Mission Statement

Lutherans Concerned/North America stands as a community of faith, modeling the gospel within the church and within the lesbian and gay community.

We seek to employ the Gospel's principles of inclusiveness and justice, celebrating God's gifts of sexuality and diversity.

Declaration of Principles

We envision ourselves as a community that:

• is empowered through baptism 
• centers its life in worship 
• acts decisively for justice 
• witnesses a prophetic ministry of presence 
• strives as a family to affirm, encourage and nurture all who are coming out 
• prays for those who are still in the closet 
• acts assertively in the face of oppression 
• patterns its decision-making processes in the light of a loving gospel and the principles of  consensus 
• seeks the guidance of the Holy Spirit to integrate and express our spiritual and sexual selves 
• calls the entire church to be a visible proponent of justice for all gay and lesbian people 

We are an independent membership organization, supported entirely by donations and member contributions. We include members of all Lutheran affiliations as well as other Christian denominations. To those who are struggling with their sexual identity, we offer sanctuary and confidentiality. We encourage the creation of caring communities, thus extending our healing ministry to all God's children. Through 20 years of Lutherans Concerned outreach ministry, thousands of gay men, lesbians and bisexual people who were alienated from the Lutheran church and other denominations have returned to worship and find a caring community.

Mission Statement

Integrity is a group of gay and lesbian Episcopalians and their friends. We are a family within the church, a place to find close community and support. We offer an opportunity to find growth, education and prayer. We work with each other in service to the church and to the gay/lesbian community. We call the church to greater faithfulness to the Gospel through the full inclusion of lesbians and gay men in the life of the church.

Although some perceive Integrity as a "lobbying organization," few Integrity members would identify with that label. In over 60 chapters in the United States (plus independent chapters in Australia and Canada) the primary focuses are worship in a supportive environment, emotional support and counseling, spiritual nourishment and Christian education, and service to the Church and the gay/lesbian community. Through Integrity's evangelism, thousands of lesbians and gay men, estranged from the Episcopal and other churches, have returned to worship and fellowship.

Mission Statement

Building a community committed to welcoming and affirming all persons regardless of sexual orientation into the full life and mission of American Baptist churches. ...all are one in Christ Gelatins 3:28

Who We Are: Members of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists are churches, organizations, and individuals who are willing to go on record as welcoming and affirming all persons without regard to sexual orientation, and who have joined together to advocate for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons within American Baptist communities of faith.

A Welcoming & Affirming (W & A) congregation is one which reaches out to the lesbian/gay community with the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ and welcomes lesbian, gay, and bisexual Christians into full membership and participation.

The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists was initiated at a gathering of pastors at the 1991 Biennial in Charleston, West Virginia, and was formally organized at the 1993 Biennial in San Jose; California. By 1995 the Association had grown to over 30 churches and organizations in Regions throughout the ABC/USA.

Our Mission: The mission of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists is to envision, create, and support a community of churches committed to actively affirm the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons into the full life and mission of local congregations and regional; national offices of the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. The mission of the Association is to create a community in solidarity, empowerment, and reconstruction committed to true peace and justice.

The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists: invites and supports churches in the ABC/USA to enter thoughtful processes of dialogue and theological reflection leading to a full declaration of the local community in favor of inclusion of sexual minorities as a statement of holistic mission deeply rooted in Biblical principles and in Baptist polity and practice; and endeavors to create and maintain networks of communication and support within the ABC/USA and among other welcoming and affirming groups to create avenues of recognition, celebration, and validation of various ministries limited by prejudice based on sexual orientation until the official bodies take a stand to abolish any and all exclusionary policies and practices.

Mission Statement

"The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is a Christian Church founded in and reaching beyond the Gay and Lesbian communities. We embody and proclaim Christian salvation and liberation, Christian inclusivity and community, and Christian social action and justice. We serve among those seeking and celebrating the integration of their spirituality and sexuality."

"With the adoption of this new mission statement, UFMCC became the first Christian denomination in history to proclaim the "integration of spirituality and sexuality" as part of its intrinsic mission," said the Rev. Troy D. Perry, moderator of the denomination.

