Phase 1: Ready?- Does your congregation already have a history of publicly welcoming and affirming lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT] folk?
- If the answer is NO, we strongly recommend you continue with Phase 1.
- If the answer is YES, decide whether your congregation would benefit from continuing with Phase 1 or is ready to move to Phase 2.
- Attend a Faith-Based Community Organizing workshop offered by the Institute of Welcoming Resources.
- Download and use IWR's Building An Inclusive Church Toolkit to evaluate, organize, educate, and prepare the congregation.
Phase 2: Set.- Ask the vestry or annual meeting to adopt a public statement explicitly welcoming and affirming LGBT people. [Example statements can be found on page 28 of the Building An Inclusive Church Toolkit.]
Phase 3: Go!- Publish the statement.
- Register as a Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation.
- Work with Integrity USA to make your congregation even more welcoming and affirming.
- Consider becoming a corporate member—or Proud Parish Partner—of Integrity USA.
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