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.
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. 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. 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.
Some congregations are merely non-discriminatory and LGBT-affirming while others are specifically oriented toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons. 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.
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.
Anglican Church of Korea NOTE: The Anglican church has some clergy and congregations that support LGBT rights.
Hyanglin Church in Korea
Church of South India NOTE: The CSI has ministries specifically for transgender rights and many clergy support gay rights.
Evangelical Church of India
United Church of Christ in Japan
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Anglican Church of Southern Africa NOTE: Members may enter into same-sex marriages, gay priests may be "legally ordained" but not married
Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK) NOTE: Each congregation may determine its own decision on gay marriage and gay ministers.
Methodist Church of Southern Africa NOTE: The church "accepts same-sex relationships (as long as such relationships are not...marriage)".
Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa NOTE: Each minister may exercise his or her conscience and support same-sex unions
Affirming Pentecostal Church International
Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Churches USA NOTE: The denomination allows each congregation to decide
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anthem Network
Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists
AXIOS - Eastern and Orthodox Gay and Lesbian Christians
Catholic Apostolic Church in North America
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Communion of Synodal Catholic Churches
Community of Christ
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship NOTE: Each congregation determines its own position
Ecclesia Gnostica
Ecumenical Catholic Church
Ecumenical Catholic Communion
Episcopal Church (United States)
Eucharistic Catholic Church
Evangelical Anglican Church In America
Evangelical Catholic Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
The Evangelical Network
Friends General Conference
Friends of Jesus Fellowship in America
Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals
Inclusive Orthodox Church
Independent Catholic Christian Church
Independent Greek Orthodox Church of the United States
International Council of Community Churches
Mennonite Church Canada NOTE: Each congregation determines its own position
Mennonite Church USA NOTE: Each conference determines its own position
Metropolitan Community Church
Moravian Church in America Northern Province
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches NOTE: Each congregation is free to determine its own policy
Old Catholic Church
Old Catholic Church-Charismatic Rite
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Progressive Christian Alliance
Reconciling Pentecostals International
Reformed Anglican Catholic Church
Reformed Church in America NOTE: Gay pastors may serve congregations if they were ordained in another denomination; some member churches allow gay marriage.
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) — a Latter Day Saint denomination
Swedenborgian Church of North America
The Progressive Episcopal Church
Unitarian Universalist Association NOTE: Although no longer exclusively Christian, the denomination originated as such and is 'mainline'
United Catholic Church
United Church of Christ
United Church of Canada
United Methodist Church's Baltimore-Washington, California-Nevada, California-Pacific, Desert Southwest, Detroit, Greater New Jersey, Great Plains, Illinois Great Rivers, Iowa, Minnesota, New England, New York, Northern Illinois, Oregon-Idaho, Pacific-Northwest, Rocky Mountain, Southwest Texas, Upper New York, Virginia, West Michigan, and Wisconsin Annual Conferences are affirming of LGBT clergy and relationships through resolutions. The South Carolina Annual Conference passed a resolution supporting transgender rights. The UMC also provides spousal benefits for non-ordained employees in same-sex marriages. The Western Jurisdiction elected the denomination's first openly and partnered lesbian bishop in 2016. The North Central Jurisdiction considered an openly gay nominee for bishop although not elected. Additionally, the Northeastern Jurisdiction passed a resolution supporting the option of allowing same-sex marriages.
