Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of Northern Chautauqua

Readings for the Welcoming Congregation workshop series are under the Governance tab above; select the Filing Cabinet link on the left.

The Social Action Committee (SAC) has chosen to work on getting UUCNC officially recognized as a Welcoming Congregation for LGBT people. This process will involve some educational components that the committee hopes many of the UUCNC community will choose to attend and support.

Response to news we are hosting seven sessions of the Welcoming Congregation program has been congratulatory from several sources: local churches; Pride Alliance of SUNY Fredonia; Gay Lesbian Youth Services of Western New York (GLYS); and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Chautauqua. We are especially interested in promoting anti-bullying strategies in the middle school years.

Most workshops at the Fredonia Grange Hall are expected to last about an hour, from 1-2 PM on Sundays, except as listed below. Please bring a bag lunch:

• Sun. March 4: Introduction
• Sun. March 18: What we Know and How we Learned It
• Wed. March 21 (7:30-9:30 PM at Fenton 105 on SUNY Fredonia campus): Out in the Silence, a film about being a gay teen in a small rural school; a discussion and refreshments will follow the film
• Sun. April 1: Common Elements of Oppression
• Sun. April 15: Gender Socialization and Homophobia
• Sun. April 29: Experiences of BGLT People (1-2:30 PM)
• Sun. May 6: Religion and Homosexuality: Film screening, “The Bible Tells You So” (1-2:30 PM)
• Sun. May 20: Strategies (1-2:30 PM)

One event will be held on a Wednesday evening instead: The UUCNC Social Action Committee and Pride Alliance of SUNY Fredonia are co-sponsoring a screening of Out in the Silence on Wed. March 21, 7:30-9:30 PM at Fenton 105 on the SUNY Fredonia campus. This is video chronicles the experiences of a young gay teen in Oil City, Pennsylvania, and his and his mother’s experience in trying to get his school to address the problems of bullying and homophobia. The film is very well done and captures many aspects of life in Oil City for gay people, which reflects the actions in many small rural towns. This screening, part of our Welcoming Congregation initiative, will provide an opportunity for UUCNC to reach out to local schools, college students, and other interested community members. Refreshments will be served.

This film can be previewed at www.hulu.com/watch/157306/out-in-the-silence.

There is no required commitment that you attend all sessions (although that would be most laudatory!) but to come as often as you can. Please help us arrange for sufficient handouts – use the phone number or email address at the Contact Us tab above to let us know you plan to attend any/all of the workshops. When you let us know you’re coming, please also tell us if you need child care for any of the Sunday afternoon sessions. Thank you! The material is fascinating and rewards to the church gratifying. One of SAC’s primary aims is to see our endeavors as strengthening the church in every way possible.