List of Christian denominations affirming LGBT people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Various Christian denominations do not consider homosexuality or transgender identity to be sins.[1] These include entire 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 include LGBT member-organized groups which are not officially sanctioned by the denominations themselves. There are also ecumenical or parachurch programmes that explicitly outreach to LGBT people but do not identify with any particular church, tradition, or denomination.
in the 19th century, John Church (minister) was considered to be the first minister to openly perform same sex marriages in his English church.[11] 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.[12] In 1956, the Church of ONE Brotherhood was founded in Los Angeles by a gay-rights activist.[13] In 1962, a Congregationalist pastor began an overt pastoral ministry to gay people in New York City. In 1976, the Episcopal Church officially became fully LGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming.[14] In 1979, Allen Bennett became the first openly gay Rabbi.[15]
Anglican Church of Southern Africa NOTE: The Church does not allow gay marriage or civil unions but does allow "same-sex relationships if they are celibate."[21]
Deo Gloria Global Apostolic Network in South Africa[22]
Aglipayan Church – officially known as Iglesia Filipina Independiente or Philippine Independent Church, an Independent Catholic and Anglo-Catholic[27] denomination. The church has adopted an official and binding position of inclusion and full acceptance of LGBT individuals and organizations since 2017 after the question of inclusiveness was raised in an official leadership meeting by a gay member of the church in 2014. Its youth organization wing has also repeatedly elected presidents, vice presidents, and executives who belong to the Filipino LGBT youth sector.[28] On February 24, 2023, the church ordained Wylard "Wowa" Ledama, a trans woman, to the diaconate as the church's first trans cleric.[29]
Anglican Church of Korea[30] NOTE: The Anglican church has some clergy and congregations that support LGBT rights.
Church of South India[31][32] NOTE: The CSI opened ordination to transgender persons, has ministries specifically for transgender rights and some clergy support gay rights. The CSI is among the Anglican churches that "are open to changing Church doctrine on marriage in order to allow for same-sex unions" according to the BBC.[33]
Mexico - Anglican Church of Mexico (The Church currently defines marriage between a man and a woman. Clergy have been allowed to be in same-sex relationships. In 2020, three bishops released a statement explaining that they are discussing issues related to the LGBT community and church teaching, and are working towards a common understanding. One bishop has openly spoken in support of same-sex marriage, and became the first Anglican bishop in the country to participate along his diocese in an LGBT Pride Parade in 2021.)[citation needed]
Baptist
Neutral positions
Some Baptist denominations in the United States do not have official beliefs about marriage in a confession of faith and invoke congregationalism to leave the choice to each church to decide.[103]
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: the ELCA's document A Social Statement on Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust[115] notes "While Lutherans hold various convictions regarding lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships, this church is united on many critical issues. It opposes all forms of verbal or physical harassment and assault based on sexual orientation. It supports legislation and policies to protect civil rights and to prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, and public services. It has called upon congregations and members to welcome, care for, and support same-gender couples and their families and to advocate for their legal protection."
United Methodist Church's General Conference, voted forward a conservative "Traditional plan", defeating the more liberal "One Church plan." No discretion is allowed to ordain gay, lesbian, or bisexual clergy in same-gender relationships, or marry gay couples.[117] There is no prohibition on the ordination of transgender clergy and the Judicial Council ruled, in 2007, that transgender clergy can remain ordained.[118][119] The United Methodist News Service reiterated that there is no rule against transgender clergy.[120] The vote on the "Traditional Plan" was 53 percent in favor to 47 opposed.[121] The Judicial Council reviewed the plan and upheld 10 petitions while declaring 7 petitions, approximately 40 percent of the plan, unconstitutional.[122][123][124] UMC's Book of Discipline Article 4. [Inclusiveness of the Church] includes this statement: "All persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services... " and later, within part 304.4: "The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church."[125] Previously, Annual Conferences had affirmed LGBT clergy and relationships through resolutions.[126][127][128][129][130] The South Carolina Annual Conference had passed a resolution supporting transgender rights.[131][132] The Western Jurisdiction elected the denomination's first openly and partnered lesbian bishop in 2016.[133] The North Central Jurisdiction considered an openly gay nominee for bishop although not elected.[134] The Northeastern Jurisdiction passed a resolution supporting the option of allowing same-sex marriages.[135] On May 7, 2018, the Council of Bishops in the United Methodist Church, had proposed allowing individual pastors and regional church bodies to decide whether to ordain LGBT clergy and perform same-sex weddings, which came to be known as the One Church plan. Their proposal was rejected by the February 26, 2019 General Conference vote.[136] The highest level of the United Methodist Church will now strengthen punishments for 1) pastors who are non-celibate gay people, or 2) pastors who perform same-sex weddings. Nevertheless, the Western Jurisdiction, the German Central Conference, and other annual conferences within other jurisdictions have announced that they will not enforce the Traditional Plan and some of these have continued to ordain LGBTQ clergy,[137][138][139][140][141][142] for example Methodist lesbian bishop Karen Oliveto and Methodist gay bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth.
