Welcoming or Open/Affirming Resources (links)

Resources for Showing Support… For Ministers… and for Finding a Place of Worship

1. Showing Support

• Wearing a Rainbow Bracelet: “I am Safe, I Am Supportive.”
• If banned from saying the word “gay” in your state, George Takei offers his name in its place.
• It Gets Better http://www.itgetsbetter.org/ providing hope for teens bullied for all reasons.

2. For Ministers

The following websites appear to provide support to the minister who wishes to be open and affirming, and to minister to the LGBTQ community in a welcoming way. We welcome input so this list can become a more robust resource. BY DENOMINATION

• PENTECOSTAL/EVANGELICAL – there are a number of affirming Pentecostal and Evangelical websites including Affirming Pentecostals,  The Alliance of Christian Churches,  Apostolic Restoration Mission, The Evangelical Network, Evangelicals Concerned , and In Gathering Harvest
• CATHOLIC – We have located the following affirming Catholic webpages: dignityUSA.org,  http://www.affirmingcatholicism.org/
  
• LUTHERANS – Lutherans Concerned / North America (LC/NA) works for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church and congregations.
• PRESBYTERIANS – More Light Presbyterians, eking the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
• METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH – the denomination is open and affirming.
• UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST – the UCC, long a leader in affirming women and clergy of color, has adopted an “open and affirming” welcoming position.
• More denomination resources are found at the gaychurch.org website. You might check if your own church is listed, and request to be added, if you are a welcoming congregation, and consider adding your church to welcomingchurches.com as well.
• If an LGBTQ teen talks about ‘getting hit over the head with Deuteronomy’ he/she is specifically talking about the use of Leviticus 18:22 & Deuteronomy 25:11-12 - there are some very good analyses of these two passages at www.religioustolerance.org so that you can minister to your LGBTQ flock more effectively

3. Are you, or is someone you know, looking for a safe place to worship in peace? Here are the best and most current resources we can find. By following the links below, you are sure to find current information about a welcoming church near you.

• Your local METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES affiliated church will be welcoming. The denomination proclaims “All are welcome!  Join us in embracing Liberation!”
• Your local UCC (UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST) affiliated church will be welcoming. During the service, you are likely to hear something along the lines of this: “no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
• Some local BAPTIST churches are welcoming and affirming. A list is available online.
• The online directory at gaychurch.org includes a broad and international list of welcoming churches in many denominations including: American Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran, MCC, Methodist, Presbyterian, Quaker, Roman Catholic, UCC, among others.