UCC Loses Churches Gains Others In Supporting Gay Marriage

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/01/012006ucc.htm

Leaders of the 1.3- million-member United Church of Christ are reporting mixed outcomes during the six-month period that followed its General Synod's controversial decision to affirm support for same-gender marriage equality.

Since July, about 49 churches - or less than one percent of the UCC's 5,725 churches - have voted to disaffiliate, according to the denomination's research office. Most, but not all, of the departures appear related to disagreement with the marriage- equality resolution.

The withdrawals, however, come amid a resurgence of interest in the UCC by new or existing churches, the denomination says.

The church says that 23 new congregations affiliated with the UCC during 2005 and an additional 42 churches expressing a "firm interest" in joining.

[Maat]

1. This PFLAGer always recommends friends checking out the ..

local UCC. Ours in the Temecula Valley is very open, inclusive, welcoming and affirming, as is my church, Church of Religious Science.

I believe that they will grow like wildfire in the long run, and I support them fully in their efforts to be a welcoming, affirming, inclusive faith.

And my favorite advocate, Rev. Barry Lynn, J.D., of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, was ordained through them (he' the executive director).