Click here to register for this online CLGS microcertificate program!

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.

Imagine A More Just, Compassionate, And Hopeful Church With Radical Inclusion

This CLGS Micro Certificate in Catholic LGBTQ+ Ministry 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.

Schedule of Live ONLINE Class Sessions

 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, and 17 June 2026 | 4pm to 5pm (Pacific Time)

Session Date Focus
Session 1 June 1st Orientation Day 

 
Session 2 June 3rd Queer Catholic Ministry: Biblical Foundations

 
Session 3 June 8th History of Catholic Doctrine on Gender & Sexuality
Session 4 June 10th Catholic Sexual Ethics: Future Trajectories

 
Session 5 June 15th Queer Theology

 
Session 6 June 17th Queer Catholic Pastoral Care

 
Final Due June 19th Final Project Due

 

Certificate Outcomes

NOTE: only students who attend all live online sessions of the class and complete all class assignments will be awarded this CLGS Micro Certificate.

 Graduates leave with the ability to:
  • Apply basic biblical, historical, ethical, theological, and pastoral concepts pertaining to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church.
  • Evaluate various approaches to LGBTQ+ Ministry in the Church.
  • Construct a vision for LGBTQ+ Catholic pastoral care applicable to their ministry settings.

 Course Price: $50

For information on financial aid for this CLGS Micro Certificate program, please contact Professor Ruíz at: iruiz@clgs.org.

No one will be turned away due to a lack of funds.

Instructor

Dr. Ish Ruíz

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.