List of Christian denominations affirming LGBTQ people

The list of Christian denominations affirming LGBTQ people lists denominations that affirm same-sex relationships are theologically and morally compatible with the Christian faith, or that leave it up to each local church to determine its position on the subject. These denominations may have statements that support the ordination of LGBTQ ministers, the blessing of same-sex unions or same-sex marriage.A. Brian Leander, Diversity-Oriented Churches: A Comprehensive Guide to Leading Ministries of Reconciliation, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2025, p. 66Carolyn McNamara Barry, Mona M. Abo-Zena, Emerging Adults' Religiousness and Spirituality: Meaning-making in an Age of Transition, Oxford University Press, UK, 2014, p. 208

These statements often follow the courts' recognition of LGBTQ+ rights and are primarily adopted at the local church level.Harris, Helen & Yancey, Gaynor & Dawson, Kimberly & Gregory, Jess. Congregational Discernment and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Process Lessons from 21 Congregations, Religions. 12. no. 1: 25, (2021)

History

On May 1, 1972, the United Church of Christ in the San Francisco Bay Area approved the ordination of William R. Johnson, an openly gay seminarian. He was ordained as a pastor at the Community Church San Carlos (United Church of Christ) on June 25, 1972.Sharon Henderson Callahan, Religious Leadership: A Reference Handbook, SAGE Publications, USA, 2013, p. 412 In 1974, with the help of San Francisco State University professor Sally Miller Gearhart, he published the book Loving Women/Loving Men: Gay Liberation and the Church, which argues, among other things, that marriage is a covenant relationship, regardless of gender.Clare Herbert, Towards a Theology of Same-Sex Marriage: Squaring the Circle, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, 2020, p. 123

In the context of the gay liberation movement and the declassification of homosexuality as a disease by the American Psychiatric Association in 1973, these studies prompted various Progressive Christians churches and denominations to abandon discriminatory interpretations for LGBTQ people and offer equal recognition within their churches.Jeffrey S. Siker, Homosexuality and Religion: An Encyclopedia, Greenwood Publishing Group, USA, 2007, p. 20 In some denominations, this recognition has come through the development of affirming networks of churches, universities and seminaries. These include American Baptists Concerned for Sexual Minorities in 1972 (replaced by the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists in 1993) by members of the American Baptist Churches USA,Bill J. Leonard, Baptists in America, Columbia University Press, USA, 2005, p. 242 UCC Coalition for Lesbian/Gay Concerns in 1972 (renamed Open and Affirming Coalition UCC in 2014) by members of the United Church of Christ,Martin Dupuis, William A. Thompson, Traci C. West, Defending Same-Sex Marriage, Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2006, p. 264 Lutherans Concerned for Gay People in 1974 (renamed ReconcilingWorks in 2012) by members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,Gary Laderman, Luis León, Religion and American Cultures: Tradition, Diversity, and Popular Expression, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2014, p. 1050 Presbyterians for Gay Concerns in 1974 and More Light Churches Network in 1992 (merged and renamed More Light Presbyterians in 1999) by members of the Presbyterian Church (USA),Robert Wuthnow, John H. Evans, The Quiet Hand of God: Faith-Based Activism and the Public Role of Mainline Protestantism, University of California Press, USA, 2002, p. 268 Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian/Gay Concerns in 1975 and Reconciling Ministries Network in 1984 by members of the United Methodist Church,Jason E. Vickers, The Cambridge Companion to American Methodism, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2013, p. 112 Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests and Supportive Communities Network in 1976 by members of the Mennonite Church USA.Donald B. Kraybill, Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites, JHU Press, USA, 2010, p. 108 Some of these networks have become international, such as the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists and Reconciling Ministries Network.

The European Forum of LGBT+ Christian Groups was founded in 1982 by various national associations.Abbie E. Goldberg, The Sage Encyclopedia of LGBTQ+ Studies, 2nd Edition, SAGE Publications, USA, 2024, p. 591 In 2025, it had 40 member associations in 20 countries.

According to the book Same-Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe, published in 1994 by the American historian John Boswell, despite the lack of legal recognition, the ritual of adelphopoiia celebrated by the Catholic Church until the 14th century and by the Eastern Orthodox Church until the early 20th century, could be considered a blessing of same-sex unions.

