Welcome to the

The central organizing tool of the YES! Coalition is the Guide to Welcoming Congregations. The online Guide lists over 250 faith communities, including their location, contact information, and a direct link to the congregations’ websites.

  • Learn more about how your faith community can become a part of this list!
  • It's not too late to join as a partner congregation for 2010!
  • We welcome congregations and groups from Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, including Northern Delaware, South and Central New Jersey, Northeastern Maryland, Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania.
  • Not a faith community?  We also welcome listings from LGBTQQ/SGL affirming organizations that affirm and nurture spirituality as part of their mission.

Please join our email mailing list to keep up-to-date on the latest YES! Coalition news!

A special thank you to Tabernacle United Church, which has become the YES! Coalition's first sponsoring congregation.

Connect. Engage. Dream.

The YES! Coalition
invites you to join us
for our first annual meeting

June 7, 2010, 7-9 pm

at Collenbrook United Church in Drexel Hill, PA

RSVPs are requested but not required.
Contact rsvp (at) yescoalitionphilly (dot) org

[ Read more about it! ]

YES! News

Check out our News page for past newsletter content. And don't miss our Outreach page for a list of upcoming outreach opportunities.

Sign Up for YES! email news alerts

Upcoming Public Events

Send your listings to info (at) yescoalitionphilly (dot) org.  Please be sure to include who is sponsoring and who is welcome, when it will be, where it be, cost of participation, and what will be happening. Website links with more details are especially encouraged! Please contact us at least three weeks in advance of your event so we can have time to get the word out.

September

Gateway to Religious Communities visits The First Unitarian Church-Unitarian Universalist

  • One in a series of interfaith explorations, sponsored by The Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia.  Several of the participating communities are affiliated with the YES! Coalition.
  • Sunday, September 12, 2010, 10:15am
  • 2125 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
  • website: www.philauu.org
  • Registration is required for this event. For more information and to register online, visit www.interfaithcenterpa.org/involved/gateway-reg.php

Sisterly Conversations 2010: Honoring Our Diversities

  • A gathering of lesbian, bisexual, transgender women, and allies. This year we will focus on honoring our community’s great diversities: of gender identities, lifestyles, political outlooks, religious and spiritual practices, races/colors, health issues, ages, levels of "outness," etc.
  • September 10-12, 2010
  • Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center, 2495 Fox Gap Road, Bangor, PA 18013
  • Presented by Mary E. Hunt and Virginia R. Mollenkott
  • Registration is required for this event. For more information and to register online, visit www.kirkridge.org/programs/current-programs/9/10-to-9/12/2010---sisterly-conversations---mollenkott-and-hunt-294-167.html

Gender Identity and Our Faith Communities

  • Please join friends from across Pennsylvania and New Jersey and across denominations for an exciting workshop that will empower people of faith with the knowledge and skills necessary to transform their communities and congregations into welcoming environments committed to transgender justice and equality.
  • Presented by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. This workshop will be facilitated by Allyson Robinson, Associate Director of Diversity at the HRC. Read Allyson's bio here: www.hrc.org/about_us/11416.htm
  • Saturday, September 25, 2010, 10am-2pm
  • Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill, 401 North Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
  • Lunch will be provided
  • Registration is required for this event. For more information and to register online, visit: www.hrc.org/GenderFaithCherryHill

October

Gateway to Religious Communities visits the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Religious Society of Friends

  • One in a series of interfaith explorations, sponsored by The Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia.  Several of the participating communities are affiliated with the YES! Coalition.
  • Sunday, October 17, 2010, 10:30am
  • 1515 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102
  • website: www.pym.org
  • Registration is required for this event. For more information and to register online, visit www.interfaithcenterpa.org/involved/gateway-reg.php

Agape 2010: Sacred Shift!

  • In its sixteenth year, Agape is an annual retreat for transgender, bisexual, lesbian, gay and other adults aged 18 to 35 who come to celebrate the wild beauty of the mountains that hold and surround Kirkridge. This year, through the art of storytelling, you are invited to awaken and be awakened by spiritual transitions and transformations.
  • October 22-24, 2010
  • Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center, 2495 Fox Gap Road, Bangor, PA 18013
  • Presented by Grace Fala and Neill Johnson
  • Registration is required for this event. For more information and to register online, visit: www.kirkridge.org/programs/current-programs/10/22-to-10/24/2010---agape-2010---fala-and-johnson-300-167.html

Building an Inclusive Church workshop and training

  • A workshop from the Institute for Welcoming Resources. Perhaps you are a leader (lay or ordained) in a congregation which is considering becoming welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (lgbt) persons. Perhaps you are committed deeply to helping other congregations in your denomination become more welcoming of lgbt folks. Either scenario means that this training will be very helpful to you in honing your skills and gaining more knowledge about how to help congregations through those tough conversations toward a more fully inclusive church.
  • November 19-21, 2010
  • University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, 3637 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA
  • website: www.welcomingresources.org
  • Registration is required for this event. For more information and to register: www.welcomingresources.org/PhiladephiaPAInfoPacket.pdf

December

Gateway to Religious Communities visits Mishkan Shalom-Reconstructionist Synagogue

  • One in a series of interfaith explorations, sponsored by The Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia.  Several of the participating communities are affiliated with the YES! Coalition.
  • December 2010---TBA
  • 4101 Freeland Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128
  • website: www.mishkan.org
  • Registration is required for this event. For more information and to register online, visit www.interfaithcenterpa.org/involved/gateway-reg.php
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