I am currently building a page on resources for those of the LGBTQ+ community to find safe places to talk about Christianity and being who they are. I will also list books, other blogs, and online resources.
Online Resources:
A place to belong. Isn't that what we all want, really? Somewhere we feel loved and wanted. A place where we can be real. A place where we can say what's really going on inside and not be turned away or ostracized simply by others' silence. A place where we're included and accepted, no matter what.
That's what Jesus did for people while he was here on this earth. And he's still doing it today through communities of faith that believe in being safe places. CenterPeace is built on the concept of table fellowship, on the truth that Jesus invites each of us, no matter where we are in our thinking, to dine with him.
Founded as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, CenterPeace offers seminars to help church leaders, educators, and families better understand same-sex attraction and open conversations about faith and homosexuality. CenterPeace grew out of Sally Gary's own journey, growing up in a Christian family, experiencing same-sex attraction without a safe place to talk about those feelings. Church and university leaders gathered with Sally for nearly two years exploring what a ministry like this should offer, and the result was CenterPeace. For over a decade churches and universities have reached out to CenterPeace for helping families and individuals resolve questions of faith and homosexuality. Allowing the Lord to take the brokenness of our past and use it to His glory, CenterPeace is helping Christians who experience same-sex attraction find a place to belong within the Body of Christ.
We welcome grace-filled dialogue and respectful disagreement with all who come to the table, acknowledging Jesus as the CenterPeace of our existence.
We neither promote nor condone even the most well-intentioned condemnation of God's children who experience same-sex attraction, nor will we allow political causes to distract us from extending the Lord's invitation to His banquet table. Jesus came to change hearts, not laws, and we are committed to following Him.
For without Jesus at the center of our lives, there is no peace.
We neither promote nor condone even the most well-intentioned condemnation of God's children who experience same-sex attraction, nor will we allow political causes to distract us from extending the Lord's invitation to His banquet table. Jesus came to change hearts, not laws, and we are committed to following Him.
For without Jesus at the center of our lives, there is no peace.
Whosoever was founded as a print magazine in 1996 to serve as a voice and a resource for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Christians. Back then there was little, if any, support to be found for LGBT Christians — not just on the internet, but also in print. Christian magazines such as Christianity Today and Moody’s regularly took pot shots at LGBT people.
Whosoever published four print editions under founding Editor Candace Chellew, who had more than 20 years’ experience in the media, before moving online for good. At its peak Whosoever.org received more than 500,000 site visits a year — and many wrote to say how it had either changed or literally saved their lives.
For 18 years Whosoever’s mission was to stay on the cutting edge of the LGBT movement for acceptance in both church and society. In the meantime Candace earned her Master of Theological Studies from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2002, and in 2003 she was ordained by Gentle Spirit Christian Church of Atlanta. In 2008 she published Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians. She is currently the minister of Jubilee! Circle in Columbia, S.C.
In 2019 Rev. Paul M. Turner, Senior Pastor of Gentle Spirit Christian Church, answered the call to serve Whosoever in the role of Editor-in-Chief under the guidance of Candace in the role of Editor Emeritus. Together they’ve broadened Whosoever’s mission to be about reaching all those who seek a deeper understanding of the truly loving God, whose unconditional love is experienced as boundless grace.
From their page:
What we're about
We want:
To help Christian brothers and sisters who experience same-sex attraction stay faithful to Biblical teaching on sexual ethics and flourish at the same time.
So we’ve set up this website, speak at churches and conferences, and have written books, to show how you can be same-sex attracted and thrive as a Christian at the same time.
To help the Christian Church understand how they can better help those who experience same-sex attraction to flourish.
So we have run training events for bible college students and existing church leaders to encourage and equip them to build more biblically faithful and compassionate churches where all are encouraged to be more Christ-like regardless of their sexuality and where homophobia is not tolerated.
To help the wider world hear and understand that there is more than just one viable script for those who are same-sex attracted.
So we’ve shared our stories at public events, on-line and via the media to communicate that many same-sex attracted Christians are both happy in their sexuality and the Bible’s teaching on same-sex sexual relationships.
To achieve this we are wanting to work in partnership with local churches and complement the work of organisations like True Freedom Trust who offer biblical support and encouragement to Christians who experience same-sex attraction.
This is all reflected in our charitable objects as a UK charity (No. 1165572).
Our charitable objects:
For the public benefit, the advancement of the evangelical Christian religion and Christian principles of love, acceptance, compassion and understanding, in particular, but not exclusively by:
Encouraging evangelical congregations to welcome and accept same sex attracted individuals and provide them with pastoral support.
For example hear Ed speaking on this here.
Repudiating all attitudes and actions which victimise or diminish people whose affections are directed towards people of the same sex.
For example see our article here.
Providing pastoral support and advice in relation to biblical teachings on human sexuality assisting same sex attracted Christians reconcile their sexuality with the teachings of the Bible.
For example the Finding Intimacy event.
If you know of any to add, please send them to lesleyhooper.crn@gmail.com! Thanks!
This page is under-construction and in time will have everything!
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