|
We had a phenomenal week at the 2025 World Conference in Independence, MO. We showed up BIG this year with lanyards, pens, and free memberships. That, plus we designed stickers to hand out each day that had people SEEKING US OUT to get the sticker of the day. Additionally, we coordinated with folks who had their shirts to get some photos together. So many great conversations, opportunities to connect, tears and laughter shared, moments of healing, and a deeply meaningful worship gathering on Wednesday. More than 160 people attended Harmony's "Hope Rising!" worship at Walnut Gardens and many stayed for a reception afterwards. Members of the World Church Leadership Council (WCLC) served communion and newly confirmed Presiding Evangelist Mareva M. Arnaud Tchong offered a beautiful community blessing during the service. We also had an opportunity to share our deep gratitude to Robin Linkhart for her work as Harmony Liaison during her time in the Council of Twelve. Thank you to our incredible partners at Walnut Gardens. Your hospitality and support over the years as a reliable (and comfortable) host for our worship experience is deeply appreciated. This year, we also hosted an informal drop-in gathering at a home near the Temple (provided by Harmony supporters Steve and Mendy Sites of the Seminole, OK, USA Congregation) that drew nearly 40 people. The house was bursting at the seams with laughter, stories, meaningful sharing, and new friendships. Thank you to Steve and Mendy for your generous hospitality! Thank you to all who helped make this year a success! From volunteers greeting people at the Harmony worship to brand ambassadors handing out merch to speakers at the worship service...thank you! We couldn't have done it without you. Browse photos from our time together below. Special thanks to Danny LaBrecque for capturing so many great pictures! Have some photos to share with us? Send them to [email protected]. Ways to Continue Supporting Harmony this Pride Season (and beyond)Pride is a time for joy, visibility, and resistance—and it’s also a time to recommit ourselves to the long journey of justice and inclusion.
At Harmony, Pride isn’t just a season. It’s the heartbeat of our work year-round: advocating for full participation of queer and transgender folks in Community of Christ, supporting affirming policies, and walking alongside individuals and congregations on the path of becoming truly inclusive spiritual homes. This Pride Month, we’re inviting you to help us Thrive Anyway—through your voice, your action, and your support. Here’s how: 🌈 Become a Monthly Donor Our work is only possible because of consistent, grassroots generosity. Monthly giving sustains our advocacy, programming, and pastoral support year-round. Whether it’s $5 or $50, your recurring gift helps build a world where 2SLGBTQIA+ people are fully seen and celebrated in church and community. Become a monthly donor → 🛍 Wear Your Support with Pride Check out our Thrive Anyway Pride Collection! Every purchase helps fund our mission and spreads a message of radical joy and resilience. T-shirts, stickers, and other gear are available now—perfect for Pride marches, worship services, and everyday witness. Shop the Pride Collection → 💜 Become a Member of Harmony Membership is more than a title—it’s a statement of shared values. As a member, you’ll have a voice in our direction, access to resources, and connection to a vibrant community of changemakers. Whether you’re 2SLGBTQIA+ or a committed ally, your membership strengthens our collective voice. Join Harmony today →
0 Comments
 Hello friends and supporters - Taking this year's Community of Christ 2025 World Conference theme ("Hope Is Here") to heart, Harmony has designed a compelling and thought-provoking shirt that acknowledges an often-overlooked truth: hope isn’t always easy to find—especially for those on the margins. Our World Conference theme is "Find Hope Here." For many in the Queer/2SLGBTQIA+ (Queer) Community, hope has been elusive...especially in recent years. Despite progress in some areas over the course of the last few decades, Queer members of Community of Christ often still face mistreatment, micro-aggressions, ignorance, and bad theology. Hope doesn’t always feel present in our churches, our church policies, our communities, our governments, or our conversations. And yet, Queer individuals continue to show up—seeking community, searching for belonging, and becoming hope for others in the process. This year’s campaign is a reminder: Hope is worth seeking out. And we—together—can help make it more visible. Christian churches—including Community of Christ—have caused and continue to cause harm to Queer individuals and their families. If we are serious about inclusion, we must also be serious about reconciliation. Without it, hope will remain just out of reach for those who need it most. If you are in a position to donate in addition to your purchase, all funds will go toward Harmony’s ongoing mission to provide advocacy, education, and resources for Queer voices in Community of Christ. Whether you are attending World Conference in person, online, or not at all this year, purchasing a shirt will help raise awareness, spark conversation, and affirm that hope belongs to everyone. ✨ Find hope here. ✨ Learn more about Harmony at www.harmony.lgbt. If you aren’t interested in purchasing a shirt but would like to support this work, you can donate at www.harmony.lgbt/donate.  And it's not just World Conference this year...
