First Time Visitors
From Interweave Continental
| Interweave Continental
Unitarian Universalists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns |
Welcome to the Interweave Continental web site!
We are
A spiritual community actively working toward ending oppression based on sexual orientation and gender identity, recognizing that we will not be free until all oppression is a thing of the past. We hold an abiding interest in celebrating diversity and improving the well-being of our world, ourselves, and all around us. We are an affiliate organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association(UUA) and Unitarian Universalist (UU) principles guide our work. By providing and supporting leadership and working in collaboration with other organizations of similar vision, we strive to connect and nurture all Queer individuals, communities, and groups and their allies.
You can read our Mission/Vision statement.
Interweave Continental was founded in the early 1970s and has a rich history.
We are led by a volunteer Board who covenant together to run the organization according to the Interweave bylaws.
Join us
Become a Member
Interweave Continental is a membership-based organization. Membership has many benefits. You can join Interweave Continental in one of two ways: as an individual member or as part of an Interweave Chapter.
Participate in discussions
Interweave sponsors three email discussion lists through the UUA: general discusson, bisexuality concerns, and support for chapter leaders. Anyone can sign up to join the general and bi lists; if you want to join the chapter leaders list, you'll have to be approved by the moderators (don't worry; if you're part of a chapter or interested in starting one, we'll approve you—being moderated simply keeps the focus on chapters). Click on a list name to join!
- Interweave-d—general discussion of BGLT issues
- Interweave-bi—discussion of issues relating specifically to bisexuality
- Interweave-chapterleaders—support and news for leaders (or potential leaders) of Interweave chapters
There are also several UUA-sponsored lists of interest to queer folk. Again, click on a list name to join.
- BGILT News—queer-related news items
- BGLTQQ Youth—a list for queer youth
- Lambda—connection and support for BGLT ministers and seminarians
- WC-d—discussion and support for congregations going through the Welcoming Congregation Program
For a list of all UUA-sponsored lists (you may find a few more to your liking!) click here.
Participate in community discussions on this website.
Come to Convo or General Assembly
Each year, we hold an Interweave Convocation that brings together folks from around the continent. Convo features a keynote address, workshops, small group discussions, worship services, and plenty of time to network and learn from one another. Interweave also has events at General Assembly, including a dinner and workshops. Our sermon contest winner gives their winning sermon, and we present the Mark deWolfe Award to a UU who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to improving life for queer folk. Get more detail on the upcoming Convo and GA on our Interweave Continental Events page.
Join Us On Facebook
Interweave Continental has a Facebook page! If you're on Facebook too, search for our group and join. You'll be able to connect with other Interweave supporters and get news about Interweave activities and upcoming events.
If you are not out in your current faith community
Living Openly in Your Place of Worship [PDF 600KB]* from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an excellent resource for considering whether or not to come out, what to do if you can't come out, and how to come out if you decide to. It has an excellent list of queer-friendly resources specifically for Unitarian Universalists, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Mennonites, Brethren, United Methodists, Presbyterians, Cathoics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and other Christians.
Resources
Some of these sites have inspirational quotes, sermons, recordings, and pointers to other resources for spiritual growth and celebration. Some of these sites have information on Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist ideas, thought, and what is being done on various fronts.
Also check out the
<- Sidebar for lots more information and places to look.
Web Sites
- Canadian Unitarian Counsel / Conseil Unitarien du Canada (CUC): the US denomination. If you live in the US, check here to see if there is a congregation near you. Also check out the CUC Gender and Sexual Diversity Monitoring Group.
- Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA): the Canada denomination. If you live in Canada, check here to see if there is a congregation near you. Also check out the UUA Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns, the Welcoming Congregation Program, and the Beyond Categorical Thinking (BCT).
- International Counsel of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU): Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist denominations and congregations around the world. If you live elsewhere than the US or Canada, check here to see if there is a congregation near you.
- Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF): an internet-based international congregation for Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists who are isolated from local congregations by geography or choice.
- Church of the Younger Fellowship (CYF): a unique Unitarian Universalist spiritual community and worship space designed for UU young adults, ages 18-35, from all over the world. This is a specialized ministry of CLF. See CYF History for more about why this is important for isolated youth and young adults. You can also sponsor a young adult member of your congregation, supporting them in remaining connected members of the Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist community when they move away for school, work, or family.
- International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF): an NGO with general consultative status at the UN that works for freedom of religion and belief, with over 90 affiliated member groups in approximately 25 countries, from a wide range of faith traditions including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Shintoism and Sikhism.
- Our GA Index is an excellent way to find about Unitarianism, Universalism, and Unitarian Universalism by looking at the kinds of workshops and worship experiences at their annual conferences.
- UU Wiki: dedicated to helping Unitarian Universalists share ideas and work together.
UU blogs
- http://www.philocrites.com/archives/000587.html - Philocrites annotated guide to UU blogs
- http://uupdates.net/sites.php - List of Syndicated UU sites, mostly UU blogs
- http://kinja.com/favorites/uublogs
- http://www.globeofblogs.com/?x=topic&topic=513
Unitarian, Universalist, Unitarian Universalist: what's the difference?
Interweave Continental respects the cultural differences between Canada and the US, and between the Canadian Unitarian Counsel / Conseil Unitarien du Canada (CUC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
- The CUC uses "Unitarian and Universalist", "Unitarians and Universalists", "Unitarianism and Universalism".
- The UUA uses "Unitarian Universalist", "Unitarian Universalists", and "Unitarian Universalism".
We often honor these cultural differences by using phrases like "Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist" when referring to people or congregations across both denominations or in the ICUU.
