The resolution was passed at the annual meeting on May 2, 1999.
Be it resolved that, on this date, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, declares its desire to be known as a WELCOMING CONGREGATION.
We make this resolution to apply the Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Constitution of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, which calls us " to join in community to affirm, defend and promote the supreme worth and dignity of every human personality." (Article III:Section 2) We will make this known to the community at large through appropriate means.
We continue a process, begun three years ago, of study and reflection on the historical role of religious doctrine and religious institutions in perpetuating prejudice and misunderstanding toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people and have taken a series of steps to raise our awareness of g/l/b/t issues and to expand our own self-knowledge and understanding.
Human sexuality forms a continuum between homosexuality and heterosexuality and between male and female, with each person falling somewhere between the two extremes and exhibiting characteristics of both, so that rational, humanist philosophy acknowledges the entire spectrum of humanity. At this particular point in history, many religious individuals and institutions continue to openly express their intolerance of g/l/b/t persons and to support exclusionary and even violent behavior toward them. We wish to declare ourselves to be different: to be consciously affirming and actively supportive of persons of all sexual and affectional orientations and gender presentation as they seek a spiritual haven to search for truth and meaning.
With the adoption of this designation, we pledge our congregation's commitment to do its part to heal centuries of religious and societal based oppression and prejudice and to make our church a sanctuary of spiritual growth and welcome. We open our church home to all who wish to worship with us because they believe in our principles and purposes, and support our vision and mission.