We’re excited to share Harmony’s 2025 Pride design! This year’s theme, “Thrive Anyway,” is a bold declaration of resilience and authenticity. Even in a world that feels increasingly hostile to the Queer / 2SLGBTQIA+ Community, we are called to live fully, love deeply, and take up space. We will not just survive—we will thrive. About the Campaign and HarmonyProceeds from Harmony’s annual Pride shirt campaign support our ongoing work to break down walls of exclusion and misunderstanding surrounding sexuality and gender identity in Community of Christ. Our mission is simple: to ensure that Queer / 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals can fully participate in all aspects of church life—without barriers or exceptions. So far, we’ve shipped over 1,300 shirts, mugs, and other merchandise to supporters worldwide. When you wear this year’s design, you’re making a statement: Queer joy is unstoppable. Order yours today, and consider sending one to a friend who needs encouragement! 📩 Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. Pride Resources for CongregationsHosting a Pride booth or looking for ways to get involved? Harmony has created free resources to help your congregation show up and support the Queer community with confidence and love. Download them at harmony.lgbt/pride-resources. Merchandise & Ordering Details🌈 All proceeds go toward Harmony’s mission of advocacy, education, and resources for Queer voices in Community of Christ. 👕 Choose your style – T-shirts, mugs, totes, hats, and hoodies are all available! ⌚ Order early – To ensure on-time shipping and delivery before Pride Month, place your order as soon as possible. 📦 Direct shipping – Items are printed on demand and shipped directly to purchasers. 🧾 Donations – Purchases are not tax-deductible, but you are encouraged to make a separate donation after purchase if you are able. Harmony is a registered non-profit in the United States and can issue US tax receipts for donations. You can donate on our website at www.harmony.lgbt/donate. This year, we won’t back down. We won’t be silent. We will Thrive Anyway. 🌟 In response to concerns raised by Queer/2SLGBTQIA+ (Queer) members and friends of Community of Christ, the USA Team of Apostles shared a letter with Harmony for distribution to those interested. This letter reaffirms the USA Field's support for Queer individuals in the face of uncertainty and possible rollbacks of protections and rights.
The Harmony Board of Directors drafted a preamble to accompany the letter from the USA Team of Apostles that provides important context and background. You can read both the preamble and the letter by clicking the button below. Congratulations to the Indianapolis Congregation - Our Newest Welcoming & Affirming Congregation!1/29/2025  More good news from Harmony! There is another affirming congregation in the world!
The Indianapolis Community of Christ Congregation, located in Indianapolis, IN, USA, is the newest Welcoming and Affirming member congregation in Community of Christ! The congregation successfully completed Harmony's Welcoming & Affirming Program in late December with a formal business meeting vote. On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated members of the Indianapolis Congregation for prioritizing this holy work. May your ministry be blessed! Please join us in congratulating the Indianapolis Congregation for their commitment to inclusion in our beloved denomination. Consider connecting with them via email ([email protected]) to share any words of encouragement and gratitude. You may also consider making a donation directly to their congregation for their dedication to this holy work. We are encouraged by the growing number of congregations participating in our Welcoming & Affirming Program, and we look forward to sharing more good news like this! Indianapolis joins a growing list of Welcoming & Affirming Congregations - click here to view the Affirming Ministries Map on our website. With excitement and hope, Your Harmony Board of Directors  To our members and supporters -
Thank you to all those who participated in the governance of our organization by casting their vote in the 2024/2025 board election. We are pleased to share that the slate of candidates put forward by the Nominations Committee after their search was overwhelmingly approved and supported by the Harmony membership. The 2025 Harmony Board of Directors is as follows:
We are so grateful to the candidates who put their names forward and who will soon be stepping into leadership roles. Additionally, we want to thank the outgoing board members for their tireless efforts and passion for inclusion. If you haven't yet, stop by our website to get to know our new board members! You can do so here. Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. In service, Your Harmony Board of Directors Congratulations to Kalamazoo Community of Christ: Our Newest Welcoming & Affirming Congregation!1/20/2025  We are thrilled to share that there is another affirming congregation in the world.
