Walpole’s United Church celebrates Pride

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Six months after anti-LGBTQ protesters began picketing outside of worship services at United Church in Walpole, the congregation on the common has not wavered in faith, and continues to stand proudly for the full inclusion of everyone. With June being LGBTQ Pride Month, the historic congregation welcomed the opportunity to continue Pride traditions, as well as try new ways of extending their love to the entire community, with the goal of wishing everyone in Walpole a “Happy Pride!”

United Church celebrated diversity by proudly displaying rainbow flags and banners in front of their church building. For the 4th year in a row, the church marched with other United Church of Christ (UCC) churches from Massachusetts as a delegation in the Boston Pride parade. On that glorious, sunny early June day, ten members from United Church joined scores of other church folks and thousands of other marchers in a prideful celebration through the streets of Boston. For LGBTQ people who have been marginalized or ostracized by churches, the marching delegation of supportive pastors and church members was a welcome sight.

United Church in Walpole is designated as an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ. That means the congregation voted to be intentionally open to all and affirming of the full inclusion of LGBTQ people in the church's life and ministry.

To read the United Church in Walpole’s Open and Affirming public covenant, visit www.unitedwalpole.org/ona.