A congregation that publicly and successfully welcomes bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people has the following qualities:

Includes and addresses the needs of b/g/l/t persons at every level of congregational life in worship, programs, social occasions, and rites of passage, welcoming their presence and the gifts and particularities of their lives.

Assumes the presence of b/g/l/t people and celebrates this diversity by having inclusive language and content in worship.

Fully incorporates the experiences of b/g/l/t persons throughout all programs, including religious education.

Includes an affirmation or nondiscrimination clause in its bylaws and other official documents affecting all dimensions of congregational life, including membership, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals.

Engages in outreach to the b/g/l/t community in its advertising and by actively supporting b/g/l/t affirmative groups.

Offers congregational and ministerial support for union and memorial services for b/g/l/t persons and for celebrations of family definitions.

Celebrates the lives of all people and welcomes same-sex couples, recognizing their committed relationships, and equally affirms displays of caring and affection without regard to sexual orientation.

Seeks to nurture ongoing dialogue between bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and heterosexual persons, and seeks to create deeper trust and sharing.

Encourages the presence of a chapter of Interweave.

Affirms and celebrates b/g/l/t issues and history during the church year.

Attends to legislative developments and works to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society.

Speaks out when the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people are at stake.

Celebrates the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.