“Open and Affirming” is a designation used in both the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ by local churches as a way of saying, “This congregation welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people into the full life and ministry of the church.” Niles Discovery Church is an Open and Affirming congregation.

The Open and Affirming programs of our denominations are administered by the national LGBTQ+ advocacy groups of each denomination: The AllianceQ and the United Church Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns (The Open and Affirming Coalition).