Many people ask what it means for a congregation to be Open and Affirming. At First Congregational Church, we look to Jesus for examples of how we should pattern our lives.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus was drawn to, and advocated vigorously for, those who were marginalized by society. Jesus came not to maintain the social order that places some people above others, but affirmed through both his words and actions that in God’s eyes we are all equally loved, cherished, and called to discipleship.

We, therefore, welcome everyone who is on a journey of faith. We may differ in appearance, lifestyle, or through which lens we view the world, but what we share is that we are all beloved children of God. When love is the center of our life together, our differences become an asset to our community, a kind of springboard of acceptance and compassion that fosters mutual growth and understanding.

What is an open and affirming congregation?
As an open and affirming congregation, we seek to reflect the inclusive love of God in Jesus Christ. We reaffirm that both our worship and our membership are open to all believers, without regard to race, cultural background or sexual identity. We affirm all who are willing to accept the cost and the joy of discipleship to Jesus Christ in our community of faith. In 1993, our congregation voted to make First Congregational Church an Open and Affirming Congregation.

What does the rainbow flag mean?
A rainbow flag is a multi-colored flag consisting of stripes in the colors of the rainbow. The actual colors used to differ, but many of the designs are based on the traditional scheme of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

The use of rainbow flags has a long tradition; they are displayed in many cultures around the world as a sign of diversity and inclusiveness, of hope and of yearning. At First Congegational Church, we fly the flag as a symbol of our open and affirming policy and let all who pass by know that they are welcome here.

WAGLY
WAGLY (West Suburban Alliance of GLBT Youth), is an organization in the MetroWest area for High School GLBT youth and allies. What first grew out of a conversation between ministers and parents in the area, WAGLY has been created to give gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied youth a safe space to come, socialize, and learn toge ther. The goal of the group is to unite GLBT and allied youth in the West Suburban area of Boston by creating a safe space for all who wish to come. Meetings are held every Monday night from 7-8:30pm at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills. For more information, download this pdf or visit their websites: www.wagly.org and www.facebook.com/wagly.