The Open and Affirming Coalition - UCC

About the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

The Open and Affirming (ONA) Coalition of the United Church of Christ is a justice-centered ministry building a church—and a world—where LGBTQ+ people are fully seen, celebrated, and supported.

Founded in 1972, the Coalition has walked alongside LGBTQ+ individuals and their families for more than 50 years. As the oldest LGBTQ+ justice ministry in a mainline Protestant denomination, we’ve helped shape a bold legacy of faith-based advocacy, affirmation, and inclusion.

We believe that God’s love is for everyone—and that faith communities should be places of safety, belonging, and justice for LGBTQ+ people.

What We Do

We equip and empower churches, leaders, and communities to live out this calling by:

• Growing the Open and Affirming Movement: We’ve guided over 1,900 churches through the ONA process, helping congregations adopt covenants that affirm LGBTQ+ people as beloved members of the Body of Christ. Our goal is to reach 2,000 ONA churches by the end of 2025.

• Supporting LGBTQ+ People of Faith: We provide spiritual, emotional, and community support for LGBTQ+ people navigating faith, identity, and leadership.

• Training and Equipping Leaders: Through webinars, resources, and one-on-one coaching, we equip churches to take bold, faithful action in the face of growing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policy.

• Advocating for Justice: We organize, show up, and speak out—whether that’s in local communities, at General Synod, or at national rallies like our recent action in Washington, DC.

• Creating Lifelines of Care: From affinity groups for queer clergy to microgrants for churches doing ONA work, we’re building networks of support that help LGBTQ+ people not just survive, but thrive.

Why Your Gift Matters

As anti-LGBTQ+ attacks escalate across the country, the Coalition’s work is more urgent than ever. Your support helps us train new coaches, fund creative ministry projects, amplify queer voices in the church, and help thousands of LGBTQ+ people find a faith community that welcomes them with open arms.

This Give OUT Day, we’re aiming for 5,000 individual $10 gifts—because every small act of generosity builds a larger movement for love and justice.

Join us.Give Hope. Grow Love.

Your generosity and the power of community will help us continue to be a "spur to the conscience" for generations to come!