First United Church of Tampa, UCC

Hospitality is a key teaching of the Bible. It is much more than good manners; it is the second commandment of Jesus Christ: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There are 31,110 verses in the Bible. Sadly, many churches have taken five or six verses out of their historical context in order to practice a harsh inhospitality toward persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Just as persons are born left-handed, while the majority are right-handed, so too, some of us are born homosexual rather than heterosexual. It is not a lifestyle. It is not a choice. It is how we are created by a loving God who knows, more than we, the value of diversity.

At First United, we have made a conscious biblically-based, and even more important, a loving choice. Jesus Christ is for all! No one is left out! We choose to practice the loving hospitality that says, "We welcome all people here. It matters not to us whether you are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, single, married, partnered, or divorced. You are welcome here."

In the United Church of Christ, churches that have declared themselves "Open and Affirming" are welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. First United welcomes you regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity. Please join us in the life and ministry of our church. You are welcome here!

Please click here to learn more about the Open and Affirming Program in the United Church of Christ.

Many churches make a blanket statements, such as, "We welcome everyone" or "All are welcome here." However, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons don't always feel that the words "everyone" or "all" include them. To erase any doubt about our welcoming stance, First United officially declared itself (by a unanimous congregational resolution) an "Open and Affirming" church in the United Church of Christ. (A resolution from General Synod 15 encourages local congregations to adopt a Covenant of Openness and Affirmation of persons of lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientation. In addition, a resolution from General Synod 24 calls for the welcome and affirmation of transgender persons into the full life of the UCC.) Because LGBT persons have gifts and talents to offer our church and have often been discouraged from being "out" in church (or from participating altogether), we at First United reject the silence, condemnation, and discrimination that have been historically aimed at our LGBT sisters and brothers. In addition, an "Open and Affirming" message helps to counter the notion that "Christians think that being LGBT is sinful." It affirms that sexuality is a gift from God, as its responsible and loving expression. God's Spirit is present in persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

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First United Church of Tampa, UCC · 7308 E. Fowler Ave. · Tampa, FL 33617 · 813-988-4321