Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Welcome to ECF’s curated collection of LGBTQ+ resources. At ECF, we are guided by a commitment to love and justice, seeking to create an inclusive space where all voices are heard and celebrated. Our hope is that these resources and the ideas they spark help us embark on a journey of understanding inclusion and acceptance through Christ’s eyes, honoring the sacred worth of every individual.

Note: We will update this list as new resources are made available. If you have a relevant resource to share, please send it to editor@ecf.org

I. LGBTQ+ Resources at The Episcopal Church and Dioceses

LGBTQ+ and the Church: The Episcopal Church’s stance on LGBTQ+ inclusivity and resources, such as:

• History
• Organizations

LGBTQ+ Pride Issue of Vestry Papers by the Episcopal Church Foundation:

• ECF’s first celebration of Episcopal LGBTQ+ laity and ministry

The LGBTQ+ Caucus of The Episcopal Church:

• Working to make full inclusion for LGBTQ+ Episcopalians not just a resolution but a reality.

LGBTQIA+ Alliance, Washington National Cathedral:

• The LGBTQIA Alliance promotes the inclusiveness of the Episcopal Faith and the Cathedral’s message of “All are Welcome” by helping people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and faith backgrounds find their place in the church.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns, The Episcopal Diocese of New York:

• The Diocesan Committee on LGBT Concerns promotes the visibility, equality and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning Episcopalians and their families in the diocese of New York.

LGBTQ Resources, The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan:

• Links to LGBTQ+ friendly Christian organizations and letter from the Bishop of Michigan.

Resources for Learning and Discovery, The Episcopal Church in Colorado:

• Welcoming statements and links from the Episcopal Church in Colorado.

Pride 365, Trinity Church Wall Street:

• Stories of leading LGBTQ+ advocates through articles, videos, and events as part of Trinity’s Pride 365 program.

Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on LGBTQ Rights, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Jun 16, 2020:

• The official statement of The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright, 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta in response to the ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that sexual orientation is legally protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

LGBTQIA+ Resources by the Diocese of Pennsylvania:

• A variety of free online resources identified by the LGBTQIA+ Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania that might help you, your families, and your children learn more about LGBTQIA+ issues and their intersections with spirituality.

Resources by the Diocese of Los Angeles:

• Recommended resources for further reading, study and inspiration by the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Resources by the Diocese of Missouri:

• Questions and answers and resource pages from the Diocese of Missouri.

God Makes Queer People, and It Is Good, National Association of Episcopal Schools, Julian Bull, October 25, 2021:

• An article by Julian Bull exploring the commitment to inclusion in Episcopal schools.

II. Other groups views of the Episcopal Church’s Stance

Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ Issues: Episcopal Church, Human Rights Campaign:

• The Human Rights Campaign reports on news, events and resources of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that are of interest to the general public and further our common mission to support the LGBTQ+ community.

Faith Resources, Human Rights Campaign
For many LGBTQ Episcopalians, the struggle for full inclusion is not over – it’s expanded, by Egan Millard, Episcopal News Service:

• An article on LGBTQ Episcopalians and inclusion.

Views about homosexuality among members of the Episcopal Church, Pew Research Center:

• A religious landscape study with demographic information, beliefs and practices and social and political views.

Faith Leaders Applaud Episcopal Church’s Approval of Rite to Bless Same-Sex Unions and the Ordination of Transgender People, National LGBTQ+ Task Force:

• A statement by the National Religious Leadership Roundtable of the National LGBTQ+ Task Force.

The Episcopal Church and Homosexuality in the U.S.: Timeline, Out History:

• An essay by historian John D'Emilio "On Teaching Religion and Homosexuality in the U.S.," and six chronologies on religion and homosexuality in the United States.

Episcopal church affirms nationwide marriage equality, rejecting albany bishop's anti-lgbtq tirade, Nick Fiorellini, GLAAD Campus Ambassador, December 10, 2018, GLAAD.

• GLAAD is the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization that increases media accountability and community engagement that ensures authentic LGBTQ stories are seen, heard, and actualized.

III. LGBTQ+ Christian organizations

Gaychurch.org: An unofficial list of Christian denominations and denominational welcoming church programs around the world.

Believe Out Loud: Believe Out Loud is a digital community working to move all people toward an expansive, transformative understanding of divine love.

Q Christian Fellowship: A diverse community with varied backgrounds, cultures, theologies and denominations, drawn together through a love of Christ and the belief that every person is a beloved child of God.

Queer Theology: Queer, trans people of faith creating the theology of our liberation.

More Light Presbyterians: a non-profit organization dedicated to allowing the full participation of LGBTQIA+ people in life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society.

Institute for Welcoming Resources: The purpose of this ecumenical group is to provide the resources to facilitate a paradigm shift in multiple denominations whereby churches become welcoming and affirming of all congregants regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Reconciling Ministries Network: Reconciling Ministries Network is committed to intersectional justice across and beyond the United Methodist connection, working for the full participation of all LGBTQ+ people throughout the life and leadership of the Church.

ReconcilingWorks: ReconcilingWorks advocates for the acceptance, full participation, and liberation of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions within the Lutheran Church.

The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists: As the only organization solely devoted to building the Welcoming and Affirming movement within the Baptist traditions, AWAB has a unique call to be The National Voice for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Allied Baptists in the US.

Dignity USA: DignityUSA works for respect and justice for people of all sexual orientations, genders, and gender identities—especially gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual and intersex persons—in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy, and support.

IV. Transgender Resources

National Center for Transgender Equality: The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people.

Transgender Law Center: Transgender Law Center is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people.

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund: Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, and public policy efforts.

National LGBTQ Task Force Trans/Gender Non-Conforming Justice Project: The Trans/Gender Non-Conforming Justice Project provides legislative, policy and strategy assistance to activists, state and local organizations, and even lawmakers who are all working to pass transgender-inclusive or transgender-friendly laws and policies.