UUCatskills Achieves Welcoming Congregation Renewal

UUCatskills has successfully updated the renewal of our Welcoming Congregation certification, which was first achieved in 2015. Following a year of planning and implementing the activities to qualify as a Welcoming Congregation, on November 12, 2025 we were notified that the goals were met and our certification is updated and renewed.

Our certification is based on completing the five practices of Welcoming Renewal:

I. Becoming a Welcoming Congregation (in 2015)

II. Welcoming Worship Services

• Transgender Day of Remembrance – 11/24/24

• Many Stories, Many Voices (the Pride service)– 6/1/25

III. Recognizing the Welcoming Days of Observance

• International Transgender Day of Visibility

• Stonewall Riots Anniversary

• National Coming Out Day

• Transgender Day of Remembrance

• LGBTQ+ Pride -- with fantastic participation in the Pride March on June 8

IV. Welcoming Faith Engagement

• Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement workshop

• Trans 201 Workshop

• Authentic Selves Book Discussion

V. Support a Welcoming Project

• Donated to Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Center

With great appreciation to the LGBTQ+ Working Group, the Worship Team, and all who have participated to learn and to support, we will display our certificate to represent our values with pride and commitment. We will continue to implement our program to build awareness and competence for welcome and inclusion, and to submit the documentation for annual renewal each year.