Welcoming Congregation

To read about the history of Welcoming Congregation at FPC, click here.

As a Welcoming Congregation, we are committed to promoting the first Unitarian Universalist principle, which recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We strive to support civil rights and to foster understanding, and we welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people into our church family.

For more information on the Welcoming Congregation program, click here: Welcoming Congregation FAQs.

On March 29, 2009, Rev. Catherine Cullen and Sean Delmore, a transgender activist from Boston, preached a joint sermon celebrating diversity. Listen to it here.

The Welcoming Congregation Committee of First Parish in Duxbury was invited by First Parish in Cohasset to participate in a worship service on January 27, 2008. The Cohasset church is exploring the process of becoming a Welcoming Congregation, and Jim Hamilton of our committee joined Steve Brown and the Rev. Dr. Jan Carlsson-Bull of the Cohasset church in their pulpit . To read more about that event, click here: Welcoming Congregation in Cohasset.

FPC Demonstrates Support for Same-Sex Marriage

In November 2006, a group from First Parish Church went to the State House to demonstrate our support for same-sex marriage. It was a remarkable experience that you can learn more about, in words and photos, by clicking on this link: Demonstration

WE SUPPORT CIVIL RIGHTS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES
Our second Unitarian Universalist Principle concerns our search for justice. Attention is drawn to the 1,138 rights denied at the Federal level to same-sex couples. Massachusetts has made some corrections but more adjustment is needed in the areas listed below:

• Laws relating to the acquisition, ownership or transfer of real or personal property of estates or interstate succession.
• Laws relating to government protections, including worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, public assistance, transfer of licenses upon death, and ability to apply for absentee ballots and other documents for a spouse.
• Laws relating to domestic relations and family maintenance, including the rights and obligations of support during and after relationship division of marital property and evidentiary privileges.

For much more information that GLAD has gathered on the topic of marriage, please see: www.glad.org/marriage/

Welcoming Congregation Committee takes a stand on Boy Scout issue

The Welcoming Congregation Committee believes the Duxbury troop of the Boy Scouts of America should not be allowed to meet at First Parish Church on a permanent basis because of the national organization's policy to exclude gays from its membership and leadership. Our position on this matter is consistent with the Unitarian Universalist principles and our status as a Welcoming Congregation. This issue was reviewed by an ad hoc committee of First Parish Church and resulted in a new Building Use policy (see Building Use policy). In December of 2009, the Welcoming Congregation committee addressed the issue directly in a letter to the Boy Scouts of America (letter).  Moving forward, the church intends to work with the Unitarian Universalist Association to encourage the Boy Scouts of America to change its discriminatory policy.

You Can Get Married Here

First Parish Church was the first religious institution in Duxbury to perform a same-sex marriage. We are one of the few churches on the South Shore that conduct same-sex marriages in their sanctuaries. Alternatively, our minister will officiate at a same-sex wedding at a place of your choosing. For more information on using First Parish Facilities, please see our Weddings and Rentals page.