ELLINGTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH United Church of Christ

CALL TO SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

To the Members of Ellington Congregational Church:

You are hereby notified that a Special Congregational Meeting of Ellington
Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026, immediately following the worship service, in the Social Room.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and vote on a motion to adopt the Ellington Congregational Church Open and Affirming Welcome Statement, thereby declaring Ellington Congregational Church an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ.

OUR DISCERNMENT JOURNEY
This topic was one of six major themes brought forward by the congregation to the church Visioning Team. In response, the Open and Affirming Committee began working with the congregation to discern whether Ellington Congregational Church should be certified as an Open and Affirming church. The Committee's work began before the pandemic and was interrupted both by the pandemic itself and by changes in our ministerial staff. Following a period of congregational reflection led by our Intentional Interim Minister, Pastor Joanne Myer, the work of the Open and Affirming Committee was resumed.

  1. This discernment process has included:
    One-on-one conversations with the majority of congregation members.
  2. Conversations with many of the church's boards, committees, and other groups.
  3. Several surveys gathering information about the hopes and concerns of congregation members regarding what it means to become Open and Affirming.
  4. Questions and Answers from the congregation and committee, shared in church, and online.
  5. Small group discussions on topics including:
    Discussions around the common questions asked by congregation
    members.
    What the congregation would like to see in a Welcome Statement
    How should we show the public that we’re Open and Affirming?
  6. Educational events and Bible studies, including:
    Open and Affirming themed worship services, including sermons and
    testimonials.
    What is Sexual Orientation, Gender Expression, and Identity?
    A study of Bible verses that discuss sexuality and/or gender.                                        Bible study on Extravagant Welcoming.                                                                          A panel discussion by congregation members about their life experiences
    and how we may better see and support one another (coming later in May
    2026).

The Committee has carefully considered all that the congregation has expressed and believes that the congregation's vision of an Open and Affirming church is faithfully reflected in the Welcome Statement below.

THE MOTION
I move that Ellington Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, adopt the following Open and Affirming Welcome Statement, thereby declaring ourselves an Open and Affirming congregation, and that this statement be submitted to the UCC Open and Affirming Coalition for certification. This motion shall be adopted upon receiving an affirmative vote of at least 80% of members present and voting or who have submitted an absentee ballot.

NOTES ON THE VOTE AND MEETING
Attending the Meeting: Members are welcome to attend the congregational meeting either in person in the Social Room or virtually via Zoom. Those attending via Zoom will be able to participate fully in the discussion. Innformation on how to access the Zoom meeting will be distributed separately.
Important: The Prudential Committee has adopted a Behavioral Covenant to be
used at all church meetings. Copies of this covenant will be handed out and read
by the attendees at the start of the meeting.

Voting: There are two ways to cast your vote. Members attending in person may vote at the meeting. Members who are unable to attend in person, including those participating via Zoom, must vote by absentee ballot prior to the meeting. Absentee ballots may be requested from the church office and must be returned to the office, either in person, via mail or electronically, no later than Friday, June 5, 2026. Please note that, if you return your ballot electronically, the church office will see your vote, however when the ballot is counted, it will be anonymous. All other absentee ballots will be completely anonymous. Please note that voting will not be available through Zoom during the meeting itself.

What does an affirmative vote mean? Should the motion receive an affirmative vote of at least 80% of members present and voting or who have submitted an absentee ballot, Ellington Congregational Church will apply for Open and Affirming certification through the UCC Open and Affirming Coalition.
Should the motion receive an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds but less than 80% of members present and voting or who have submitted an absentee ballot, Ellington Congregational Church will continue its Open and Affirming journey and its commitment to the values expressed in the Welcome Statement, while deferring the application for official certification at this time. Should the motion receive less than a two-thirds affirmative vote of members present and voting or who have submitted an absentee ballot, we will take that as an indication that our congregation needs more time for reflection and discernment. The Open and Affirming process will pause, with the understanding that it may be revisited at a future time when the congregation is ready to continue the journey.

This notice is issued in accordance with the bylaws of Ellington Congregational Church, requiring a minimum of seven days advance notice for special congregational meetings.

Respectfully submitted,
Betsy Cottle
Clerk, Ellington Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
Dated: June 8, 2026

Please read the proposed Welcome Statement on the next page.

ELLINGTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OPEN AND AFFIRMING WELCOME STATEMENT
We, the members of Ellington Congregational Church, proclaim our belief that every person is created in God's image and deserving of God's love and grace. We covenant with God and each other to affirm the dignity and worth of every individual. Alike and yet different, each person brings unique gifts and talents to our community of faith.

Jesus taught us"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself". (Luke 10:27)

In this spirit, we seek to offer a safe, non-judgmental space for every person who
wishes to know God, acknowledging that we have not always lived up to this calling, and that some come to us carrying those wounds. We welcome every individual into the full life and ministry of this congregation, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, culture, faith background, education, economic circumstance, family structure, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or differing physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities.

As an Open and Affirming church, we recognize that becoming truly inclusive is a continuous journey that calls us to reflect, learn, and grow together. With the strength of God's guidance, we will embody this covenant with open minds and compassionate hearts, as we each strive to build a just and loving world.