The UFMCC Vision Statement enacted in Australia reads:

"The vision of the UFMCC is to embody the presence of the Divine in the world, as revealed through Jesus Christ; to challenge the conscience of the universal Christian Church; and to celebrate the inherent worth and dignity of each person. As we move toward this vision, by 2003, the UFMCC will be comprised of at least 70,000 members and adherents who are all called and equipped to minister with excellence. This diverse global body will be widely recognized as a prophetic light and driving force for an inclusive Christian spirituality which celebrates the integration of spirituality and human sexuality. Through our strengthened local churches, we will meet the justice and faith needs of people in increasing numbers of countries and cultures."

"Four points in this vision statement are especially noteworthy," said Perry. "This new document calls us to impact the universal Christian Church with our message of hope and affirmation for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. It calls us to fulfill our vision to double membership in a decade. It calls UFMCC to establish spiritual outposts in additional countries and cultures. And it reemphasizes our commitment to the positive integration of sexuality and spirituality."

UFMCC was founded in 1968 by the Rev. Troy D. Perry, who serves as moderator of the fast-growing denomination. A frequent international speaker at churches, universities, and conferences, Perry has appeared on C-SPAN, 60 Minutes, Phil Donahue, Tomorrow with Tom Snyder, and The Mike Douglas Show. UFMCC's story has appeared in virtually every international news magazine. Perry is the recipient of awards from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Gay Press Association.

UFMCC is composed of more than 300 local congregations in 15 countries. With a combined budget in excess of $15 million, the UFMCC churches comprise the largest predominantly gay organization in the world.

Mission Statement

We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Catholics in our diversity are members of Christ's mystical body, numbered among the People of God. We have an inherent dignity because God created us, Christ died for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctified us in Baptism, making us temples of the Spirit, and channels through which God's love becomes visible. Because of this, it is our right, our privilege, and our duty to live the sacramental life of the Church, so that we might become more powerful instruments of God's love working among all people.

We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teaching. We believe that we can express our sexuality physically, in a unitive manner that is loving, life-giving, and life-affirming. We believe that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethically responsible and unselfish way.

DIGNITY is organized to unite gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Catholics, as well as our families, friends and loved ones in order to develop leadership, and be an instrument through which we may be heard by and promote reform in the Church.

To be such an organization, we accept our responsibilities to the Church, to our Catholic heritage, to society, and to individual gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Catholics.

1.  TO THE CHURCH: We work for the development of sexual theology leading to the reform of its teachings and practices regarding human sexuality, and for the acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered peoples as full and equal members of the one Christ.

2.  TO SOCIETY: We work for justice and equality through education and by supporting social and legal reforms.

3.  TO INDIVIDUAL GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDERED CATHOLICS : We reinforce their sense of self-acceptance and dignity and encourage our full participation in the life of the Church and society.

As members of Dignity, we promote causes of interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Catholics. We have five primary areas of concern and commitment:

1.  SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT: We strive to achieve Christian maturity through the sacraments, Scripture, prayer, an active love of neighbor as ourselves, and liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass.

2.  EDUCATION: We inform ourselves in all matters of faith and to our communities, so that we may grow in maturity and may nurture fulfilling lives in which our sexuality and spirituality are integrated.

3.  SOCIAL JUSTICE: As Catholics and members of society, we involve ourselves in those actions that bring the love of Christ to others and provide the basis of social reform in the Church and society. We are actively involved with:

a.  Individuals: We lead a life of service to ourselves and others, rendering visible the love of Christ and assisting in the creation of a love centered communities.

b.  Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Groups: We work with a variety of other groups to seek justice for all persons and to promote a sense of solidarity within the communities.

c.  Religious and Secular Groups: We work with many groups and organizations so that their members might better understand gay, lesbian, bisexuals and transgendered persons and thus recognize and eliminate present injustices.

d.  Health Care: We work to promote equal access and justice in all areas of health care and healing.

e.  Women's Justice Issues: We strive to eradicate sexism and patriarchy in all areas of Church and secular life so that women are wholly included, accepted and welcome.

4.  EQUALITY ISSUES: We dedicate ourselves to develop the potential of all persons to become more fully human. To do this, we work toward the eradication of all constraints on our personhood based on the ascribed social roles of women and men and to promote inclusivity in all areas of liturgical and community life.

5.  SOCIAL EVENTS: We provide activities of a social and recreational nature in an atmosphere where friendships can develop and mature, and where our sense of self acceptance and dignity is affirmed.

Vision

Evangelicals Concerned, founded as a grass roots volunteer organization, is a non-denominational evangelical resource providing a community of fellowship that is a safe place for gay and lesbian Christians to reconcile and integrate their faith and sexuality, and to grow toward Christian maturity.

