The Union Church of Northeast Harbor and the Union Congregational Church of Seal Harbor have voted to become “open and affirming” congregations of the United Church of Christ to welcome gay, lesbian and transgendered people. There are 536 such congregations nationwide, and in their announcement, these churches said they are the 13th and 14th to do so in Maine. The process of becoming “open and affirming” is lengthy and necessitates that a congregation educate itself about human sexuality, sexual orientation and the feelings and fears that may be sparked by the topic.