Explore below for a wide range of welcoming and affirming Christian churches, communities, organisations and online groups.
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In a former life, Anthony Venn-Brown was a leader in the Assemblies of God and a high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches. Since his autobiography, ‘A Life of Unlearning – a preacher’s struggle with his homosexuality, church and faith’, became a best seller, he has worked in the often volatile space of faith and sexuality and helped thousands of people resolve faith/sexuality conflict. For over 20 years, he has provided leadership and support for LGBTI people of faith and worked to bring ex-gay/reparative/conversion therapy practices and organisations to an end in Australia. In 2013, he founded ABBI, which works to educate pastors, church leaders and denominations, not only about sexual orientation and gender identity, but also the harm caused to LGBTI people because of ignorance and misinformation.
All Souls Church is a liberal Christian community based on Elmwood Avenue in South Belfast. United in faith and fellowship and not divided by any fixed doctrine. All Souls is a progressive and inclusive congregation who welcome all individuals regardless of faith, background, gender or sexual orientation. The minister is Rev Chris Hudson and he is assisted by Rev Alister Bell.
Services are open for all every Sunday at 11:30am and can be downloaded on YouTube.
All Souls also runs YourSpace, a space for LGBT+ people and allies to get together informally, to connect and reflect.
Click the film icon above to watch an introduction to All Souls with minister Rev Chris Hudson.
Amach le Dia means Out and With God. It is a fully affirming space for LGBTQ+ Christians and their allies to come together in their faith to worship. It began in Dublin in 2019 and includes Amach le Dia West for people in the west of Ireland. They have an active Facebook page and meet in person, usually on the second Sunday of the month at 4.00pm in Urban Junction, 42 Main St, Blackrock, Dublin, A94 Y3X7. They also have zoom Bible studies and accept prayer requests through their Facebook page. Amach le Dia West meet once a month on a Sunday afternoon at various locations across the west of Ireland.
Anam Cara is an LGBT+ affirming spiritual faith space. Its perspective is often Christian but not exclusively so. Anam Cara signposts LGBT+ people and other interested individuals to affirming faith and spiritual groups. Anam Cara shares information on Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, humanist, pagan, Islamic, Unitarian, and interspiritual traditions, with the purpose of encouragement and connection with like-minded soul friends. The group meets in the Lurgan area approximately monthly. Details are in the private Facebook page.
Changing Attitude Ireland is a network of people, LGBT+ and heterosexual, lay and ordained, working for the full affirmation of LGBT+ persons within the Churches in Ireland. It is dedicated to celebrating and maintaining the traditional inclusivity and diversity of the Anglican Communion.
Christians At Pride (CAP) NI is a group of local Christians who come together every year to walk in Belfast Pride. CAP NI are LGBT+ Christians, friends and family who walk together to celebrate being made in the image of God and to protest against the lack of love and welcome that LGBT+ people experience in so many of our churches. CAP NI come from many different denominations and none, and believe that God’s love is for everyone. As well as Belfast Pride, Christians At Pride NI takes part in several other local Pride parades. Everyone is welcome to take part.
Click the V (Vimeo) icon above to watch an introduction to Christians at Pride NI.
Community Pastor Trish Whiteside is a chaplain, Christian, lesbian, and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ Community. Her heart is to offer listening, support, pastoral care and advocacy to those engaging with the challenges of their own spiritual journey, or seeking support if experiencing discrimination or exclusion from faith-based groups.
If you would like more details, please feel free to contact Trish by email. She would be delighted to meet or answer any questions you might have.
The Corrymeela Community in NI has a rich history of embrace and inclusion for people regardless of their ethnicity, their sexuality, their age or their gender. They want to transform conflict through human encounter. The Ballycastle centre is committed to being a place of inclusion. Corrymeela runs a series of events throughout the year in Belfast and around the country. They particularly want to welcome people from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Click the film icon above to watch an introduction to the Corrymeela Community with Programme Director for Public Theology, Jonny Clark.
Diverse Church is an organisation which plants grassroots online communities of LGBTQ+ Christians across the UK and Ireland, enabling the wider church to discover the gift of LGBTQ+ Christians in their midst. There is space to be fully yourself, to find community with others, and to connect (or reconnect) with faith. There are confidential online communities for young people (18-30y.o), over 30s (the Gathering Space), parents (DC Parents); and a public group for friends & supporters (Diverse Church Friends).
Click the film icon above to watch an introduction to Diverse Church with Director Jade Irwin.
DCP Belfast Hub is a group of Christian parents of LGBT+ children who want to support each other and their children – by sharing the journey, the (many) questions, and from personal experiences. DCP Belfast Hub has occasional meet-ups over food, and has a private group on Facebook.
Click the film icon above to watch an introduction to Diverse Church with Director Jade Irwin.
