Daniel A. Rodriguez Schlorff

Guide to Churches

A central faith development issue for some will be their experience of gender and sexuality.  Some women, for instance, leave the Southern Baptists because their call to ministry outweighs their allegiance to a denomination that refuses to ordain women.  Likewise, a gay man might choose to find a spiritual home that affirms him for his faith and sexual orientation.  The following list includes the major denominations that ordain women and provide ministry opportunities for lesbian, gay and bisexuals.

(*) indicates the recognition of currently practicing trans-/inter-gender clergy.

Missional Christian Denominations

These are newer denominations which have gathered, in large part, to respond to the unique needs of LGBT Christians.

American Catholic Church

North American Old Catholic Church

Reformed Catholic Church

Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches*

Welcoming Christian Denominations

The following are existing or re-organized denominations which have voted to include LGBT Christians in worship. Further, they have voted either to ordain LGBT clergy, or at least not to exclude/remove LGBT clergy from the practice of ministry in their churches.

Alliance of Baptists

American Baptist Church - USA

• Welcoming and Affirming

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

• Open and Affirming

Christian Universalist Association*

The Episcopal Church - USA

• Integrity/USA "Believe Out Loud" Congregations
• TransEpiscopal

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America*

• Lutherans Concerned/North America

Religious Society of Friends - "Quakers" have no clergy though welcome trans religious leadership.(*)

• Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns

Presbyterian Church - USA - A 2011 ADDITION!

• Covenant Network
• More Light Presbyterians

United Church of Christ*

• Open and Affirming

Noteworthy Christian Denominations

The following denominations have significant congregational (though not denominational) support for LGBTQI communities. Linked here are the organizations within the denominations that seek to nurture their LGBT parishioners, or to equip and support LGBT clergy: 

Church of the Brethren and The Mennonite Church

• BMC-LGBT

Community of Christ

• GALA 

Reformed Church in America

• Room for All

United Methodist Church*

• Church Within a Church
• Reconciling Ministries

Family and Church Life

HeartStrong - helping LGBT people recover from spiritual abuse

Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation

LGBTran - LGBT religious archives network

LGBT Humanist Council

Liberty Education Forum - training and research on LGBT issues

Silent and Undecided Friends - Motivating Greater LGBT Rights Advocacy Among Clergy and Congregations (.pdf)