Topic: GLBTQ-Affirming Churches - REVISED

[Valerie]

Moderator's note: This post is from an earlier thread which was merged into this one. It has a LOT of great links... so check it out!

There are ministries within many or most mainline church denominations or faiths that are accepting and inclusive of the GLBT community. These churches exist as valid members of their mainline denominations, but they carry a special status of being 'welcoming', 'affirming', 'reconciling' or the like, which identifies them as accepting of GLBT persons.  Many of these churches, in order to officially be recognized as an affirming church, also have a document specifically welcoming those of various sexual orientations and gender identities.  Below is a list of links where you can hopefully find an affirming church near you. 

These are links specifically for 'affirming' churches, however there are churches that are accepting of GLBT people who are not registered as an affirming church for one reason or another. 

I also managed to find sites for affirming Muslim and Jewish people.

On most pages you have to locate the link that says something tio the effect of, "Locate a church/chapter/congregation".  On a few of the pages, the listing is already there. 

The majority of the links are mainstream denominations, but I have also included the MCC, UCC, and Unitarian Universalist links at the end, all of whom are renowned for being 'gay' or 'gay friendly' churches. 

Remember that God loves you and accepts you as you are, without condition or limitations.
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The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists:

http://www.wabaptists.org/index.htm
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Lutherans Concerned/North America-Reconciling in Christ Program:

http://www.lcna.org/ric.shtm
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More Light Presbyterians:

http://www.mlp.org/
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Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Interests:

http://www.bmclgbt.org/scn.html
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Gay, Lesbian & Affirming Disciples Aliiance:

http://www.gladalliance.org/oaa.html
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Reconciling Ministries Network (Methodist):

http://www.rmnetwork.org/findus.php#ma
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Dignity USA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Catholics:

http://www.dignityusa.org/
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Integrity (Episcopalian):

http://www.integrityusa.org/chapters/index.htm
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Reconciling Pentecostals International:

http://www.rpifellowship.com/Directory.htm
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Al-Fatiha (Muslim):

http://www.al-fatiha.org/chapters.html
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The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Jews:

http://www.glbtjews.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=5
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Affirming Congregations and Ministries Within the United Church of Canada:

http://www.affirmunited.ca/UCaclist.htm
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Metropolitan Community Churches -- (the 'gay' church)--

http://www.mccchurch.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Hom
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United Church of Christ (commonly understood to be gay-friendly):

http://www.ucc.org/index.php
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Unitarian Universalist Association (also commonly understood to be gay-friendly):

http://www.uua.org/
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Certainly not all inclusive, but I tried. 

XO,
Valerie

[edit]Edit: Clarified the first paragraph ![/edit]

[David W. Shelton]

Since faith is so important to so many of us, it's critical that we know that there are affirming churches out there. I've posted this in another thread, but it merits repeating.

www.gaychurch.org

This site lists GLBT-affirming churches nearly everywhere. BUT... if you know of one that's especially welcoming to the TG community that you'd like to make mention of, please feel free to list it here.

REVISION:

Please forgive my ignorance... We need to know of groups in other faiths as well. Let's build a good list of churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. that accept those of different sexual orientations or gender identities. I apologize for seemingly limiting it to Christian groups!

[Chaunte]

St. Andrew's in Syracuse NY.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse is almost as conservative as Pope Benedict himself.  Nevertheless, St. Andrew's has a regularaly scheduled LGBT liturgy on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month.  I am one of the liturgical musicians at this liturgy.  I also play & cantor at the 11 AM Mass on the other weekends.

When I go full time, which is coming faster than what I can imagine, I will be transitoning there as well.  A few members of the parish have bumped into me at the LGBT liturgy.  So far, the reaction has been "no big deal."

Chaunte

[seldom]

Unitarian and Quaker churches are generally very accepting

As are congregationalist churches.  The UU and Congregationalist developed a great sexuality and gender identity understanding program. 

[Sarah]

The Buddhist order that my spouse and I belong to is completely accepting of GLBTQI
people.




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A Linniage of Soto Zen Buddhism.

The Order of Buddhist Contemplatives

http://www.obcon.org/
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we have many Layministers Monks and Laypeople who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Genderqueer or whathave you. There has been at least one meditation retreat on the subject and people in our order are openly GLBTQI if they are.
The Order does Buddhist marriages of GLBTQI people the same as any other person.
My friend's Lori and Terez were married at the monastery in Mt Shasta.
My wife and I will no doubt be having our ceremony at our Teacher's Priory in Washington.

-Sara

[Chris B.]

The Institute for Welcoming Resources has welcoming churches all over the country, and in some other parts of the world

 http://www.welcomingresources.org/       They also have news, blog links and all kindsa interesting stuff.

Chris B.

[Shang]

Walk Fellowship in Long Beach, Mississippi is a new church just trying to get on its feet.   It will be the first church in MS to do commitment ceremonies once it is fully set up.

http://www.facebook.com/walkfellowship

[JuneBug123]

It's probably already been said but the Unitarian Universalist church is a wonderful, accepting organization (for the most part). Each church is different, but mine has always been great to me. If you're in the Knoxville area, come check out TVUUC!

[Sylvie]

Lutherans Concerned from the original list has had a name change. They are now ReconcilingWorks/Reconciling in Christ (RIC).
The new link to find a congregation in the US or Canada is:  http://www.reconcilingworks.org/what/ric/ric-congregations-list

Hope this helps!