to reflect our willingness to welcome "into our full life and ministry persons of every race, religious tradition, and sexual orientation." Brookside thus became the 409th “O & A” congregation in the UCC, a number which has now grown to include over 500 churches.

For us, participating in this process was a way to ask, "What kind of church do we want to be?" Our efforts to answer that question led to many surprises, but none was more astonishing than to have our struggles answered with expressions of gratitude from formerly unknown gay and lesbian neighbors. They were yearning to participate in a community of faith but given the wider church’s attitudes about homosexuality, they were uncertain whether they would be welcome at Brookside Church. The O & A discussions offered a sign of welcome and affirmation! Joining us, they contributed sensitive and wise counsel during our deliberations. Their presence made all the difference, and holds promise for a still more faithful church in the future.

Questions and answers on the O & A movement are available from the UCC website.

Information on the local PFLAG chapter (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)