Welcome to our Open & Affirming Resource Page!
Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here.
What is Open and Affirming?
“Open and Affirming” (abbreviated ONA) is the nomenclature within the United Church of Christ that identifies a congregation as a welcoming, affirming, inclusive and safe space for all persons, regardless of gender identity or expression or sexual orientation.
Local churches that adopt an ONA position have gone through a process of study and reflection and, by congregational vote (of at least 90%), adopted a statement declaring themselves to be an Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ.
In March 2025 the congregation of Bay Shore Church voted to adopt the following ONA statement:
Bay Shore Church hereby declares itself to be an Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ. We welcome into the community, membership and leadership of our church all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
We also reaffirm our welcome to anyone who may seek solace, fellowship or participation in our church life, without regard to race, ethnicity, nationality, religious background, ability, age, marital status, or any other particularity of their humanity.
Please check out the resources below for more information:
Films
- For They Know Not What They Do (2019)
- For The Bible Tells Me So (2007)
- 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture (2022)
- Call Me Malcolm (2005)
DVDs of some of these films are available to borrow from the church and streaming options are also available.