Gateway ONA

03/13/2026

From the 2026 Open and Affirming Convocation held on March 7, 2026 at Parkway United Church of Christ, this is the link to the opening worship, coordinated by the Rev. Jen Einspahr and keynote address presented by the Rev. Derek Terry, Interim Executive Director of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ. Worship begins at 21:45 and the keynote begins at 45:15.

Sacred, Seen, & Called

03/07/2026

Flowers by Walter Knoll Florists for the 2026 Convocation at Parkway UCC in St. Louis.

02/04/2026

Registration Link:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/open-and-affirming-annual-convocation

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Derek Terry, (he/him) Acting Executive Director of the
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ
and part-time pastor of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He is a nationally known pastor, artist, and activist committed to justice, inclusion, and creative resistance.

Doors open and light breakfast available at 8:00 AM
Worship begins at 9:00 AM

We are once again collecting canned goods to donate to Doorways. We will collect these at the door.

The Eden Seminary Bookstore will have resources available during the event.

Bring your travel mug and enjoy refreshment during the day.

Please complete a separate registration and email address for each person.
Registration cost: $25.00

Registration Link:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/open-and-affirming-annual-convocation

Any questions, contact Lorin Cope at [email protected] or 314-772-4772

Workshops for 2026
Gender Inclusivity; Leader: Jordan Braxton (she/her/hers)
ONA 101 The ONA Process; Leader: Barb Biedenstein (she/her/hers)
The Sacred Honor of Parenting our Trans Kids; Leaders: Lisa Brennan (she/her), Kyle Friels (he/him), Rene Friels (she/her), Karen Rudolph (she/her), Nancy Slusarski (she/her)
Trans in StL - My Experience; Leader: Krissy Avis-Rouse (they/them/she/her)
ONA 201 Living into Your ONA Covenant; Leaders: Rev. Richard Oberle (he/him) and Ashley Ramirez (she/they)
Legislative Issues; Leaders: Katy Erker-Lynch (she/they) & Atem Richardson (they/them)
The Wide Wonderful World of Advocacy: Be Not Afraid; Leader: Jeanette Mott Oxford (ze/zir/zirs)

Purple Sundays A Unique Way to Support Brain Health and Connection; Leader: Sarah Lovegreen (she/her)

Finding My Place; Leader: Beth Boemler (she/her)

Seeds for the Resistance?; Leader: Rev. Monty Jackson (he/him)

Joy at the Crossroads: Intersectionality, Faith, and Resistance; Leader: Rev. Derek Terry (he/him)
Biblical “Clobber” Texts: Leader: Rev. Dr. Deb Krause (she/her)

Rejecting the Christian Nationalist Homophobic Bible and Reclaiming the Heart of Our Faith; Leader; Rev. Dr. Deb Krause (she/her)

Having Difficult Conversations; Leader: Rev. LaVetta J. Ross (she/her)

09/24/2025

Drag Queen Bingo Fundraiser benefiting both the United Church of Christ Open and Affirming Coalition and Alliance Q of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). October 25 Doors open at 6:00 pm; games start at 6:30 pm. Cost is $25.00. You may bring food and snacks, decorate your table and have fun. All happening at Parkway United Church of Christ just south of I-64 next to Missouri Baptist Medical Center. Registration link: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zeffy.com%2Fen-US%2Fticketing%2Fannual-drag-queen-bingo%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWjdJaGdWVWs3OERxUFVlSQEe76jIAKnSE0H0ygJymKG0Z3wCik0UEY2rcSFVEOFlwFR5f7uhvnJXsejixt0_aem_SBTX56JBHpqQmRNnEFdDMQ&h=AT2umjGQjpxtwcJS1Qcyf5nZ15ldmbcbuP_PXlrfANaJ71dNpElGuL-NIufKfC0XwmG4xfLsUn15H_R0gOtPlbFDWqt9sCLXcrRLNq24dIqlSeRuHiT-yduGYK0a5bRsO2984KhbuwXcZpNAH8haNOx1JHUcHw&__tn__=q&c[0]=AT1d7PBjDGdLZsdETbbsuPD2cl0ttdQi9YemkAhpGNDrbcrcovQdBtsx-_gNfnhBspAdKeiDnPBYWgJPjZLDqcIRYZo8U7UaQEJkiTqUBHW4iAPVAg5zt698srenXU7fy8yHIhL5yjlw8sCyUf01cK7exbiJhtbkmhM

🎉 Gateway Open and Affirming Coalition's annual fundraising event benefiting both the United Church of Christ Open and Affirming Coalition and the Disciples of Christ Alliance Q. Decorate your table, bring wonderful food, bid on Silent Auction items, and have lots of fun. Parkway UCC requests tha...

09/16/2025

QRC for Volunteers at Tower Grove Pride, September 27-28

09/16/2025

Sign-up to volunteer at the Gateway ONA tent at Tower Grove Pride. Use this link:

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

06/13/2025

06/07/2025

"It is nice to have an opportunity to be a small part of (a local church's ONA) discernment this Pride Month - for while the Pride celebrations in large, urban areas often get the most media coverage, it is the witness that happens in smaller communities across our country that determines how far we will progress in the march toward equality and the recognition of the sacred worth of every human being."

Shared, with permission, from a June 7th, 2025 Facebook post by Rev. Craig Peterson, Associate Conference Minister of the Central Atlantic Conference, serving the New Jersey Association of the United Church of Christ.

06/07/2025

🌈 Happy June & Joyful Pride Month from the Open and Affirming Coalition! 🌈

We celebrate this sacred truth: LGBTQ+ people are beloved, called, and beautifully made.

Join us in this holy celebration:

📅 Give OUT Day is June 5:
Early giving is open now! Your gift equips churches, supports LGBTQ+ people of faith, and fuels justice. Give + invite others: https://www.giveoutday.org/story/7htgrf

📖 Download our free Pride Devotional
“Sacred, Seen, and Called” offers 30 days of reflections to deepen your Pride journey. Download Here:https://d2dgo7ivtbkyn1.cloudfront.net/images/openandaffirming/complete%20ona%20pride%20month%20devotional%202025.pdf

🕊️ Get our ONA Sunday Worship Resource
Perfect for June 29 worship—includes liturgy, prayers & readings. Check it out here: https://openandaffirming.org/2025-ona-sunday-worship-resources/

🌍 Meet us at World Pride in DC!
March, worship, or volunteer with us. More information here: https://www.ucc.org/people-of-the-ucc-invited-to-show-up-boldly-visibly-together-at-worldpride-2025-in-washington-d-c/

📣 Register for the 2025 ONA National Gathering
Join us in KC, July 9–10, just before General Synod. Register here: https://openandaffirming.networkforgood.com/events/83144-2025-open-and-affirming-national-gathering

Let’s celebrate, resist, and rise—together. Share your Pride stories: [email protected]

06/07/2025

06/06/2025

https://www.giveoutday.org/story/7htgrf

Give $10 to support LGBTQ+ inclusion. Giving Hope. Growing Love. Early giving starts May 22.