Purpose of the Coalition

The Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches is a collaboration of more than 80 churches and other ministries in the Chicago metropolitan area which welcome and affirm people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We have two goals:

To spread the message of our members' LGBTQ-inclusion across the Chicago metropolitan area, mindful that a positive message about sexual and family diversity is a gift to all people.
To connect the leaders, members, and guests of our partner churches for fellowship and education, enabling support and resource-sharing for the practices of faithful welcome.

Join or Renew Your Partnership

External Resources

Photo by Christine Allender.

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Videos

Transgender Videos

Ecumenical Resources

Resources for Specific Religious Traditions

Denominational Blogs

Find a Welcoming Church

Transgender Resources

Marriage Equality Resources

Spiritual Journey Resources

Health Resources

Mental Health Resources

Interlocking Oppressions

Ecumenical Resources

Institute for Welcoming Resources
Denominational representatives of the Welcoming Church Movement created IWR in November 2002. The purpose of this ecumenical group is to provide the resources to facilitate a paradigm shift in multiple denominations whereby churches become welcoming and affirming of all congregants regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. IWR wants to help build church homes that are truly welcoming and nurturing, where everyone knows “they're okay, just like they are.” In early 2006, IWR became a program of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, through a formal merger.

IWR's vision is that of its sponsors, the welcoming church programs. The task assigned to IWR is to provide or assist in the production of resources to make possible this paradigm shift in Christianity.

Believe Out Loud
Using social marketing strategies, we support individuals and churches in their efforts toward LGBTQ inclusion. A partnership of the country’s leading LGBTQ advocacy groups, both religious and secular, Believe Out Loud works alongside the existing Christian movement to increase the number of local churches and denominations that are fully-inclusive of LGBTQ individuals, both in practice and policy.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Religious Archives Network (LGBTRAN) at Chicago Theological Seminary
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Religious Archives Network (LGBT-RAN) coordinates and supports the identification, collection and preservation of personal papers and organizational records from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender religious movements. To encourage scholarly research and historical study of these important movements for social change, LGBT-RAN disseminates information about these records and provides and facilitates access to them, using digital technology when possible.

Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
an international, UK-based organization

Other Sheep
Other Sheep - Multicultural Ministries with Sexual Minorities is a leading worldwide ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to empowering sexual minorities throughout the world with the Good News of God's unconditional love for all and salvation through God's Son, Jesus Christ. With other LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) activists throughout the world, we recognize that ideological fundamentalism in various religions, especially Christianity, Judaism and Islam, constitutes a major obstacle to justice for our people. Consequently, within the International Lesbian and Gay Association, Other Sheep pioneered the establishment of the ILGA Working Party on Homophobia, Ideology and Religion.

PFLAG
PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexuals, and transgendered persons, their families, and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. PFLAG support meetings provide a safe place where persons confronted with issues about sexual orientation are reminded that they are not alone.

Gay Christians
a network of friends and supporters around the world

Gay Christian Network
The Gay Christian Network (GCN) is a nonprofit ministry supporting Christians worldwide who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Our mission, "sharing Christ's light and love for all," is carried out in 5 primary directions, to impact individuals, families, communities, churches, and the world.

The Interfaith Alliance
standing up to the Christian Coalition and other radical right wing groups and individuals who wrap themselves in the language and symbolism of religious faith

Interfaith Working Group
Religious Diversity and Social Issues

Center for Progressive Christianity
Provides guiding ideas, networking opportunities, and resources for progressive churches, organizations, small groups, and individuals with connections to Christianity.

We promote an understanding of Christian practice and teaching that leads to a greater concern for the way people treat each other than for the way people express their beliefs, the acceptance of all people, and a respect for other religious traditions.

We affirm the variety and depth of human experience and the richness of each persons’ search for meaning, and we encourage the use of sound scholarship, critical inquiry, and all intellectual powers to understand the presence of God in human life.

We are opposed to any exclusive dogma that limits the search for truth and free inquiry, and we encourage work that eases the pain, suffering and degradation inherent in many of the structures of society, as well as work that keeps central to the Christian life fair, open, peaceful, and loving treatment of all human beings.

Many Voices
Many Voices is committed to creating a national movement for gay and transgender justice from within the Black church.

Working in partnership with nationally-recognized pastors, theologians, and Christian educators, Many Voices is laying a foundation for respectful and loving dialogue. Through trainings, mentoring, and online resources that provide a safe place to ask questions, learn, and take new steps, we equip African American pastors and church members to publicly share the faith journeys that have led them to affirm love and justice for gay and transgender (LGBT) families.

Religious Tolerance
We welcome evangelicals, secularists, religious conservatives, religious liberals, Deists, Wiccans, other Pagans, progressives, animists, theists, fundamentalists, Atheists, polytheists, humanists, Agnostics, etc. Everyone should find their beliefs and practices accurately described here.

Almost all other religious web sites explain only the beliefs of the webmaster or sponsoring faith group. We are different: we try to explain accurately the full diversity of religious beliefs, world views, and systems of morality, ethics, and values.

Soulforce
a network of friends learning nonviolence from Gandhi and King, seeking justice for God's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children.

