A Few Resources for Christians who see themselves as Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay or Transgendered

This site is not intended to be a final resource, but a stepping-stone.

Please follow the links below to find more information.

This page does not necessarily represent the opinion of Bluffton University, its faculty, its administration or trustees, nor even my own opinions. I agree with some of the pages linked below, and disagree with others. The point of this page is to bring Christian resources to the attention of those who may think that they must abandon God to be "faithful to their own natures."

For something thoughtful and moving on what "their own natures" means, see Huw Raphael Richardson's essay, Look Homeward, Angel.

Because God has laid it on my heart, through the essay linked above among many others, that there is more than one side of this story, I am beginning to add links to resources that do not assume that sexual relations are the be-all and end-all of our worth as human beings. -- D.B., Christmastide 2005

• Testimony from a homosexual, former Episcopalian (now Orthodox).
  • A later reflection on this essay.
• Loren Johns maintains a site devoted to resources on homosexuality and the Mennonite Church.

• Is the homosexual my neighbor? by Tony and Peggy Campolo. While this husband and wife disagree about whether same-sex sexual expression is always sinful, even within a "married" relationship, they agree that Christians must reach out in love and support to all people. (I personally agree with Mr. Campolo.)

  This page is maintained by Bridges Across the Divide, "a cyberspace initiative providing models and resources for building respectful relationships among those who disagree about moral issues surrounding homosexuality, bisexuality and gender variance."
  
  For a summary of research that bears on Mr. Campolo's contentions, see Homosexuality and the possibility of change, an ongoing metastudy that seeks to establish whether anyone at all has actually undergone a change of "sexual orientation." Their results indicate that a minority of motivated individuals can undergo a real change.

• Whosoever is an online magazine for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered (LBGT) Christians. The quality of the writing is high.

• Mel White has ghost-written for Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson; now he is out of the closet as a gay Christian and directs Soulforce.

• Stonewall Revisited is a site for those re-considering homosexuality. It is sponsored by Leadership University.
  
• Resources by denomination:

  The Other Side has a comprehensive listing of Christian resources for gays by denomination.

  • The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is an organization of, by and for non-heterosexual Christians from a Reformed or "Independent" Church background. It is the only denomination whose raison d'être is to serve non-heterosexual Christians.

  • Dignity and Courage are organizations for LBGT Roman Catholics.

  • Integrity is the organization for LBGT persons in the Episcopal Church. It was founded by Louie Crew.
    • See also the Zacchaeus Fellowship, an independent ministry within the Anglican Church of Canada

  • Lutherans Concerned has a chapter in Columbus, Ohio.

  • More Light Presbyterians is dedicated to addressing the concerns of LBGT Prebyterians.

  • Affirmation is an organization by and for non-heterosexual United Methodists.
    • The Reconciling Ministries is devoted to providing a voice of charity within the United Methodist denomination. Its aim is to "enable full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life of the United Methodist Church, both in policy and practice."

  • AXIOS is an organization by and for non-heterosexuals in the Eastern and Orthodox Churches.

• Louie Crew, who founded Integrity, maintains a page devoted to resources for LBGT Christians.
  • Professor Crew, who celebrated his 25th "wedding" anniversary in February 1999, has written a moving piece entitled "Two Grooms." Most of it is about things important for any married couple.