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.

How to Become (More) Affirming

There are a couple of events this month, intended to help those who are considering an official "welcoming process." Many Christian denominations have procedures through which a congregation can be recognized as officially welcoming of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and same-gender-loving people and listed in a national directory.  The following events cater to specific faith traditions, but welcome all who may have questions.

Southeast Pennsylvania UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns

Reconciling United Methodists of Eastern Pennsylvania

  • January 31, 2010, 3pm
  • Swarthmore United Methodist Church (129 Park Ave. Swarthmore, PA 19081)
  • Contact 610-543-2110 for more details

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!

February

Out & Faithful's Second Annual Interfaith Breakfast

  • Rev. Chris Glaser as guest speaker on the theme of marriage equality for same sex partners, breakfast is included!
  • Friday, February 12, 7:30 am
  • William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA)
  • $30 for individuals/$200 for tables of 8.
  • RSVP deadline is Monday, February 8 to Candice Thompson at cthompson@waygay.org or 215-732-2200.

Do Justice, Love Mercy: Advocacy for Faith Communities

  • Interfaith gathering including concurrent workshops on immigration reform, LGBTQ issues, and environmental concerns
  • Saturday, February 20, 2010, 1-5 pm
  • Central Baptist Church (106 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, PA)
  • Register at http://www.cbcwayne.org by February 18, 2010. For more information, contact Katy Friggle-Norton (kfrigglenorton (at) gmail (dot) com) or call the church office, 610-688-0664, Mon.- Thurs. 

PFLAG Philadelphia - February Meeting

  • Dan Anders is the first openly gay male judge in Pennsylvania and serves on Philadelphia's Court of Common Pleas will share his story.
  • February 21, 2010, 2-5pm
  • LGBT Center also know as the Carriage House at the University of Pennsylvania (3907 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104)
  • PFLAG generally meets the third Sunday of the month. For more information Call 215-572-1833 or visit the PFLAG web site at www.pflagphila.org

March

Soulforce Equality Ride 2010

  • The Equality Ride is a traveling forum that gives young adults the chance to deconstruct injustice and the rhetoric that sustains it. It allows emerging young leaders to unite in the struggle for common equality.
  • Valley Forge Christian College (Phoenixville, PA)
  • March 5, 2010
  • For more information: www.soulforce.org/article/1602

Rev. Cameron Partridge at Bryn Mawr College

  • Cameron is a Bryn Mawr College alum, transgender man, and Episcopal priest.  He'll share his story with Bryn Mawr students and visitors.
  • March 25, 2010, 8pm
  • Bryn Mawr College (Bryn Mawr, PA)
  • Details pending, but please save the date!
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