Institute for Welcoming Resources The National LGBTQ Task Force

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Towards a Welcoming and Inclusive Church

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The following links may offer helpful information and links to additional resources on LGBT communities, support, and spirituality. The Institute for Welcoming Resources is not responsible for materials or links beyond those listed below. The links below will open in a new browser window.

Christian/Denominationally-Based LGBT Organizations

Affirming Baptists (Baptists in the United Kingdom)

Supporting lesbians and gay men and those with concerns about their sexuality within the church.

Affirm United (United Church of Canada)

Working through education and social integration for the welcoming of diverse peoples, especially the inclusion of LGBT persons in the life and work of the United Church of Canada.

Affirmation (Mormon)

Serving the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Latter Day Saints and their supportive family and friends through social and educational activities.

Affirmation

United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns

AXIOS

Eastern and Orthodox Gay and Lesbian Christians

The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists

Members of AWAB are churches, organizations, and individuals who are willing to go on record as welcoming and affirming all persons without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity, and who have joined together to advocate for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons within Baptist communities of faith.

Bay Area Coalition of Welcoming Congregations

A project of The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry, whose goal is to create a strong network of religious leaders, religious congregations/communities, and individuals of faith in the nine-county Bay Area, who are highly motivated to act as agents of positive social change.

Beyond Ex-Gay

An on-line community for those who have survived ex-gay experiences

Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests

To provide support for Mennonite and Church of the Brethren lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual people, their friends and families; foster dialogue between gay and non-gay people in churches; and provide accurate information about human sexuality from various theological, sociological, psychological, and biblical perspectives.

Call to Action

Catholics working together for justice and equality.

Catholics for Marriage Equality

We are Catholics promoting the freedom for all loving couples to be included in civil marriage.

Christian Lesbians

Offers information and resources for women presently struggling to reconcile their faith and sexuality.

Christian United Church

An Inclusive, Connectional Denomination - We are an inclusive denomination that teaches the concept of the equality before God of all people. We are a whosoever (John 3:16) church whose doors are open to all people regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.

CLOUT (Christian Lesbians Out)

To celebrate the miracle of being Christian, lesbian, and OUT simultaneously, in ways that aim to be anti-racist, anti-classist, and milagro-bound.

The Community of Welcoming Congregations

An Oregon and SW Washington interfaith ministry and advocacy organization working toward full inclusion and equality for transgender, lesbian, bisexual, gay and questioning persons.

Crossvine Ministry

Crossvine Ministry is an LGBT-affirming organization and strongly supports marriage equality. We are available to officiate legally-binding same-sex weddings in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.

DignityUSA (Roman Catholic)

DignityUSA works for respect and justice for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy and support.

Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance (Disciples of Christ)

The Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance, also known as AllianceQ, is an organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and affirming members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We are a prophetic voice calling for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Church.

Emergence International

A world-wide community of Christian Scientists, their families and friends, that provides spiritual and educational support for LGBT people, as they deal with homophobia and heterosexism.

Equally Blessed

Fired by a vision of a church that transcends cultural prejudices, the Equally Blessed coalition seeks to educate and inspire Catholics to take action on behalf of LGBT people, their families and friends.

Evangelicals Concerned

The national network of gay and lesbian evangelical Christians and friends.

Evangelicals for Marriage Equality

As Evangelicals for Marriage Equality, we believe you can be a devout, Bible-believing evangelical and support the right of same-sex couples to be recognized by the government as married. Our commitment to following Christ leads us to speak out for equal treatment under the law for others—whether or not they share our religious convictions.

Extravagance United Church of Christ - An Online Faith Community and Ministry

Extravagance UCC is a geographically dispersed, online faith community, that welcomes persons of all faith traditions or none, ages, races, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities & expressions, family configurations, economic abilities, and mental and physical capacities. Digital natives, immigrants, ex-pats and refugees are welcome.

Extrodinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM)

Committed to the full participation of persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life and ministry of the Lutheran church.

Fortunate Families

Catholic families with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender daughters and sons.

Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns (Quaker)

A North American Quaker faith community that affirms that of God in all people.

Gay Christian Europe

We support gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender Christians all over Europe in a safe and caring environment. Our aim is to support each person in their own personal journey, whatever their denomination and whether they feel called to celibacy or believe that God blesses same sex relationships, and to welcome those who are drawn to Christianity. We also aim to connect LGBT Christians in all European countries with groups, welcoming congregations and resources local to them, as well to build both an online and in person community.

Gay Christian Network

The Gay Christian Network is a nonprofit ministry serving Christians who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, and those who care about them.

GayChurch.org

Dedicated to ministering to the LGBT Christian community and their friends. Includes boards, a directory of welcoming congregations, articles, art gallery, calendar of events, and a web magazine. Features are in both English and Spanish.