United Church of Canada shares both the Methodist and Reform traditions. In 1925, Canadian Methodist Church, Canada, Congregationalists and some churches of the Presbyterian Church in Canada united to form the United Church of Canada.[143] Within the United Church of Canada, congregations decide if they are Affirming or if they perform same sex marriages. In 1988, the General Council came to the decision that sexual orientation would no longer be a barrier to membership or candidacy for ministry. In 1992, the Affirming Ministry Program was developed by Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble to "provide congregations with the opportunity for education, discernment and commitment regarding becoming radically inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in all aspects of the life and work of their ministry." As of June 2023, 310 United Church ministries and communities of faith are Affirming Ministries, and 189 are in the process of becoming Affirming Ministries. In 2022, there were 292 Affirming Ministries, making up just over 10% of UCC communities of faith.[144]
Reformed Church in America[146] NOTE: Gay pastors may serve congregations if they were ordained in another denomination; some member churches allow gay marriage.
United Church of Canada Each individual congregation decides for itself whether or not to be affirming or to solemnize same sex marriages. Over 150 United Church congregations are either Affirming or are in the process of becoming Affirming congregations. There are a number of other church bodies (some Presbyteries and Conferences) that have been designated as Affirming. (see #Methodist)
Other
Scene during the church service at Glide Memorial Church, San Francisco, an LGBTI-supportive churchScene during a church service at Glide Memorial Church, San Francisco
Church of Ireland[181][182][183] (Two former archbishops of Dublin, two diocesan bishops, and several congregations affirm LGBTI people in the Republic)
Church of England[198][199] (The church defines marriage as between a man and a woman, but also supports same-sex civil partnerships.[200] "The church has no truck with homophobia and even supports clergy who are in civil partnerships."[201] The C of E allows prayers to follow a civil same-sex marriage, and allows civil partnerships for gay priests.[202] In 2016 the Bishop of Grantham, Nicholas Chamberlain, came out as the first openly gay bishop in a relationship.[203] The C of E voted to affirm transgender people.[204] The church approved services to celebrate and mark a person's gender transition.)[205]
Church in Wales[206][207] (A majority supports same-sex marriage; the church said LGBT people can be “honest and open, respected and affirmed”. The church also permits gay priests to enter into civil partnerships.[208] The church voted to explore approving same-sex marriages and blessings for civil partnerships.)[209]
Church of Ireland congregations in Northern Ireland may be affirming (The denomination remains in conversation as a whole;[210] in 2011, a senior cleric entered into a same-sex civil partnership and kept his post.[211] The church does not recognise same-sex marriage)[212]
Affirming congregations within the Anglican Church of Australia[240][241] NOTE: The Diocese of Perth, and other bodies, have voted to support same-sex relationships[242] The Diocese of Gippsland appointed an openly and partnered gay priest.[243] Though the Anglican Church of Australia does not have an official policy on homosexuality,[244] in the Seventeenth Session of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia in 2017, the Anglican Church of Australia passed a motion recognising "that the doctrine of our church, in line with traditional Christian teaching, is that marriage is an exclusive and lifelong union of a man and a woman, and further, recognises that this has been the subject of several General Synod resolutions over the past fifteen years".[245] In 2018, the Primate of Australia and Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier, released an ad clerum reiterating the current position that clergy cannot perform a same-sex marriage.[246]
Baptist Church of Australia - some Baptist congregations in Australia
Universal Church of Love, Peace & Equality Inc [250]
New Zealand
