Click here to register for this online CLGS microcertificate program!

CLGS is proud to announce our first online Microcertificate in Catholic LGBTQ+ Ministry!

Taught by Pacific School of Religion Professor Ish Ruíz, PhD, this microcertificate provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to Catholic LGBTQ+ ministry by weaving together Scripture, Tradition, theology, ethics, and pastoral practice.

Rooted in the Church’s call to accompany all people, the program equips participants with a strong foundation in the history of Catholic teaching on gender and sexuality, the insights of contemporary queer and contextual theologies, and the principles of synodal discernment. Through these lenses, students gain the tools to understand how LGBTQ+ experiences reveal God’s presence and invite the Church into deeper fidelity to the Gospel.

Beyond theory, this Micro Certificate is designed to empower participants to create inclusive, life-giving pastoral spaces in their own communities. Each module connects theological reflection with practical strategies for supporting LGBTQ+ persons, celebrating queer joy, and fostering belonging within parish, school, and ministry settings. The program invites all ministers and the broader Catholic community to imagine what a more just, compassionate, and hopeful Church can look like when queer voices are honored and when pastoral care reflects the radical inclusion of Christ.

Dates for Meetings of First Cohort: 2, 5, 9, 12, and 16 February 2026.

Class Topics:

• Monday, 2 February 2026: Queer Catholic Ministry: Biblical Foundations
• Thursday, 5 February 2026: History of Catholic Doctrine on Gender & Sexuality
• Monday, 9 February 2026: Catholic Sexual Ethics: Future Trajectories
• Thursday, 12 February 2026: Queer Theology
• Monday, 16 February 2026: Queer Catholic Pastoral Care

Registration Fee: $50 | For financial aid, contact Dr. Ish at iruiz@clgs.org. No one will be turned away due to a lack of funds.

Click here to register for this online CLGS microcertificate program!

Instructor

Professor Ish Ruíz is Coordinator of the CLGS Catholic Roundtable and Assistant Professor of Latinx and Queer Decolonial Theology at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Dr. Ruíz holds a PhD in Theology and Ethics from the Graduate Theological Union.

A native of Puerto Rico and a queer Catholic theologian, his research interests explore the intersection between queer theology, Latinx theology, ecclesiology, sexual ethics, liberation, human rights, and Catholic education.

He is the author of LGBTQ+ Educators in Catholic Schools: Synodality, Inclusivity, and Justice (Rowman and Littlefield), the editor of Cornerstones: Sacred Stories of LGBTQ+ Employees in Catholic Institutions, and the author of numerous academic articles.