Coalition Programs
Photo by Christine Allender.
Year-Round Programs
We work throughout the year to spread the message of inclusion and to connect our members to one another and
to resources of interest to welcoming faith communities.
Weekly Advertisement
in the
Windy City Times
Justice Witness on behalf of the CCWC, Planning Team members author relevant press releases and letters, and also
sign petitions (for example, on marriage equality). In addition, we may encourage attendance in area protests, vigils and
other gatherings for social change.
Group Emails:
Join the Coalition's Email List!
Coalition Calendar: The Coalition's calendar advertises events related to
LGBTQ inclusion. Partner organizations may contact info@chicagowelcomingchurches.org
for access. (Non-members may email the Coalition
to submit announcements to the calendar.)
Occasional Gatherings are held three or four times a year. These are usually a blend of fellowship, worship and work.
Pride-Month Programs
Coalition Worship Service(s) feature ecumenical and LGBTQ pride themes during the month of June.
Other Events: A wide array of worship and educational events are hosted by our partners and/or cosponsored by the
Coalition.
Pride Parade Witness: Each year, we turn out in force for an impressive witness of welcome in the Annual Chicago
Pride Parade. For the last several years, 300-400 members of our partner organizations have marched together representing
the Coalition.
Photo by Christine Allender.
Service Opportunities
Our members and partners have many opportunities to support LGBTQ acceptance, inclusion and equality. We are developing a list of opportunities such as these:
Broadway Youth Center
Broadway Youth Center is a part of Howard Brown Health and is a haven for LGBTQ youth and young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Here, young people find a safe community as well as medical, social and mental health care services. All services are for youth, ages 12 to 24 regardless of their ability to pay.
Because we do not have a kitchen, the Center relies on food donations to provide breakfast and lunches for homeless youths. We are looking for partners to help us continue our meal program.
Partner congregations may provide anything from one meal a month, twice a month, or once a week, so whatever a church can assist with would be helpful.
For more information about how your congregation can participate, please, contact Tali Levy-Bernstein at TalliL@howardbrown.org. For more information about The Broadway Youth Center, visit howardbrown.org/byc/.
LGBT Refugees in Chicago
Chicago LGBT Asylum Support Program (CLASP) is an outgrowth of a nationwide group called LGBT Faith & Asylum Network (LGBT-FAN) which is dedicated to helping people who are seeking safety in the U.S. because of persecution based on
sexual orientation or gender identity in their home countries. CLASP organizers hope to set an example in Chicago and be a model for other cities wanting to help this community.
CLASP is asking for help:
- Identifying apartments or rooms in homes that can be used for a minimum of 6 months.
- Providing volunteer jobs while asylum seekers wait to receive asylum.
- Making tax-deductible gifts of money, food and clothing for asylum seekers who may
have fled with nothing.
The offering taken at the Coalition's 2014 Ecumenical Pride Service went to CLASP.
Donations can be made in care of Broadway United Methodist Church.
Photo by Christine Allender.
How Churches May Become Coalition Partners
Please download these forms if your congregation is interested in becoming a member of the Coalition.
- Member Benefits: Outlines aspects of membership, benefits and dues for prospective member congregations
- Response Form: For congregational representatives to fill out to apply for membership
Contact us at info@chicagowelcomingchurches.org.
Co-Sponsored Programs
Co-sponsored programs include:
- Pride worship services during June
- Events that CCWC volunteer leaders envision, and for which they reach out for co-sponsorship for logistical/outreach support from one or more local church
- Events that CCWC members envision and for which they seek CCWC name for co-sponsorship
Co-sponsored programs are expected to be ecumenical.
Co-sponsored programs include these mutual benefits and responsibilities:
- The use of all parties' logo and name on publicity materials
- Distribution on-site of all parties' literature to the full degree desired
- The opportunity for a representative of CCWC to bring greetings and raise awareness of CCWC
- When an offering is taken, part or all of it will go to CCWC
- Publicity of the event will be a shared responsibility
Co-sponsorship will be considered and approved by the entire Planning Team.
Photo by Christine Allender.
Our Partner's Programs
We are pleased to highlight the events of our partner organizations, as well the work of organizations who share our passion for LGBTQ inclusion and equality.
Partner organizations may promote their events on the Coalition's calendar. Events of other organizations may be posted
upon approval.
Unless specifically indicated, events are not co-sponsored by the Coalition.
Coalition History
CCWC was born in August 2000 following the WOW2000 conference, the first nationwide conference of the ecumenical Welcoming Churches Movement. Held in DeKalb, Illinois,
the conference planning was led by a number of Chicago-area LGBTQ people and their allies who committed to nurturing further local collaboration. Since its founding,
the Coalition has grown from those first few member congregations to a list of over 80 churches and affiliates.
The CCWC Bylaws.