August Bank Holiday festival of music, the arts, faith, politics and social justice. A community that has artistry, activism and belief at its heart.
OUT at Greenbelt – “You’re the glory of God, only a little less than the angels – whatever you call yourself, and whoever you love.”
Please see here for information on recorded talks.
Harbour Faith Community is a progressive Christian community that meets in Carrickfergus at 8a Governors Place, just opposite the harbour car park. It is an openly welcoming and affirming church that welcomes everyone and excludes no one on the basis of gender or sexuality. It is specifically and intentionally welcoming and affirming to the LGBT community. Harbour Faith Community has services every Sunday morning at 11am and also streams online.
Click the film icon above to watch an introduction to Harbour with Minister Rev. Steve Ames.
The Inclusive Church statement: “We believe in inclusive church – a church which celebrates and affirms every person and does not discriminate. We will continue to challenge the church where it continues to discriminate against people on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality. We believe in a Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.”
A partnership of Christian worship communities across the UK which welcome and affirm people who are LGBTQIA+, plus families, friends & anyone who wants to belong in an accepting, loving community. OTN meets in inclusive churches and online.
Click the V (Vimeo) icon above to watch an introduction to the Open Table Network.
Matthew Vines is the founder and director of The Reformation Project. He is also the author of ‘God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships’. In 2012, Matthew delivered a speech at a church in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, making the case that Christians should affirm gay Christians and their marriage relationships. His speech went viral, having been seen more than a million times and leading to a feature story in The New York Times. In 2013, Matthew launched The Reformation Project to equip and empower Christians to advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in their faith communities. He speaks regularly at churches, universities, and conferences across the country. More information on The Reformation Project’s 20 part video resource is available here.
St Christopher’s Community is a bunch of people from in and around Belfast (and beyond) who aim to offer a welcoming and inclusive space for people to explore/express faith regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability or background. They meet at 11am on Sunday in Mersey Street, East Belfast. See their Facebook page for more details.
St George’s Church is the oldest Anglican Church in use in the city of Belfast. Situated in High Street near the Albert Clock, it is known to thousands of city-goers and is an oasis of peace and prayer in the very heart of a busy city. St. George’s is a diverse, inclusive and vibrant community of Christians who worship according to the best ‘High Church’ traditions of the Church of Ireland and the Anglican Communion, with excellent choral music and formal liturgy. It is a community of deep faith, with worship of almighty God conducted in St George’s every single day. It is an open community, welcoming people of different backgrounds and different opinions, and welcoming those who are questioning and seeking as warmly as those who are convinced Anglican Christians.
Services take place every Sunday at 11.00am.
Click the film icon above to watch an introduction to St George’s with Minister Rev. Brian Stewart.
St Patrick’s Whitehead and St John’s Islandmagee are two Church of Ireland churches in a united parish, who celebrate that we are all created in the likeness of God and believe that each of us has something unique to bring to our faith communities. You are very welcome, whether you are looking for a safe spiritual home or searching for a faith you can believe in.
Sunday morning worship in St Patrick’s Whitehead is at 10.30am, and at 12 noon in St John’s Islandmagee. Service times are different in July & August and can be found on the website.
Spectrum is a fellowship group for LGBT+ Christians, their families, friends and allies. It is a safe and inclusive space for the LGBT+ community, many of whom have been hurt, excluded or felt marginalised in the past. Spectrum is a place for prayer, conversation and worship. A place to build relationships and enjoy fellowship.
There are occasional services, walks in and around Belfast, and other social events during the year.
Te Aroha is run by Dr Bill and Carole Monteith, who invited LGBT+ Christians to a place of safety, openness and acceptance in 2019 in direct response to PCI’s decision to exclude them in 2018. They wanted to bridge the gap to include all those Jesus called, and anyone else with an open mind. The main emphases are safety, inclusion and faith. ‘Te Aroha’ means ‘The place of safety, inclusion, acceptance, empathy, joy, love and peace.’ There is no single English equivalent for aroha. Bill & Carole spent 35 years in New Zealand, in many forms of ministry and Christian gatherings. Te Aroha is a private Facebook group who meet monthly in Castlederg for food and fellowship.
Click the V (Vimeo) icon above to watch an introduction to Te Aroha.
Transition Mission offers spiritual support to transgender and intersex individuals, and to their family members. This is available on an individual basis from chaplain, Rev Dr Linda Ballard. There is also a short, informal online service once a month. If you would like more information, please get in touch.
We Are Church started in Austria in 1995 when a group of concerned Catholics set up a process to discern the wishes of the people (lay and ordained) for the future of the Roman Catholic Church. It is now a worldwide movement. We Are Church Ireland was set up in 1996. Membership is open to all who support its six aims, which include: An inclusive church, open and welcoming to all, which does not marginalise its own people, eg divorced, in second relationships, those who are gay or lesbian.
