Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
A liberal religious congregation  in the Minneapolis area

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WELCOMING CONGREGATION
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Updated March 21  2008
What's a Welcoming Congregation?

Marriage is a Civil RightA Welcoming Congreation works on increasing understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations.

A Welcoming Congregation educates its members on becoming more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people. 

A Welcoming Congregation opens the church as safe space for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender persons,  takes positions on oppression in our larger communities,  and works on outreach.
How Did MVUUF Become a Welcoming Congregation?

MVUUF voted to become an Welcoming Congregation at the congregational annual meeting in May, 2003.  To prepare for this vote, members of the congregation participated in the UUA Welcoming Congregation Program . 

The Welcoming Congregation Program is a volunteer program for congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) that see a need to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people. It consists of a series of workshops developed by the UUA.

After notifying the UUA that MVUUF had achieved  the UUA Welcoming Congregation Action Steps , MVUUF was recognized as one of the Official Unitarian Universalist Welcoming Congregations . 
What's Next?
MVUUF continues to work on the UUA Welcoming Congregation Action Steps as part of its Welcoming Congregation initiative.
Marriage is a Civil Right Sign
At a Steering Committee meeting, a member suggested that the Welcoming Committee might want to consider putting a sign indicating that “Marriage is a Civil Right” in our garden area. The committee thought this was a good suggestion and began the process of designing the sign. Becky McPeek, gardener and artist extraordinaire, mocked up 4 designs and the committee voted on one.

After a search lasting 2 months we found a woodcarver just right for making the sign. Then we commissioned a metal artist to design the frame for the sign. The entire process took 4 months. We dealt with  peoples’ concerns and  at times the task was challenging. In the end we think the sign is not only a work of art, but makes a statement of acceptance for diversity. We hope you enjoy seeing this and understand its importance.

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