How to show that your church is gay friendly

Below, we explore what makes a church gay-friendly, how to find one near you, and the significance of these communities. Want to make sure your church is doing safety and inclusion right? Ask if we can connect you with a trained consultant who can guide your church before and during its ONA journey.

Now what? Fortunately, many churches around the world are committed to inclusivity and providing a safe space for spiritual growth. Register for a free account to access the checklist. A well-planned ONA process will deepen relationships and help members grow in faith.

The intent of our Affirming Church Directory™ is to provide an online resource for people to locate and visit welcoming Christian churches around the world. Young heterosexual couples who are looking for a church with the values of an ONA covenant are typically part of the growth curve for new ONA churches.

We put together a 2-page checklist so you can make sure your church is LGBTQ inclusive. How will our ONA covenant make a difference? Support Us. Learn More. The quest for a faith community that embraces and affirms LGBTI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) individuals is a deeply personal journey.

Will members leave our church if we become ONA? The process is too complicated for our church! But in a few cases, churches that are already Open and Affirming in practice may need only an abbreviated ONA process, and the process can be waived for new-church-starts.

We know you’ve got good intentions, this is how you can make sure you’re living out those intentions.

Open and Affirming UCC

Welcome homosexuals to your church. That depends on whether the congregation has carefully planned its ONA process. Greet them, tell them you’re glad they’ve come, help them find a good seat, and invite them to other church functions (picnics, concerts, Bible studies, etc.).

Ready to get started? Is your congregation curious about ONA? Learn more about why you should become an ONA church. Skip to content. An ONA experience that is not hurried, that treats everyone with respect and is a safe space for all members of the church, will usually help a congregation grow in numbers, enthusiasm, generosity and passion for the Gospel.

All churches in this directory have confirmed that their congregation, in some form or fashion, is an affirming. Suite Cleveland, OH office openandaffirming. Locate an ONA congregation near you. Many churches want to express their love and support for the LGBTQ+ community at Pride festivals.

That doesn’t mean just letting them in, but also making them feel welcome. And by participating in the ONA movement, your congregation will be able to share its gifts with other congregations that are exploring ONA for the first time, or seeking new ways to live into their ONA covenant.

Cody Sanders gives helpful tips. We list congregations that meet on a regular basis in a physical location for worship, prayer, service and fellowship. Looking for a church family? Most congregations benefit from an extended period of discernment, prayer, study, and dialogue.

Gay affirming Churches Near

After all, you should be excited when guests show up at your church. Use the resources on this website to develop an ONA process that will unite, rather than divide, your church, and ask us if we can connect you will a trained ONA consultant who can support the congregation through an ONA process.

Learn more about how your church can become ONA. Already ONA? It will make a difference to all those who attend or are affected by your congregation, who will experience a deeper understanding of the Gospel.