LGBTQ+ Life at FCCE

You are God’s Beloved, and You are Welcome Here.

At First Congregational Church of Evanston (FCCE), LGBTQ+ inclusion is not just something we do in June. It’s personal to us.

Inclusion at FCCE means full participation in the life of the church, not just welcome at the margins. We believe that every person is made in the image of God, in the fullness of their gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. Our LGBTQ+ members, friends, and families are deeply woven into the fabric of our community.

What does that look like?

  • Leadership & Service: Queer folks serve in every area of church life—on staff, the Church Council, the choir, as deacons and beyond. They preach, serve communion, teach, and lead.

  • Worship & Formation: We honor queer voices and experiences in our worship and study. That includes services like Trans Day of Visibility, and Advent and Lenten reflections shaped by queer saints, scholars, and theologians.

  • Support for LGBTQ+ Families: We joyfully celebrate weddings, baptisms, and family milestones. Our children’s ministry and intergenerational programs are unreservedly inclusive and affirming.

  • Public Witness: We launched Evanston’s only Interfaith Family Pride Festival—a free, joy-filled, family-friendly celebration that brings hundreds of our neighbors to Raymond Park every June.

At FCCE, LGBTQ+ inclusion isn’t an initiative—it’s an expression of our faith. It's how we live the Gospel. And it’s how we show, in every season, that LGBTQ+ people are essential members of our FCCE family!

OUR LGBTQ+ COMMITMENTS

Open and Affirming Statement  

As an inclusive congregation, we welcome all faith journeys and all families. We are an open and affirming community of faith that celebrates people of every age, ability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and national origin.

Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches

We are a member of the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches. The Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches is a collaboration of more than 100 churches and other ministries in the Chicago metropolitan area which welcome and affirm people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Our Denomination

For more than 400 years, the United Church of Christ has been the church of firsts, weaving God’s message of hope and extravagant welcome with action for justice and peace. The UCC was the first historically white denomination to ordain an African-American, the first to ordain a woman, the first to ordain an openly gay man, and the first Christian church to affirm the right of same-gender couples to marry. 

Founded in 1972, the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ advocates for and supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, and queer individuals, equipping UCC congregations to fully embody Christ’s extravagant affirmation. Through education, advocacy, and community-building, the Coalition empowers churches to become bold witnesses for LGBTQ+ justice and inclusion, ensuring that all people are celebrated as beloved children of God.