Unity Fellowship Church Movement
Unity Church
Austria: Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria
Austrian, German, Swiss and Dutch Old Catholic Church
Austrian, Belgium, Netherlands and Poland Ecumenical Catholic Communion
Belgium: United Protestant Church in Belgium
Croatia: Evangelical (Lutheran) Church in Croatia
Denmark: Church of Denmark
France: United Protestant Church of France
Finland: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland NOTE: The church permits prayers of celebration following a civil union or marriage
Germany: German Lutheran, reformed and united churches in Evangelical Church in Germany
Germany: The Social Ethics Ministry of the Central Conference of the United Methodist Church in Germany
Iceland: Church of Iceland
Ireland: Church of Ireland NOTE: Two former archbishops of Dublin, two diocesan bishops, and several congregations affirm LGBTI people
Ireland: Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland
Ireland: Unitarian Churches in Ireland
Netherlands: Protestant Church in the Netherlands
Nordic and Baltic Episcopal Area Conferences of the United Methodist Church
Norway: Church of Norway
Portugal - Affirming Pentecostal Church International
Romania - Unitarian Church of Transylvania NOTE: The deputy bishop endorsed same-sex unions
Sweden: Church of Sweden
Switzerland: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Geneva (Genf)
Switzerland: Swiss reformed churches in Swiss Reformed Church
British Quakers
Wales - Affirming Pentecostal Church International
Albania - Affirming Pentecostal Church International
Italy - Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy (CELI)
Italy - Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches
Old Catholic Church in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland
Poland - Christian United Church in Poland
United Kingdom (UK) - Church of England NOTE: The church has a mixed position. The church allows transgender priests. The C of E allows prayers to follow a civil same-sex marriage, and allows civil partnerships for gay priests. In 2010, the church gave full pension rights to priests in civil partnerships. In 2016, the Bishop of Grantham came out as the first openly gay bishop in a relationship.
UK - Church in Wales NOTE: 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.
UK - Church of Ireland congregations may be affirming NOTE: the denomination remains in conversation as a whole; in 2011, a senior cleric entered into a same-sex civil partnership and kept his post.
UK - Church of Scotland NOTE: The Church of Scotland voted to permit pastors to enter into same-sex marriages
UK - International Council of Community Churches
UK - Methodist Church of Great Britain NOTE: The church may bless civil same-sex marriages
UK - Scottish Episcopal Church
UK - Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
UK - United Ecumenical Catholic Church,
UK - United Reformed Church
Argentina - Evangelical Methodist Church in Argentina
Argentina - Evangelical Church of the River Plate
Brazil - Affirming Pentecostal Church International
Brazil - Catholic Diversity
Brazil - Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (since 1998)
Brazil - Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
Chile - Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chile
Chile - Lutheran Church in Chile
Colombia - Affirming Pentecostal Church International
Costa Rica - Costa Rican Lutheran Church
Costa Rica - Episcopal Church of Costa Rica
Cuba - Episcopal Church of Cuba
El Salvador - Episcopal Anglican Church of El Salvador
Peru - Lutheran Church of Peru
Uruguay - Evangelical Church of Uruguay
Affirming congregations within the Anglican Church of Australia NOTE: The Diocese of Perth, and other bodies, have voted to support same-sex relationships The Diocese of Gippsland appointed an openly and partnered gay priest. The Anglican Church of Australia does not have an official policy on homosexuality.
Uniting Church in Australia
United Ecumenical Catholic Church in Australia
New Zealand
Anglican Church in New Zealand
Methodist Church in New Zealand
Metropolitan Community Church in New Zealand
Mt Eden Baptist Church in Auckland, New Zealand
Ponsonby Baptist Church in Auckland, New Zealand
Presbyterian Church in Aotearoa New Zealand NOTE: Individual congregations may be affirming, but the denomination is not affirming.
Religious Society of Friends(Quakers) in New Zealand
United Ecumenical Catholic Church in New Zealand
Uniting Congregations in New Zealand
AChurch4Me (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
New Day Worship Center (Toccoa, Georgia, USA)
Broadway United Methodist Church (Indianapolis, Indianapolis, USA)
Cathedral of Hope (Dallas, Texas, USA)
Citichurch of Dallas (Dallas, Texas, USA)
City United Reformed Church (Cardiff, Wales)
Christ Chapel of the Valley (Los Angeles, California, USA) - a member of the evangelical Christ Chapel Association of Churches
Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican Church of Australia)
Christ Church Cathedral (Church of Ireland)
Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Madison (National Baptist Convention, USA Inc.)
Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) - Episcopal
Church of the Valley (Van Nuys, California, USA) - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Danish Church of Buenos Aires, Argentina
EastLake Community Church (Bothell, Washington, USA)
Glendale City Seventh-day Adventist Church (Glendale, California, USA)
Glide Memorial Church (San Francisco, California, USA)
Kabahaghari United Methodists of the Philippines
Khandallah Presbyterian Church
Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church (San Francisco, California, USA)
Grace Gospel Chapel (Seattle, Washington, USA)
Seattle First Baptist Church (Seattle, Washington, USA)
Hagia Sophia Gnostic Church (Seattle, Washington, USA) - Ecclesia Gnostica
Light of Love Fellowship (St. Louis, Missouri, USA)
Mayfair Presbyterian Church (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
Misión San Francisco de Asís in the Anglican Church of Mexico
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church (Raleigh, North Carolina, USA)
Southwark Cathedral (Church of England)
Spirit of Joy Christian Church (Lakeville, Minnesota, USA) - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
St. Andrew's Church, Subiaco, Perth, Australia in the Anglican Diocese of Perth
St. Andrew's Church on the Terrace in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
St. David's Presbyterian Church in Auckland
St. John's and St. Andrew's at Waterloo (Church of England)
St. John's Cathedral (Anglican Church of Australia)
St. John's in the City
St. Mark's Anglican Church (Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) - a bilingual congregation
St. Barnabas, Bethnal Green - Diocese of London (Church of England)
St. Mary and St. Nicholas, Spalding (Church of England)
St. Mary's Battersea (Church of England)
St. Pancras Church (Church of England)
St. Patrick's Cathedral (Church of Ireland)
Tong-Kwang Light House Presbyterian Church (Taipei, Taiwan)
University Baptist Church (Austin, Texas, USA)
St. Paul's Anglican Church (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Wake Forest Baptist Church (Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA)
Walnut Creek United Methodist Church (Walnut Creek, California, USA)
Living Spirit United Methodist Church (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
Greenland Hills United Methodist Church (Dallas, Texas, USA)
Ekklesia Tou Theou (Church of God) (Cavite, Philippines)
Olivet-Schwenkfelder United Church of Christ (East Norriton, Pennsylvania, USA)
Red Willow Community Church (Seventh-day Adventist) (St. Albert, Alberta, Canada)
Open Doors Community Church (Seoul, South Korea)
Trinity Episcopal Church (St. Louis, Missouri, USA)
Unity Fellowship of Christ Church (Los Angeles, California, USA)
York Minster (Church of England)
The following denominations have LGBT-welcoming or affirming programmes, though not all churches within the denomination are necessarily members of the LGBT programme.
Integrity and the OASIS are parachurch ministries, but operate under the official roof of the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada. There are also official programmes identifying parishes in some dioceses.
Supportive Communities Network — Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church USA, and Mennonite Church Canada
Open and Affirming — Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): Open and Affirming.
GLAD Alliance - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Welcoming Community Network (WCN). — Community of Christ
Reconciling in Christ — Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
More Light — Presbyterian Church (USA)
Open & Affirming, All are Welcome — Reformed Catholic Church (USA) (International):
Room for All — Reformed Church in America
Affirm United/S'affirmer Ensemble — United Church of Canada
Open and Affirming (ONA) — United Church of Christ
Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns
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.
Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons — Latter-day Saints
Call to Action - Roman Catholic Church
Changing Attitude (International) – group working for LGBT affirmation within the Anglican Communion. Conducts worship, training and workshops.
Changing Attitude (UK) – same as above but particularly for the Church of England.
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.
Fortunate Families - Roman Catholic Church
Inclusive Church (multi-denominational, but principally Church of England/Anglican) – working for a range of inclusion within the Anglican Communion.
Nazarene Ally - Church of the Nazarene - seeks to promote dialogue between the Nazarene Church and the LGBT community, address policy language, and promote inclusion of LGBT members in rhythms and life of the Church.
Reconciling Ministries Network — United Methodist Church
SDA Kinship International — Seventh-day Adventist Church
Welcoming and Affirming — Baptist
Covenant Network - Pentecostal
Pink Menno Campaign — Mennonite Church USA
GALA (Gay and Lesbian Acceptance) - Community of Christ. An unofficial organization of LGBT members of the church.
Emergence International - Christian Science. An unofficial organization for LGBT members of the movement.
The Fellowship of Reconciling Pentecostals International - Pentecostal
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
