The Welcoming Congregation Program is a volunteer program for Unitarian Universalist congregations that want to take intentional steps to become more welcoming and inclusive of people with marginalized sexual orientations and gender identities. First launched in 1990, the program grew out of an understanding that widespread prejudices and ignorance about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people existed within Unitarian Universalism, which resulted in the exclusion of LGBTQ people from our congregations.
Today, 66% of U.S. Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations and 94% of Canadian UU congregations are recognized as Welcoming Congregations. Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists is proud to take our place among them.
As a Welcoming Congregation, Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists invites everyone into our faith community, without regard to race, gender, age, color, national origin, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
In addition to welcoming all to our faith community, we are actively Standing on the Side of Love in our worship practices, and in
our advocacy. We annually support and participate in the St. Petersburg Pride event, and work to broaden through education and personal perspectives, the understanding and acceptance of all people through our services and programs.
UUA Resources
- Premarital Counseling Guide for Same Gender Couples (PDF, 29 pages)
- Same-Sex Wedding Guide (PDF, 31 pages)
- Basic Definitions: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
- Queer 101 (PDF)
- Transgender 101: Identity, Welcome, and Resources (PDF)
- Bisexuality 101 (PDF)
- Asexuality 101 (PDF)
- LGBTQ History & Facts for Unitarian Universalists (PDF)
- Unitarian Universalism: A Serious Spiritual Alternative for LGBTQ Communities and Individuals (PDF)
Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists 