Resources For Gay Christians

Being a Christian can sometimes be difficult, but being a gay Christian can prove to be more complicated. There can be discrimination by conventional and “straight” communities, and sometimes persecution from their fellow Christians as well because of their lifestyle conflicts with the Christian belief that homosexuality is a sin. There are actually gay communities who have a desire to follow and worship, but because of their conflicting identities as a gay and a Christian, it can be a hard time finding Christian communities and churches that would be welcoming. Fortunately, more and more support groups are emerging and are going out of their way to accept gay Christians for who they are.

Find an Affirming Church

Churches that welcome gay Christians into their congregation are termed as gay-affirming, or simply affirming, churches. These churches accept gays without intending to help alter their lifestyle, but instead minister to them as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Affirming churches also address the needs of gay Christians as believers in Christ, hosting Bible studies, starting cell groups, and encouraging Sunday worship service attendance. Many affirming churches are spread not only in the US, but also in Asia and Europe. Below is a list of links that can help gay Christians find the right affirming church for them:

Affirming Christian Church Directory: this web page contains a list of affirming churches across the world, from the US, Europe, Asia, and even Africa. The list is constantly updated, and affirming churches can contact the site owner to add their own address in the list.

Other Gay Affirming Christian Churches: the link directs a visitor to a directory of about 500 affirming churches both in the US and Canada. The churches listed in the directory have specifically and willingly requested to be put on the list, so more or less, a visitor can be sure that the churches are indeed affirming ones.

How Do I Find a Good Gay Affirming Church: the article discusses a few questions a gay Christian should ask himself in order to find out if an affirming church is for him.

Find a Church: SisterFriends Together includes a list of “denominational coalitions for GLBTQ concerns, and also a list of non-denomination churches in the United States and several countries around the world. The articles emphasizes the need of a gay Christian to learn more about a church before being an official member of the congregation.

Open and Affirming in the UCC: The United Church of Christ (UCC) is currently the largest domination that holds an Open and Affirming (ONA) program among its many churches. In this site, a visitor can find many resources and contact details for concerns such as for parents with gay children and gay youths. The site also includes a list of UCC churches around the USA.

Gay Christian Support

An affirming church is important, but a gay Christian will also need a support group outside of church. A gay Christian can stay in touch and meet with his support group on a regular basis and ask for help and guidance about his concerns. Likewise, any gay Christian – and any Christian, for that matter – will find it fulfilling that they can empathize with fellow believers who are going through the same experiences. The Internet is a valuable resource for a gay Christian to find a support group in his own neighborhood.

The Christian Gay Network: The Christian Gay Network is an online support group that welcomes gays on an international level. Different services include forums, chat rooms, and email groups, plus a directory of gay churches and organizations.

Gay Christian Alliance: The Gay Christian Alliance provides a place for gay Christians in New Zealand to commune together. The support group aims for visitors and members to explore and reconcile their identities, eventually accepting that being gay and Christian is alright.

GCN Small Groups: Within the online group of Gay Christian Network are numerous small groups that any gay Christians can enter. There are specialized small groups that include women’s fellowship, transgender fellowship, and HIV/AIDS support, among many others.

Los Angeles Gay Christians: For gay Christians who live in the LA area, the Los Angeles Gay Christians organizes different groups that can meet regularly to have fellowship and bonding. Interested gay Christians can email the site owner and send a photo for identity reasons to join a group.

Denominations Support Groups: this web page lists down different online groups that support gay Christians by denominations, such as Baptist, Methodist, and Anglican. The page also includes a list of non-denomination groups and youth groups targeted toward young gay Christians.

Gay Christian Marriages

Gay Christians who want to marry should plan carefully. There are currently five states that allow gay marriages: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire. If gay couples want to marry, they can go to these states to undergo the wedding ceremony, but not necessarily in a church, but only by civil union, such as in Connecticut and New Jersey. Other European countries also allow gay marriages, such as in Sweden, Norway, and Belgium, but aliens may have to worry about citizenship concerns. Below is a list of articles and websites that discusses gay Christian marriages, and even dating tips for gays.

An Argument for Gay Marriage: Eugene F. Rogers, writes an article that supports gay marriages according to the gays’ identity as humans and the “theology of marriage.” It also discusses how love should not be refused to any human being, no matter their sexual orientation.

10 Reasons Why Christians Should Support Same-Sex Marriage: Vaugh Roste, a son to two Lutheran pastors, cites 10 reasons why same-sex marriage should not be looked down upon by Christians.

Gay Christian Dating: this is an online network that helps gay Christians find fellow gay Christians to chat with and eventually date personally. The site even has SmartMatch that finds ideal matches for a member.

Rainbow Christians: Rainbow Christians is another dating website specially for gays, founded by Justin Cannon. The site contains several groups for people with different interests, such as in music, animals, and art. Gay Christians can post their profiles and find other members’ profiles to meet their match.

Gay Christian Groups and Organizations

Aside from churches, there are many Christian groups and organizations that hosts activities and programs for gay Christians. These organizations also create awareness that being both a gay and a Christian is possible, and that they are willing to help out any interested party. Many organizations have also taken advantage of the popularity of the Internet to spread their support and encouragement. Many gay Christians are hesitant to “come out,” so the Internet has the added advantage of protecting their identity, while giving updates and resources on how to live their Christian life. Listed below are some gay Christian organizations and groups.

Metropolitan Community Churches: The Metropolitan Community Churches is one of the largest gay Christian organizations in the world, founded in 1968. Aside from raising awareness about gay believers, the organization has also been active in several human rights issues such as sexism and racism.

Manchester Gay Christian Group: The Manchester Gay Christian Group is an online group that connects gay Christian all over. The group hosts many social events like country walks and wine tasting, plans worship services especially during special occasions, and arranges seminars and presentations to deepen the spiritual knowledge and wisdom of a gay Christian

Christian Resources: The organization of Rainbow Baptists includes a list of Christian Groups and a bit of information about each group. The list also includes web magazines, newsletters, and other resources that can help a gay Christian enrich his spiritual life.

The Gay Christian Network: The Gay Christian network was founded by Justine Lee. It includes many activities such as annual conferences, Bible study groups, and even has a radio program on a weekly basis. All of these activities are purposed towards supporting gay believers.

Gay-friends Christian Groups and Organizations: This web page includes a list of Christian groups in the UK, and other fellowship groups that gay Christians can participate in. Some organizations and groups listed here are not online-based, so interested gay Christians can personally participate in an organization and interact with other gay Christians in a deeper level.

Gay Christian Web Links: this comprehensive directory lists down more than 300 web sites and online organizations geared toward supporting gay Christians. This web page also includes other related links specifically for gay of Jewish and Islamic faiths, and resources especially for transgendered.

Recommended Reading

Can a GLBT Person Become and Remain a Christian? This article discusses how many gay Christians experience a “spiritual crisis.” It also talks about how one can overcome these difficulties and reconcile his identity as a gay and as a Christian.

Answering the Gay Christian Position: Joe Dallas writes about his experiences as a gay who was actively involved in church ministries. The article also tackles two difficult question every gay Christian might face, one of which is “Does God’s presence in our lives indicate His approval of our lifestyle?”

What the Bible Says – and Doesn’t Say – About Homosexuality: Author and reverend Mel White goes back to the Bible and explore verses that talk about homosexuality. The article generally revolves around White’s premises on how the Bible and its different writers discuss the issue of homosexuality in the context of their history.

The Strange Universe of the Homosexual Christian: the term “gay Christian” can be seen as oxymoronic, and this articles talks about the emerging phenomenon that is largely occurring in the US. The writer David Rand discusses how social and political situations in America contributed significantly to enlarging the communities of gay Christians.

Gay Christian Books: this web page lists books that tackle the issue and the identity of a gay Christian. The list includes popular books such as “Stranger at the Gate: To be Gay and Christian in America” by Mel White, “Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality” by Jack Bartlett Rogers, and “The Children are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships” by Rev. Jeff Miner and John Tyler Connoley. All the books listed in the web page can be ordered online.

Gay Christian Books You Should Read: an article that lists down several books that gay Christians should read, particularly the book “Calling the Rainbow Nation Home – a Story of Acceptance and Affirmation” by ET Sundby. Many gay Christian books explore how the Bible sees homosexuality, and how modern-day anti-gay Christians, in turn, see the concept of being gay.

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