E.C. is highly visible, easily accessible, financially stable, geographically diverse, and open and affirming to all who embrace the Christian faith regardless of sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, or church membership. Through conferences, retreats, local groups, bible studies, resource materials, education, leadership training, and personal support, E.C. serves as a role model to all evangelicals (gay or straight), to foster an integrated and healthy gay/lesbian Christian life. In realizing its mission, E.C. provides organizational outreach so that no gay or lesbian Christian will disown their faith or suffer unnecessarily because of who they are.

Our Mission

E.C. responds to the needs of gay and lesbian evangelical Christians primarily through nurturing fellowship. It is a ministry providing a safe place for gay and lesbian evangelical Christians to deal with issues of reconciliation, integration, and maturation of spirituality and sexuality.

E.C. hosts conferences, local groups, and Bible studies, and provides education through newsletters and on-line resources. We foster an atmosphere for spiritual growth and provide a safe place and personal support for all who are on their journey of faith.

Mission Statement

Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians is to work for the full participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

What do we do?

• Provide a ministry of care for inclusive congregations and build new MLP Chapters around the country through the outreach of the National Field Organizer;
• Educate individuals, churches, and presbyteries on GLBT issues through published materials and programs;
• Train leaders in congregations and presbyteries to advocate for the full participation of GLBT Christians in the life and ministry of the Presbyterian Church;
• Fund pro active work in passing legislation that eradicates homophobia and injustice in the Presbyterian Church and in society;
• Partner with other faith traditions to support the GLBT community in matters of justice;
• Bear witness to the individual God-given gifts of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the Presbyterian Church.

Mission Statement

The Reconciling Congregation, Program (RCP) is a growing movement of United Methodist individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups which publicly welcome all persons, regardless of sexual orientation.

"The United Methodist Book of Discipline states that God's grace is available to all and commits us to be in ministry with all persons. However, in principle and practice, the United Methodist church excludes some people, particularly gays, lesbians, and bisexual persons, from full participation in its life and work. The result is a Body of Christ that is broken and incomplete and that often acts in unjust ways. A Reconciling Congregation Program exists to be a healing voice within this climate of fear, ignorance, intolerance and injustice. The program encourages and equips individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and church bodies to be instruments of justice within the church by inviting all persons to be full participants in the life of the church, both in policy and practice. In this endeavor, the program provides a supportive network, educational and worship resources, and strategies that enable and empower individuals and church organizations for Christian ministries with lesbian, gay and bisexual and other persons."

As of April, 1999, the RCP encompasses over 13,800 Reconciling United Methodists, 151 Reconciling Congregations, 24 Reconciling Campus Ministries, 6 Reconciling Conferences, and numerous other "reconciling" groups.

Mission Statement

Liberation In Truth Unity Fellowship Church is a space that is spiritually affirming to the Lesbian and Gay Community and indeed to all people. We believe that all people have access to the love of God.  We believe that in order to practice LOVE we must be involved in the affairs of society, fight for social justice, and provide for all according to their need Therefore, we are committed to:

• Visiting prisons
• Feeding the hungry
• Clothing the naked
• Providing education
• Housing the homeless
• Protecting our environment
• Visiting the sick and shut-in
• Protecting animal, plant, and marine life
• Societal involvement for the freedom of all

Our Belief

Our belief, as part of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement, is adapted from theologies like Liberation Theology. Our theology is a theology that frees the oppressed. Therefore, Unity Fellowship Church Movement:

• Accepts leadership from both men and women.
• Embraces liberation theology from a multi-racial perspective.
• Relates to people of color and the multiplicity of culture from around the world.
• Liberates Lesbian and Gay people.
• Allows people to think and discern through human reason and experience.
• Is liberating to Native Americans and their spirituality.
• Incorporates the Scripture to liberate all people.
• Believes that Love worketh no ill to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
• Accepts the teaching of Jesus Christ while holistically embracing all other faiths and beliefs.

Mission Statement

If this is your first time contacting Affirmation, you may be amazed to discover that Latter-day Saints even exist! Of course it's true. In our own church you will find homosexuals from every walk of life and in every position of service. Virtually every family in the church has a homosexual member somewhere on their family tree (and more likely on several branches).

