Open and Affirming Coalition UCC

08/20/2026

Please see this post for livestream information for Rev. Derek’s service today at 1:00pm ET.

08/18/2026

🙏🏾 Loving God, we confess that sometimes we lose sight of hope in the face of trials. We allow fear and doubt to overshadow our faith.

At times, we have not created the safe and brave spaces needed by our LGBTQIA+ siblings. Forgive us for our moments of weakness and for the times we failed to support others in their struggles. Renew our hearts, strengthen our resolve, and help us to embody Your love and hope.

Transform us into beacons of persistence and resilience, shining Your light in the darkest places. Help us to stand with the marginalized and resist all forms of hate. Amen.

-Rev. Derek Terry (shared in memoriam)
Open and Affirming Coalition UCC

👉🏾 Share your prayers with the People's Prayers for Peace Initiative: https://ow.ly/fgTZ50Zyt2i

08/11/2026

Information on the arrangements to honor and remember Rev. Derek. We will share any livestream information if/when it becomes available.

08/10/2026

"We are heartbroken by the tragic passing of our sibling Rev. Derek Terry and offer condolences to his family, his congregation, and the community that supported and loved him. An incomparable and fearless leader, Rev. Derek Terry touched the lives of everyone he encountered throughout his ministry in the United Church of Christ, and as the Executive Director of the Open and Affirming Coalition.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Terry family, the St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Cincinnati, where Rev. Terry served as pastor, the ONA Coalition, the many colleagues who had the pleasure of working alongside Rev. Terry, and all the lives of those he touched along the way."
🫶🏾 Read the full statement from UCC General Minister & President, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, and the Open and Affirming Coalition UCC Board Chair, Rev. Kevin E. Tindell: https://www.ucc.org/a-joint-ucc-ona-statement-on-the-passing-of-rev-derek-terry/

The following is a joint statement from United Church of Christ General Minister and President/CEO, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, and the Open and

07/17/2026

The ONA movement is truly always growing!! Multiple churches held their ONA Covenant vote in June, including Ellington Congregational Church, UCC in Connecticut. They are ONA church #1,961. Welcome, Ellington Congregational!

07/16/2026

🌈🌈🌈Please welcome ONA church #1,960: Olivet Congregational Church in Bridgeport, CT! They adopted their ONA Covenant in June. We are delighted to add them to the list and can't believe we're really homing in on 2,000 churches certified! 🎉🎉

07/15/2026

Founded in the 90s as intentionally open and affirming to the LGBTQ+ community, Crossroads Church in Loveland, Colorado joined the UCC in 2024 and they are now officially ONA church #1,959! Please join us in welcoming Crossroads to the ONA family! Thank you for your ministry in northern Colorado! 🌈🌈

07/10/2026

Please join us in congratulating Congregational Church of North Stonington, CT as they are ONA church #1,958! Thank you for your faithful ONA process and witness, Congregational Church!

07/08/2026

Happy Pride month from Grinnell United Church of Christ in Iowa! They showed a beautiful spirit of community partnership for this year's Pride events, collaborating with other area churches, community organizers, and the local PFLAG chapter. The community had a "BIg Gay BBQ" (sign us up for that next year!😍) and hosted a Pride service the next day.
First photo is local PFLAG leaders and second photo is Monique Shore, President of PFLAG Grinnell/Poweshiek with Rev. Bonnie Lipton at Grinnell UCC.