In the context of the legalization of same-sex marriage in various US states and countries during the 2000s, conceptual research into the meaning of marriage commitment in biblical texts prompted various churches to consider that the basis of Christian marriage and sexuality is to remain faithful in a covenant with one's spouse, regardless of gender.David H. Jensen, God, Desire, and a Theology of Human Sexuality, Westminster John Knox Press, USA, 2013, p. 109-110 After national reflection, some Progressive Christian denominations then began to allow the blessing or same-sex marriage, usually leaving it to each local church to decide.Jonathan S. Coley, Gay on God's Campus: Mobilizing for LGBT Equality at Christian Colleges and Universities, UNC Press Books, USA, 2018, p. 32

In 2020 and 2025, the European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups in collaboration with the Protestant Theological University of Amsterdam published the Rainbow Index of Churches in Europe to measure the level of inclusion in Christian denominations.

Characteristics Affirming denominations generally have one or more of the following statements about LGBTQ people, or leave it up to each local church to determine its position on the subject:A. Brian Leander, Diversity-Oriented Churches: A Comprehensive Guide to Leading Ministries of Reconciliation, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2025, p. 66Carolyn McNamara Barry, Mona M. Abo-Zena, Emerging Adults' Religiousness and Spirituality: Meaning-making in an Age of Transition, Oxford University Press, UK, 2014, p. 208

Ordination of LGBTQ ministers Blessing of same-sex unions Blessing of same-sex marriages

These statements often follow the courts' recognition of LGBTQ+ rights and are primarily adopted at the local church level.Harris, Helen & Yancey, Gaynor & Dawson, Kimberly & Gregory, Jess. Congregational Discernment and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Process Lessons from 21 Congregations, Religions. 12. no. 1: 25, (2021) Harris, Helen & Yancey, Gaynor & Dawson, Kimberly & Gregory, Jess. A Way Forward for Discernment in Congregations: LGBTQ+ Inclusion Discernment, Religions. 12. 191, (2021) Hugues, J. C., & Rouse, S. V., Everyone Belongs Here: How Affirming and Non-Affirming Church Messages and Imagery Cause Different Feelings of Acceptance in LGBTQ+ Christians, Journal of Psychology and Theology, 51(4), 523-536, (2023)

In English, the term "inclusive" is sometimes used for organizations that allow differing positions on the subject to coexist.

International

CountriesDenominationOrdination of LGBTQ ministersBlessing of same-sex unionsBlessings of same-sex marriageDecisions left to local churches or dioceses Network of Inclusive Churches 5 countries Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Our Church Members, awab.org, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Membership, awab.org, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Since 1993 Since 1993 Since 1993 4 countries Ecumenical Catholic Communion, Communities, ecumenical-catholics.org, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Ecumenical Catholic Communion (Independent Catholicism) Ecumenical Catholic Communion, Affirmations of Faith, ecumenical-catholics.org, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Since 2003 4 countries Ecumenical Catholic Church, Leadership, ecumenicalcatholicchurch.org, Mexico, accessed August 16, 2025 Ecumenical Catholic Church (Independent Catholicism) Ecumenical Catholic Church, Doctrines, ecumenicalcatholicchurch.org, Mexico, accessed August 16, 2025 Since 1987 20 countries Metropolitan Community Church, Our churches, visitmccchurch.com, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Metropolitan Community Church Metropolitan Community Church, About, insidemcc.org, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Since 1968 Since 1969 Since 1969 Since 1968 5 countries Reconciling Ministries Network, Find a Reconciling Ministry, rmnetwork.org, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Reconciling Ministries Network (United Methodist Church) Reconciling Ministries Network, Theological Statements, rmnetwork.org, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Since 2024 Since 2024 Since 2024 Since 1984 4 countries Covenant Network, Our churches, thecovenantnetwork.com, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Covenant Network (Pentecostal) Covenant Network, About, thecovenantnetwork.com, USA, accessed August 16, 2025 Since 2014

Africa

CountryDenominationOrdination of LGBTQ ministersBlessing of same-sex unionsBlessings of same-sex marriageDecisions left to local churches or dioceses Network of Inclusive Churches Kenya Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists Since 1993 Since 1993 Kenya Ecumenical Catholic Church Kenya Metropolitan Community Church Since 1968 Since 1969 Since 1969 Kenya Reconciling Ministries Network Since 2024 Since 2024 Since 2024 Uganda Metropolitan Community Church Since 1968 Since 1969 Since 1969 South Africa Metropolitan Community Church Since 1968 Since 1969 Since 1969 South Africa Methodist Church of Southern Africa Since 2020 South Africa Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa Since 2018 Since 2018 Since 2018 South Africa Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK) Since 2019 Since 2019 Since 2019 South Africa Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa Since 2015 Since 2015 Since 2015 South Africa Deo Gloria Global Apostolic Network in South Africa

North America