LGBT-affirming Christian denominations

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

The LGBT flag at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Houston indicates that the church welcomes LGBT-identifying persons

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) affirming Christian denominations are Christian denominations that do not consider homosexuality or transgenderism to be sins. They include entire religious denominations, as well as individual churches and congregations. Some are composed mainly of non-LGBT members and also have specific programs to welcome LGBT people, while others are composed mainly of LGBT members.

Additionally, some denominations which are not LGBT-affirming have member-organized groups which are not officially sanctioned by the denomination. There are also ecumenical or para-church programmes that are explicitly outreaches to LGBT people, but do not identify with any particular faith tradition or denomination.

History

While Christianity has traditionally forbidden sodomy, believing it to be parallel to homosexuality, some believe in the Hebrew text and history that the word sodomy literally means "male temple prostitute", and not a translation for homosexual. Thus, homosexuality is not thought of as an act of sin in a growing population of churches today.[1] Today some Christian denominations are accepting of homosexuality and transgenderism and inclusive of homosexual and transgender people, such as the United Church of Christ and the Metropolitan Community Church. Formed in 1991, The Evangelical Network is a network of evangelical churches, ministries and Christian Workers that are a part of the LGBT community. The Evangelical Network holds an annual conference and provides education, ministerial support, and networking capabilities.

One of the first churches established for gays was the Liberal Catholic Church, in Sydney, Australia in 1916. In 1946, Archbishop George Hyde of the Eucharistic Catholic Communion (a small denomination not in union with the Roman Catholic Church) celebrated mass for gay men in Atlanta. In 1956, the Church of ONE Brotherhood was founded in Los Angeles by a gay-rights activist.[2] In 1962, a Congregationalist pastor began an overt pastoral ministry to gay people in New York City. The first gay and transgender-specific denomination, as opposed to individual congregations, was the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1968.[2]

Some congregations are merely non-discriminatory and LGBT-affirming while others are specifically oriented toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons.[2] Some local congregations, especially those designated as "Welcoming churches" in the Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Methodist, Episcopal, and Brethren/Mennonite denominations, may consist of a majority of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members.[2]

While Unitarian Universalism is no longer explicitly a Christian religion, it does have Judeo-Christian roots. Both the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Canadian Unitarian Council have officially affirmed LGBT people and have openly advocated for gay rights.

Denominations

Africa

North America

MCCNY, a church in New York City.
Grace Gospel Chapel, in Seattle.

Europe

Central and South America

Australia

New Zealand

Congregations

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Further information: § External links

Denomination-sanctioned programmes

The following denominations have LGBT-welcoming or affirming programmes, though not all churches within the denomination are necessarily members of the LGBT programme.

Unofficial programmes

Programmes not affiliated with any particular denomination

  • Gay Christian Network (GCN) is a "nonprofit ministry supporting Christians worldwide who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT)". GCN is an ecumenical ministry, welcoming Christians from a wide variety of backgrounds. GCN was founded in 2001 by Justin Lee, and has sought to "build a supportive community to support fellow gay Christians in their Christian walks."
  • The Anthem Network (AN) is a "Sacramental, Evangelical and Charismatic network of Churches, Church Plants, Affiliated Congregations and Clergy. It was founded in 2014 in Los Angeles, California by the Rev. Drew Haywood."
  • Freedom2b is an Australian-based organisation that assists LGBTI people from Christian backgrounds on their journey to reconciling their faith, sexuality and gender identity.
  • Institute for Welcoming Resources (a programme of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force)
  • Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (UK)
  • Accepting Evangelicals – Evangelical parishes accepting LGBT people
  • Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians (UK)
  • European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups
  • Evangelicals Concerned: Gay and Transgender Christians
  • Sybils: UK group for transgender Christians
  • Nuntiare et Recreare: Russian multi-denominational organization
  • LGBT Christians (Russian: ЛГБТ-христиане Украины): Ukrainian multi-denominational organization
  • Believe Out Loud - an online network that empowers Christians to work for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality, found at [1].
  • LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent (FLoAD)
  • The Evangelical Network
  • Strength in Weakness Ministry
  • Transfaith Online
  • The NALT (Not All Like That) Christians

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Cardoso, Fernando. O evangelho inclusivo e a homossexualidade. São Paulo: Clube dos Autores, 2010.

External Links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=LGBT-affirming_Christian_denominations&oldid=801582"