Goodsoil

A collaboration of organizations working for the full inclusion of LGBT people and their families in the full ministerial and sacramental life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Harmony (Community of Christ)

Harmony provides advocacy, education, and resources for Queer voices in Community of Christ with a shared vision of full participation.

Integrity USA (The Episcopalian Church)

An organization of LGBT Episcopalians and our straight friends, serving as the leading grassroots voice for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Episcopal Church and our equal access to its rites.

Lesbian and Gay Christians

A UK-based international charity praying for an inclusive church.

Lutherans Freed in Christ

A safe and secure online forum for all LGBT Lutherans, including those from the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, who for personal reasons cannot or choose not to be out. At this forum all LGBT Lutherans will find support and have the space to minister to and interact with one another.

More Light Presbyterians (Presbyterian Church USA)

Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians is to work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

National Catholic Church of America

An apostolic, inclusive Catholic body, celebrating the diversity of God's people.

Nazarene Ally (Church of the Nazarene)

To make the Church of the Nazarene a safe place for its LGBT members by removing homophobia in all areas of the Church and by creating a positive and constructive dialogue between members about sexual orientation and Christianity.

Network on Religion and Justice for Asian American and Pacific Islander Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people (NRJ-API-LGBT)

The Network on Religion and Justice for Asian American and Pacific Islander Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people (NRJ-API-LGBT) is a coalition of organizations and individuals affirming the dignity and spiritual wholeness of API LGBT people of faith.

New Ways Ministry

A gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Catholics, and reconciliation within the larger Christian and civil communities.

Open and Affirming (ONA) Program (United Church of Christ)

ONA is the designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the United Church of Christ which make public statements of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Operation: Rebirth

The first web site dedicated to ending the religious and spiritual abuse against black gays and lesbians inflicted by Black churches.

Other Sheep: Multicultural Ministries with Sexual Minorities

The only worldwide ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to empowering sexual minorities throughout the world with the Good News of God's unconditional love for all.

Rainbow Baptists

A website providing support, information and advocacy for LGBT and queer identified Baptists, their families and friends.

ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

A Christian Ministry affirming God's love for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities since 1974.

Reconciling Ministries Network (United Methodist Church)

A national grassroots organization that exists to enable full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life of the United Methodist Church, both in policy and practice.

Reconciling Pentecostals International

A network of Pentecostal ministers, churches and ministries which seeks to by means of the full gospel of Jesus Christ to reconcile all repentant people to God without regard to race, gender, political persuasion, economic or educational status, sexual orientation, nationality, religious affiliation, or any other thing that divides.

Reformed Catholic Church

The Reformed Catholic Church is an emerging Christian denomination that is welcoming, open, affirming and progressive. The Reformed Catholic Church reaches out and invites all people, most especially those who have been disenfranchised or made to feel unwelcome or an invisible member at other churches, to the table of our Lord. The Reformed Catholic Church is committed to living a life of authentic Gospel in our communities across the United States and Internationally.

Room For All

Supporting, educating and advocating for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Reformed Church in America.

Sanctuary

A Christian worship and fellowship group of gay and lesbian Moravians.

Seventh-Day Adventist Kinship International

A support organization devoted to the spiritual, emotional, social and physical well-being of current and former Seventh-Day Adventists who are LGBT.

Soulforce

Freedom for LGBT people from religious & political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.

That All Might Freely Serve

Working for ordination of qualified lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender candidates in the Presbyterian Church (USA) as Elders, Deacons, and Ministers

TruthSetsFree.net

An inclusive, ecumenical Christian outreach to LGBTQ Christians, friends, and family. Includes a bible study, The Bible, Christianity, & Homosexuality by Justin R. Cannon.

Unitarian Universalist Association office of LGBTQ Ministries

Unitarian Universalism is a welcoming and inclusive denomination for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and families and dedicates national staff to the work of becoming ever more welcoming and inclusive. This office runs a Welcoming Congregation Program and provides print and online resources, training, and other support.

United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns

The Coalition provides support and sanctuary to all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers, their families and friends; advocates for their full inclusion in church and society; and brings Christ's affirming message of love and justice for all people.

United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church

A gathering across racial and ethnic lines for the purpose of engaging the subject of heterosexism and homophobia in Christianity and the United Methodist Church.

Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches

The world's first and only predominantly LGBT denomination.

Voices for an Open Spirit

A network of people who want to give voice to a progressive spirit in the Church of the Brethren, who want to encourage dialogue, and who believe there is a place for everyone at God's table.

Yes! Coalition

A diverse group who work together to say "Yes!" to celebrating our faiths, and "Yes!" to affirm our sexuality and gender expression.

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Organizational Partners

Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists Brethren-Mennonite Council for LGBT Concerns Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance Integrity ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation
More Light Presbyterians Open and Affirming Program of the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns (ONA) Reconciling Ministries Network Room for All - Reformed Church in America Welcoming Community Network - Community of Christ