The right to worship and practice your faith freely is a fundamental American value. Unfortunately, however, laws designed to protect the rights of religious minorities are now being used in an attempt to legalize discrimination against LGBTQ people. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) came about after two Native Americans were fired from their jobs […]
No matter how long your congregation has been welcoming LGBTQ people, there is always more to learn. This week, we suggest engaging in some active listening. Think of groups that are underrepresented or often unheard from in your congregation; some examples might be LGBTQ people of color, youth, seniors, bisexuals, people engaged in polyamory, those […]
The spiritual insights and motivation that led your congregation to welcome LGBTQ people can also help you expand your ministries in intersectional ways. After all, there are many ways in which we are called to improve our own communities and our world. CLGS has a resource, An Expansive Welcome, designed to spark conversations in congregations […]
More people than ever before in human history have been displaced from their homes, according to the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR). Right now, a staggering 20 people are displaced from their homes every minute of every day, adding up to 65.6 million people. Of these, 22.5 million are refugees; fewer than 200,000 […]
This week – after we have observed National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week (18-22 March 2024) and look forward to celebrating International Transgender Day of Visibility (on 31 March 2024) – now is a good time to consider focusing your attention on LGBTQ health disparities and consider holding a health fair! LGBTQ people experience a number […]
Many communities of faith have the blessing of having their own spaces for worship, education, and other programs. Sometimes that gift goes underutilized and is empty for parts of the day or week. One way to expand your welcome and put your physical – and virtual – space to good use is to make your […]
People from your own spiritual tradition can be a great resource for improving and expanding your welcome of LGBTQ people! They know the particular challenges and opportunities for inclusion that your denomination faces, along with an understanding of how best to engage your unique religious heritage. They may also have great ideas, initiatives, and resources […]