Affirmation is a fellowship of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, their family and friends who share the common bond of the Mormon experience. Its purpose is to provide a supportive environment for relieving the needless fear, guilt, self-oppression and isolation that LDS gays and lesbians can experience in an era where willful ignorance about human sexuality is too often a reality. We believe that a same-gender orientation and same-gender relationships can be consistent with and supported by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We affirm that we are children of Heavenly Parents who love us the way they created us and will judge us, as they do all, based on what we make of our lives here and how we have treated our sisters and brothers.

Our goal of understanding and acceptance of gays and lesbians as full and equal members of society and church is furthered by:

Encouraging spirituality, prayer and Christ-like behavior among all people, and affirming the inherent dignity of all God's children, regardless of sexual orientation. Providing support and understanding for people experiencing difficulty reconciling their identity and their LDS faith with the popular attitudes of church members and leaders that often reflect misinformed ideas about homosexuals and homosexuality. Influencing church leaders and members to follow scriptural admonitions in their treatment and perception of homosexual church members, rather than the unchristian ideas of hate, violence, fear and prejudice. Providing a forum for open and respectful discussion of issues of concern both to gay/lesbian LDS people and to other members of the church. Providing gay/lesbian LDS people with positive opportunities for social, intellectual, emotional and cultural development.

Mission Statement

The Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Concerns

A serious spiritual alternative for the bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender community.

Unitarian Universalist spirituality does not grind out the standard line of prejudice, heterosexism and homophobia. There is a reason.

The Unitarian Universalist approach to spirituality is fundamentally different from religion based on the idea of "creed" or a static "revelation." We do not say that life's ultimate truth has been revealed in some scripture. We say that together we must seek to understand the meaning of our lives. We gather in a sense of wonder before the mystery of life. In our search we have the voices and visions of every period and place in the record of human experience from which to draw. We have the accumulated wisdom of humankind, reason, intuition, the arts and sciences-and our own life experience. We have the combined religious traditions of the Unitarians and the Universalists, and the life-truth of our own people, we who call ourselves bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender. If you seek a place where minds are free and the issues of our lives and times are examined critically and hopefully, you belong in a Unitarian Universalist congregation!

Because we aren't accountable to the Apostle Paul, to some central ecclesiastical authority, or to an ancient body of dogma, Unitarian Universalists think our own thoughts, always valuing the critical questions as much as the available answers. We are open to new knowledge and bold ideas. Ours is a tradition of strong and prophetic voices calling for a larger vision of life. It should not surprise anyone that, of major religious bodies, we have among our professional ministers by far the highest percentage of women-and of openly bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender ministers. It is not surprising that Unitarian Universalists have long called for the full inclusion of bisexual, gay and lesbian people in church and society.

Here is the record. Meeting in our annual General Assemblies, Unitarian Universalists have:

• 1970 Called for an end to discrimination against Homosexual and Bisexual people in the denomination and in society, especially with regard to legal regulations against private consensual sexual behavior.
• 1973 Established an Office of Lesbian, Bisexual, and Gay concerns.
• 1980 Called for the UUA to assist in the settlement of openly- ministers.
• 1984 Recognized and encouraged ministers to perform Same-Gender Services of Union.
• 1987 Called for the UUA to support the recession of "sodomy" laws and to urge UUs not to do business with companies that discriminate.
• 1996 Added "Transgender" to office title to reflect work being done.
• 1996 Called for the UUA to support the legalization of "Same-Sex Marriage."
• 1997 Called for the UUA to support Non-discriminatory Corporate and Other Business Policies.

The UUA has implemented an affirmative action program to place bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender ministers in our churches. Its presidents have spoken out against anti-gay foster care policies and other forms of institutionalized homophobia. Is Unitarian Universalism totally free of homophobia? Of course not. But whenever Unitarian Universalists are called on to take a position on bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender issues, the sentiment is always overwhelming: the human family is one, and the fears and hatreds that divide us must be overcome. Human loving and human sexuality are not less sacred and good when shared between members of the same sex. The culture and history of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people is important to all of society.

Because we believe in the principles of "the inherent worth and dignity of very person," "justice, equity, and compassion in human relations," "acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations," "the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all," and "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part," this affirmation of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender experience flows naturally from our tradition of freedom, of creativity, of respect for intuition and reason and life experience, as well as the wisdom of the past.

