shevek
06-06-2005, 07:37 PM
There are a number of Christian denominations that are gay friendly, as well as several gay-friendly groups that are "Christian" in heritage, but don't necessarily subscribe to Biblical dogma. There are also several support groups that deal with homophobia in churches.
GLBT and questioning youth looking for support in general can contact PFLAG www.pflag.org/ (http://www.pflag.org/) This group was started by a Christian mother after her gay son committed suicide. It now has chapters nationwide. In addition to youth support, this group also offers support for parents and other family members coming to terms with their gay kids.
Metropolitan Community Church www.mccchurch.org/ (http://www.mccchurch.org/) This church was founded expressly BY gays FOR gays. Ecumenical, but a lot of evangelicals have found a happy home there. While open to straights, in practice most congregations are almost entirely gay and lesbian. Rev. Truluck, who is an expert on Scripture, has authored an excellent book, Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse, that encourages acceptance of Jesus while flatly rejecting homophobia. One appendix goes over the so-called "clobber" Scriptures used against gays, and analyzes them to show how they have been TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT.
United Church of Christ www.ucc.org/ (http://www.ucc.org/) A moderately liberal group that believes the message of Jesus was never intended to be hateful. When their ad promoting inclusion was banned by two TV networks, the resulting flap made for a lot of positive publicity! This may become the first "mainstream" Christian church to endorse gay marriage!
Many, though by no means all, archdioceses in the Episcopal Church (the Anglican Church in the USA) are openly gay friendly. Bishop Spong www.BishopSpong.com/ (http://www.bishopspong.com/) who is a well known speaker in Episcopalian circles, advocates full inclusion for gays.
The Unitarian Universalist Association www.uua.org/ (http://www.uua.org/) is Christian in tradition, but more Humanist and Pantheistic in practice. Very liberal, and totally open to gays. Many congregations have gay pastors.
Religious Science www.religiousscience.org/ (http://www.religiousscience.org/) and Unity www.unity.org/ (http://www.unity.org/) are two groups that believe in the "power of mind". Both are gay friendly, though some individual churches are more friendly than others. I know of one Religious Science congregation that is about half lesbian, including the pastor.
There are a number of gay support groups that advocate against the homophobia of established churches. Dignity www.dignityusa.org/ (http://www.dignityusa.org/) takes on the attitudes of the Catholic Church, while Affirmation www.affirmation.org/ (http://www.affirmation.org/) addresses homophobia in the Mormon Church. Of course, neither group is recognized by the associated church.
Finally, I find II Samuel 1:26 to be VERY interesting. This is a part of a lament by David after the death of Jonathan, and it is one of the most gay-suggestive verses in the Bible.
Hopefully, this will help out anyone who is looking for gay friendly churches. I fully respect the right for everyone to find their own path, whatever that may be, but no one has the right to knock others who aren't hurting anyone. WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THAT GOD IS HOMOPHOBIC, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE IT!!!
If anybody knows of anything else along these lines, please post your info in this thread. It isn't limited to Christian traditions, but I felt that this was the best place to start because of the dominance of Christianity in the USA. Also, please include Web links where possible.
Hopefully Skip will make this thread sticky. There is a desperate need to get this kind of information out, especially to GLBT and questioning youth, in order to counter the hateful messages of the Religious Reich and other homophobic churches. :)
Peace and Love!
GLBT and questioning youth looking for support in general can contact PFLAG www.pflag.org/ (http://www.pflag.org/) This group was started by a Christian mother after her gay son committed suicide. It now has chapters nationwide. In addition to youth support, this group also offers support for parents and other family members coming to terms with their gay kids.
Metropolitan Community Church www.mccchurch.org/ (http://www.mccchurch.org/) This church was founded expressly BY gays FOR gays. Ecumenical, but a lot of evangelicals have found a happy home there. While open to straights, in practice most congregations are almost entirely gay and lesbian. Rev. Truluck, who is an expert on Scripture, has authored an excellent book, Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse, that encourages acceptance of Jesus while flatly rejecting homophobia. One appendix goes over the so-called "clobber" Scriptures used against gays, and analyzes them to show how they have been TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT.
United Church of Christ www.ucc.org/ (http://www.ucc.org/) A moderately liberal group that believes the message of Jesus was never intended to be hateful. When their ad promoting inclusion was banned by two TV networks, the resulting flap made for a lot of positive publicity! This may become the first "mainstream" Christian church to endorse gay marriage!
Many, though by no means all, archdioceses in the Episcopal Church (the Anglican Church in the USA) are openly gay friendly. Bishop Spong www.BishopSpong.com/ (http://www.bishopspong.com/) who is a well known speaker in Episcopalian circles, advocates full inclusion for gays.
The Unitarian Universalist Association www.uua.org/ (http://www.uua.org/) is Christian in tradition, but more Humanist and Pantheistic in practice. Very liberal, and totally open to gays. Many congregations have gay pastors.
Religious Science www.religiousscience.org/ (http://www.religiousscience.org/) and Unity www.unity.org/ (http://www.unity.org/) are two groups that believe in the "power of mind". Both are gay friendly, though some individual churches are more friendly than others. I know of one Religious Science congregation that is about half lesbian, including the pastor.
There are a number of gay support groups that advocate against the homophobia of established churches. Dignity www.dignityusa.org/ (http://www.dignityusa.org/) takes on the attitudes of the Catholic Church, while Affirmation www.affirmation.org/ (http://www.affirmation.org/) addresses homophobia in the Mormon Church. Of course, neither group is recognized by the associated church.
Finally, I find II Samuel 1:26 to be VERY interesting. This is a part of a lament by David after the death of Jonathan, and it is one of the most gay-suggestive verses in the Bible.
Hopefully, this will help out anyone who is looking for gay friendly churches. I fully respect the right for everyone to find their own path, whatever that may be, but no one has the right to knock others who aren't hurting anyone. WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THAT GOD IS HOMOPHOBIC, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE IT!!!
If anybody knows of anything else along these lines, please post your info in this thread. It isn't limited to Christian traditions, but I felt that this was the best place to start because of the dominance of Christianity in the USA. Also, please include Web links where possible.
Hopefully Skip will make this thread sticky. There is a desperate need to get this kind of information out, especially to GLBT and questioning youth, in order to counter the hateful messages of the Religious Reich and other homophobic churches. :)
Peace and Love!