The Open and Affirming Task Force has been a ministry under the umbrella of the Mission and Justice Commission of the MACUCC for over 20 years. The task force brings people together from across the conference to work on issues related to the Open and Affirming process, and to stand as allies with the lesbian, gay, transgender, bi-sexual and same gender loving people across the UCC. We are proud that we are an Open and Affirming Conference with over 85 Open and Affirming churches. Our goal is to have every church in the Conference become Open and Affirming. We work toward that goal in many ways including:

• Meeting with pastors, church committees and congregations that are seeking more information about becoming ONA.
• Preaching, teaching and leading bible studies on God' inclusive love and the ministry of radical hospitality that is central to the United Church of Christ.
• Creating worship and study resources on ONA themes including many which are used by the national church.
• Sponsoring conferences
• Providing workshops and a resource table at the MACUCC Annual Meeting and Association Meetings
• Hosting support gatherings for LGBT and same gender loving people and our allies.
• Organizing a UCC presence in local Pride Parades
• Lobbying legislators to protect our freedom to marry
• Working with the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns
• Ministering more privately with individuals who want to share their stories with us and hear our own.