Anglican Church in New Zealand[251] NOTE: As of 2018, clergy may bless a same-sex union.[252] In 2014, the Anglican church voted to start a process toward allowing the blessing of same-sex relationships. The Dunedin Diocese already offers a "Liturgy for the Blessing of a Relationship" irrespective of gender.[253] The Anglican province has approved of allowing clergy "'to recognise in public worship' a same-gender civil union or state marriage of members of their faith community" with the bishop's permission.[254]
Uniting Congregations in New Zealand NOTE: Individual congregations may be affirming, but the denomination is not affirming. [citation needed]
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in New Zealand[citation needed]
Community of Christ (The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) in Auckland, and Christchurch, New Zealand. Not affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
The following denominations have LGBT-welcoming or affirming programs, though not all churches within the denomination are necessarily members of the LGBT program.[citation needed]
Axios – an unofficial Orthodox-Christian association for LGBT Orthodox-Christians and same-sex-marriage activists working to promote recognition of same-sex marriage in the Church.[citation needed]
Changing Attitude (International) – group working for LGBT affirmation within the Anglican Communion. Conducts worship, training and workshops.[citation needed]
DignityUSA – Roman Catholic Church. Works for inclusiveness but is not associated with particular congregations, nor is supported by the Church hierarchy. A separate organisation called Courage International promotes chastity amongst LGBT Catholics, and is supported by the Church hierarchy as it submits to the Church's official position on homosexuality.[288]
Inclusive Church (multi-denominational, but principally Church of England/Anglican) – working for a range of inclusion within the Anglican Communion.[citation needed]
The Fellowship of Reconciling Pentecostals International – Pentecostal[293]
Accepting Evangelicals – Evangelical parishes accepting LGBT people[citation needed]
Believe Out Loud – an online network that empowers Christians to work for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.[294]
Created Gay/Created Queer is a web ministry for LGBT+ Christians and their allies. Created Gay/Created Queer features LGBT+ focused sermons and devotionals, hundreds of resource links, book and movie reviews, and discussions of key Bible passages.
European Forum of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Christian Groups[295]
Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians (UK)[citation needed]
Evangelicals Concerned: Gay and Transgender Christians[citation needed]
Freedom2b is an Australian-based organisation that assists LGBTI people from Christian backgrounds on their journey to reconciling their faith, sexuality and gender identity.[citation needed]
gaychurch.org: Ministering to LGBTQI Christians and friends of our community around the globe. We feature the largest welcoming and affirming Christian church directory in the world.[citation needed]
New City Church (Sydney): "Young, fresh, and a little bit edgy, New City Church longs to be a place where you can rest, find healing and begin to journey (either for the first or hundredth time) into a vibrant, life-giving faith."[302][303]
Nuntiare et Recreare: Russian multi-denominational organization[304]
Q Christian Fellowship (QCF) is a "nonprofit ministry supporting Christians worldwide who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT)". QCF is an ecumenical ministry, welcoming Christians from a wide variety of backgrounds. QCF was founded in 2001 as The Gay Christian Network (GCN).
Reformation Project: Non-profit organization seeking greater inclusion of LGBT lay members and clergy in mainstream Christian churches.[306]
Sybils: UK group for transgender Christians[307][308]
Koenig, Harold G.; Dykman, Jackson (2012). Religion and Spirituality in Psychiatry. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p.43. ISBN9780521889520. the overwhelming majority of Christian churches have maintained their positions that homosexual behavior is sinful
"RiversideTogether". Riverside Church at Park and King, Welcoming and affirming Baptist Church, member of Alliance of Baptists and CBF. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
"LGBTQIA+ Communities". Unity.org. Unity. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022. Unity proudly supports the LGBTQIA+ community.
.jpg)
