OPEN AND AFFIRMING 

Many churches make a blanket statements, such as, "We welcome everyone" or "All are already welcome here."  However, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons don't always feel that the words "everyone" or "all" include them.

To erase any doubt about being a church that is open to and affirming of LGBT people, UCC churches can choose to declare themselves Open and Affirming (ONA).  A resolution from General Synod 15 encourages local congregations to adopt a Covenant of Openness and Affirmation of persons of lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientation.  In addition, General Synod 24 called for the full welcome and affirmation of transgender persons in all areas of the UCC.  Open and Affirming churches help eliminate the notion that "Christians think that being gay is sinful."

The Open and Affirming Program of the United Church of Christ is maintained by the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns.

The Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ is an Open and Affirming conference.

The following UCC churches in the Florida Conference have declared themselves Open and Affirming:

Rainbow Promise United Church of Christ (Auburndale)

Faith United Church of Christ (Bradenton)
Faith United Church of Christ (Clearwater)

Coral Gables Congregational Church (Coral Gables)
New Hope United Church of Christ (DeLand)

Church of the Palms (Delray Beach)
First Congregational Church (Fort Lauderdale)
Pilgrims' United Church of Christ (Fruitland Park)
United Church of Gainesville (Gainesville)

Riverside United Church of Christ (Jacksonville)

Jensen Beach Community Church, UCC (Jensen Beach)
First Congregational Church (Lake Helen)

Community United Church of Christ (Lake Park)
Christ Congregational Church, UCC (Miami)

Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ (Miami/Coconut Grove)

Miami Beach Community Church (Miami Beach)

Miami Shores Community Church (Miami Shores)

United Church of Christ of New Smyrna Beach (New Smyrna Beach)

First Church of North Miami, Congregational (North Miami)
First Congregational Church of Ocala (Ocala)
Hope Unites (Orlando)
Riviera United Church of Christ (Palm Bay)

Good Samaritan Church (Pinellas Park)

Hope United Church of Christ (Rockledge)

Pilgrim Church, UCC (St. Augustine)
Lakewood United Church of Christ (St. Petersburg)

Trinity United Church of Christ (St. Petersburg)

First Congregational United Church of Christ (Sarasota)
St. Andrew United Church of Christ (Sarasota)

Spring Hill United Church of Christ (Spring Hill)
United Church in Tallahassee (Tallahassee)
First United Church of Tampa (Tampa/Temple Terrace)
Coral Isles Church, UCC (Tavernier)

The United Church of Christ at The Villages (The Villages)

Union Congregational Church (West Palm Beach)

Trinity Congregational Church (Winter Haven)
First Congregational Church, UCC (Winter Park)