The Kalamazoo Community of Christ Congregation, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, (Michigan Mission Center), is the newest Welcoming and Affirming member congregation in Community of Christ! The congregation successfully completed Harmony's Welcoming & Affirming Program on Sunday, January 19, with the official adoption of their welcoming statement: We celebrate the diversity God has created and seek to reflect that in our faith community. We strive to be a safe space and invite LGBTQIA2S+ persons to fully participate. We affirm the worth of all persons. All are created in God’s image and loved unconditionally. Each person enriches our fellowship. Welcome! On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated members of the Kalamazoo Congregation for prioritizing this holy work. May your ministry be blessed! Please join us in congratulating the Kalamazoo Congregation for their commitment to inclusion in our beloved denomination. Consider connecting with them via email ([email protected]) to share any words of encouragement and gratitude. You may also consider making a donation directly to their congregation for their dedication to this holy work. Special thanks to Harmony Facilitator Linda Stanbridge for her support to the congregation throughout their participation in the program. We are encouraged by the growing number of congregations participating in our Welcoming & Affirming Program, and we look forward to sharing more good news like this! Kalamazoo joins a growing list of Welcoming & Affirming Congregations - click here to view the Affirming Ministries Map on our website.  We are thrilled to share that there is another affirming congregation in the world.
The Capital Area Congregation, located in Lansing, Michigan, USA, (Michigan Mission Center), is the newest Welcoming and Affirming member congregation in Community of Christ! The congregation successfully completed Harmony's Welcoming & Affirming Program on Sunday, January 12, with the official adoption of their welcoming statement. On behalf of the Harmony Board of Directors, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated members of the Capital Area Congregation for prioritizing this holy work. May your ministry be blessed! Please join us in congratulating the Capital Area Congregation for their commitment to inclusion in our beloved denomination. Consider connecting with them via their Facebook Page to share any words of encouragement and gratitude. You may also consider making a donation directly to their congregation for their dedication to this holy work. Special thanks to Harmony Facilitator Linda Stanbridge for her support to the congregation throughout their participation in the program. We are encouraged by the growing number of congregations participating in our Welcoming & Affirming Program, and we look forward to sharing more good news like this! Capital Area joins a growing list of Welcoming & Affirming Congregations - click here to view the Affirming Ministries Map on our website.  To our members and supporters - The Nominating Committee and the Harmony Board of Directors are thrilled to share the following candidate profiles for the January 24-26, 2025 board election. We know you will be impressed by the caliber of individuals who have put their names forward - we certainly are! As a reminder, the next election will take place via email ballot between January 24 - 26, 2025. The following board positions are up for election:
You can review candidate profiles below: Only active members are eligible to participate in the governance of the organization. If you are not a member but would like to participate in this election, please click the button below to renew or to become a new member of Harmony. In accordance with Harmony’s bylaws, we are providing advanced notice to membership. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]. In service,
Your Harmony Board of Directors  This Giving Tuesday, help Harmony open doors to full Queer/2SLGBTQIA+ (Queer) inclusion in Community of Christ! Your gift supports life-changing resources for congregations, empowering them to embrace Queer inclusion with love, authenticity, and integrity. Together, we can create affirming, welcoming communities around the world. Let’s reach $5,000! OUR MISSION Harmony provides advocacy, education, and resources for Queer voices in Community of Christ with a shared vision of full participation. Current Welcoming & Affirming Program Participant StatusClick to enlarge.   We are on a mission to ensure all members of the Queer/2SLGBTQIA+ Community can fully and safely participate at all levels of Community of Christ.
We accomplish this through our network of hundreds of committed members around the world and our trained facilitators who work with congregations to promote safe and affirming spaces. We'll be honest, we have a lot of work ahead of us. In order to accomplish our aggressive goal, we need financial stability. One of the best ways you can help is to become a recurring donor. This helps Harmony to anticipate future funding and plan more effectively. Here are some examples of how what may feel like a small monthly donation can add up to a bigger impact: ☕ A $5 monthly gift - about the cost of just one fancy coffee drink - turns into an annual donation of $60 capable of funding two annual membership scholarships! 🎉 A $10 monthly gift turns into an annual donation of $120 - about the cost of two celebration boxes distributed to congregations/ministries that complete the Welcoming & Affirming Program. 🎁 A $25 monthly gift turns into an annual donation of $300 - which can be turned into thousands of inclusive giveaways to youth and camps around the world. You get the point. If an ongoing gift just isn't in the budget for you - that's okay! You can make a donation anytime when the time is right. Thank you for considering - we couldn't do this work without you! Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. |
Archives
March 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed
YOU ARE LOVED!
addressP.O. Box 16973
Kansas City, MO 64133 |
Telephone+1 816-368-5773
|
|
We rely on your generous contributions to fulfill our mission. Please consider donating at the link below.
|