We are all religious, spiritual creatures, driven to find a pattern of meaning in our lives. If you have trouble finding meaning in creeds and commandments of traditional religion, a Unitarian Universalist congregation may be the place for you.

• Here, your own life experience counts fully as much as that of any ancient people.
• Here, the cumulative experience of the people gay, lesbian and bisexual is a sacred story that informs our spirituality.
• Here, intuition and our inner creative capacities, count-not just tradition and church hierarchy and bible.
• Here, reason and the findings of science count.
• And here, prophetic voices, voices of wisdom and vision, form whatever source, count.

Bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people belong here. Our religious movement belongs to a larger future, not to a constricting past. It doesn't belong to the outworn pronouncements of the bishops or the evangelists of the new right. Our movement has to do with the qualitative evolution of human consciousness.

Mission Statement

As with all large denominations, individual Quakers are religiously diverse. Their beliefs range from Evangelical (conservative) to liberal. The following beliefs are common to most Quakers:

Friends believe that there exists element of God's spirit in every human soul. Thus all persons have inherent worth, independent of their gender, race, age, nationality, religion, and sexual orientation. Their opposition to sexism, racism, religious intolerance, warfare and the death penalty comes from this belief.

Simplicity, pacifism, and inner revelation are long standing Quaker beliefs. Their religion does not consist of accepting specific beliefs or of engaging in certain practices; it involves each person's direct experience of God.

There is a strong mystical component to Quaker belief. In the moving words of one reviewer of this essay, "In Meeting for Worship, God is there..God is probably always there, but in Meeting, I am able to slow down enough to see God. The Light becomes tangible for me, a blanket of love, a hope made living."

They do not have a specific creed; however, many of the coordinating groups have created statements of faith. The statement by the largest Quaker body, the Friends United Meeting includes the beliefs in:

• true religion as a personal encounter with God, rather than ritual and ceremony
• individual worth before God
• worship as an act of seeking
• the virtues of moral purity, integrity, honesty, simplicity and humility
• Christian love and goodness
• concern for the suffering and unfortunate
• continuing revelation through the Holy Spirit

Many do not regard the Bible as the only source of belief and conduct. They rely upon their Inner Light to resolve its many contradictions. They also feel free to take advantage of scientific and philosophical findings from other sources.

Individual Quakers hold diverse views concerning life after death. Few believe in the eternal punishment of individuals in a Hell.

All aspects of life are sacramental; they do not differentiate between the secular and the religious. No one day or one place or one activity is any more spiritual than any other.

Mission Statement

Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals, is an association of Christian Scientists, their families and friends, who provide spiritual and educational support to lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals as they deal with homophobia and heterosexism.

EI is a non-profit, tax exempt religious corporation, organized in 1986 under the laws of the state of California, USA.

Honoring the integrity of individual growth

EI is a resource for those searching for a change of perspective and spiritual growth through the leadership of Mary Baker Eddy in her writings, and by fellowship with similarly-minded Christian Scientists.

Following Mrs. Eddy's counsel, Emergence encourages its members and friends to search for their answers in the Bible, Science and Health and Mrs. Eddy's other works, and those other writings based on Science and Health which Mrs. Eddy says are useful.

History

By the late 1970's groups of Christian Scientists were meeting in at least six cities in the United States and the United Kingdom. A first-ever conference for representatives from some of these groups met in Chicago in 1983. Following a second conference in 1985, several participants decided to develop a national identity for Christian Scientists, and Emergence International was born.

Mission Statement

Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. is a support group which ministers to the spiritual, emotional, social, and physical well-being of Seventh-day Adventist lesbian, gay men, bisexual, and transgendered individuals and their families and friends. SDA Kinship facilitates and promotes the understanding and affirmation of homosexual and bisexual Adventists among themselves and within the Seventh-day Adventist community through education, advocacy, and reconciliation.

Founded in 1976, the organization was incorporated in 1981 and has a board of 15 officers and 10 regional coordinators. The current list of members and friends includes well over a thousand people in 16 countries. Kinship operates solely on contributions from its members and friends. SDA Kinship believes the Bible does not condemn, or even mention, homosexuality as a sexual orientation. Ellen G. White does not parallel any of the Bible texts, which are often used to condemn homosexuals. Most of the anguish imposed upon God's children who grow up gay or lesbian has its roots in a misunderstanding of what the Bible says.

Seventh-day Adventist Kinship is a nonprofit organization which supports the advancement of human rights for all people.