UCC congregations participate in Pride celebrations around the country      Written by Emily Schappacher 

Events celebrating LGBT Pride have taken place throughout the country during the month of June and United Church of Christ congregations are embracing the opportunity to publically show their welcoming inclusion of all. Nearly 350 members of Cleveland-area UCC congregations and staff from the denomination's national headquarters joined in the Cleveland Pride Parade, Rally and Festival on Saturday, June 28. As in 2013, when more than 200 supporters came out for the event, the UCC once again boasted the biggest turnout of any faith group in Cleveland Pride's 26-year history. The church also stepped up as an official sponsor of Pride for the second year in a row."Not a big surprise," said the Rev. Linda Jaramillo, an executive officer of the UCC, of the church's large turnout.

"As people of faith, we wave our rainbow flags of inclusion," said Stuart during his blessing. "The flags symbolize, for me, that Jesus did not come to make us feel comfortable. He came to make us straighten up in anger, to fight for equality for all our sisters and brothers, and never to be satisfied until all are free."

Members from First Congregational Church of Sonoma UCC in Sonoma, Calif., marched in the 44th Annual San Francisco Gay Pride Parade, one of the largest LGBT gatherings in the nation, on Sunday, June 29. A highlight of the church's participation is the "Church Ladies for Gay Rights," a group of women who dress up to portray an unexpected contingent of LGBT equality supporters. Members from UCC Longmont in Longmont, Colo., also marched in their local parade and hosted a table at the festival. This year's Longmont Pride event was held downtown in a more visible location than in year's past, which participants saw as a positive step forward."This is sort of a coming out party for Longmont Pride," said the Rev. Rick King, senior minister of UCC Longmont.

Grace UCC in Frederick, Md., recognized Pride 2014 with a guest sermon from the Rev. Frank Schaefer, the Methodist pastor who was defrocked for performing his son's same-sex wedding, but was reinstated by an appeals panel on June 24. The Rev. Rob A

pgar-Taylor, pastor of Grace UCC, invited Schaefer to be a part of his church's Pride celebration back in March, as Schaefer is "a man who put his ministry on the line when he didn't have to." For Apgar-Taylor, a former ordained elder in the United Methodist Church who had to choose between his ministry and his same-sex relationship before coming to the UCC five years ago, Schaefer's visit was very meaningful. 

"He chose to stand up for his son and be counted so that others like me would be treated with more dignity and fairness," Apgar-Taylor said. "We had no idea how timely his visit would be."  Grace UCC's Pride ecumenical service also included a candle lighting litany to remember those who are a part of the LGBTQ community. The service incorporated pastors and laity from the UCC, UMC and MCC traditions.  "My congregation is an ONA congregation and we take that calling very seriously, even helping to plant a new ONA congregation in another part of our association where it was sorely needed," Apgar-Taylor said. "Having the ecumenical Pride service here is just a natural fit for who we see ourselves to be."

Members from Zion UCC in Delaware, Ohio, were part of a group of 200 from the Central Southeast Association of the Ohio Conference of the UCC who participated in Columbus Pride on June 21. While Zion UCC has represented itself as ONA since 2008 and has participated in Pride events in the past, the church got its formal designation as an Open 

and Affirming UCC congregation just last month. The church also recently welcomed two same-sex couples into its membership, so the Rev. Jon Peterson, pastor of Zion UCC, said this year's parade was an important event for many reasons.  "We used our formal designation as a jumping off point," said Peterson. "This year's event was a show of support and solidarity and a public representation of who we are as God's people."

One thing Peterson noticed during this year's parade was the participation of a number of corporations and their employees that took part in Pride for the first time. He also noticed a significant decline in the number of anti-gay protestors, who had historically made their presence clearly known. He recalls marching with several others in support of LGBT diversity during a community parade that took place in Delaware about five years ago, and having protestors yell, scream and throw things at their group. 

The lack of opposition and the outpouring of love and support the group experienced at this year's Pride parade was, for Peterson, a positive indication that the times are most certainly changing.  "What a stark comparison in just that short period of time," Peterson said. "The opening of hearts over the years and the presence of those that wouldn't be expected to participate was a wonderful sign."