Resources Developed for Specific Traditions

Baptist Church Resources

Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists
The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists is made up of a growing number of member churches, affiliated organizations, and individuals willing to go on record as welcoming and affirming of all persons without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. These organizations and individuals have joined together to advocate for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons within Baptist communities of faith.

Rainbow Baptists
Rainbow Baptists is a website providing support, information and advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer identified Baptists, their family and friends. Rainbow Baptists is an outreach ministry of The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB).

Alliance of Baptists
The Alliance of Baptists began as a dissenting voice in Baptist life more than 25 years ago. For more than 20 years we have affirmed the call and ordination of women in ministry and the full acceptance and embrace of the LGBT community. Today we are the many voices of progressive Christians seeking to respond to the continuing call of God in a rapidly changing world.

Buddhist Resources

Gay Buddhist Fellowship
California chapter of a gay men's Buddhist group with useful links

Gay Buddhist Sangha
Gay Buddhist Sangha is a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies, who, like the historical Buddha's Sangha, connect so that we can support each other in our practice as we explore the Buddha Way.

We strive to provide a refuge and safe place where LGBTQI people and their allies can feel supported and valued as we cultivate the practice of these teachings and learn how to use them in practical ways in our everyday lives.

We come together to learn from teachers from the many Buddhist traditions, and to be teachers for one another as people with common experiences. We seek to understand the path of Buddha and apply it in the circumstances of our lives as we really live them.

We are a nonsectarian group. Some of us practice in the various traditions of Buddhism that have developed through the centuries. Some of us look toward what will eventually become a Western Buddhist tradition.

Disciples of Christ Resources

Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples (GLAD)
The GLAD Alliance is an organization called to join in God’s work of transforming the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) into a just and inclusive church that welcomes persons of all gender and sexual identities into full life and leadership.

Eastern and Orthodox Church Resources

Orthodox and Gay
The first aim of this website to be a place of support and refuge for Orthodox Christians who are gay--for us to tell our stories about being Orthodox and gay. The second aim is to offer an opportunity for constructive criticism and comments on the official and not so official stances of the Orthodox Church and Orthodox Christians on homosexuality.

Episcopal Church Resources

Integrity: All the Sacraments for All the Baptized!

Integrity
Integrity is a nonprofit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) Episcopalians and straight friends. Since its founding by Dr. Louie Crew in rural Georgia in 1974, Integrity has been the leading grassroots voice for the full inclusion of GLBT persons in the Episcopal Church and our equal access to its rites.

Evangelical Resources

The Evangelical Network (TEN)
is an association of LGBTandS affirming evangelical ministries and individuals. TEN’s mission is focused on the LGBT community and its allies to:

Provide a safe place for LGBT people to discover and rediscover Christianity
Bring together people with a shared faith to worship, evangelize and disciple
Give people from all different backgrounds an opportunity to be educated about Homosexuality and Christianity
Afford ministry and growth opportunities to people in the LGBT community
Hold an annual conference open to all that is designed for networking, fellowship, education and worship
Offer a safe place for LGBT people and the evangelical church community to dialogue
Be a voice in the public and media that supports the LGBT community and its struggles for equality, and to speak out against negative stereotypes

This mission is accomplished through an affiliation of churches, ministries and individuals working together.

The Fellowship

The Fellowship is a multi-denominational group of primarily African American Christian leaders and laity representing churches and faith-based organizations from the USA, Africa, and Mexico. These churches range from ultra-conservative backgrounds to more liberal, independent churches; from startup, developing to very large, established churches and from churches that are economically challenged to the very affluent. The overriding purpose of The Fellowship is to support religious leaders and laity in moving toward a theology of radical inclusivity which, by its very nature, requires an equally radical social ministry reaching to the furthest margins of society to serve all in need without prejudice or discrimination.

Independent Evangelical Catholic Church in America

Jewish Rescources

Congregation Or Chadash
Congregation Or Chadash is the Chicagoland synagogue serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual Jews, their families, friends and loved ones. Membership is open to everyone.

World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Jewish Organizations
The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews: Keshet Ga'avah consists of around 50 member organizations in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Israel, Mexico, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States. The World Congress holds conferences and workshops representing the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender Jews around the world. The focus of these sessions varies from regional, national, continental, to global.

The Hebrew subtitle Keshet Ga'avah - Rainbow of Pride - emphasizes the importance of Hebrew and of Israel to the World Congress.

Lutheran Church (ELCA) Resources

ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation
Working at the intersection of oppressions, ReconcilingWorks embodies, inspires, advocates and organizes for the acceptance and full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities within the Lutheran communion and its ecumenical and global partners.

Mennonite Church and Church of the Brethren Resources

Brethren Mennonite Council
The mission of BMC is to cultivate an inclusive church and society and to care for the Mennonite and Brethren lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied community.

Metropolitan Community Churches

The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is a Christian Church founded in and reaching beyond the Gay and Lesbian communities. We embody and proclaim Christian salvation and liberation, Christian inclusiveness and community, and Christian social action and justice. We serve among those seeking and celebrating the integration of their spirituality and sexuality.

Mormon Resources

Affirmation
supporting LGBT Mormons, their families, and allies by encouraging spirituality, providing information resources, and working for equality.

Orthodox-Catholic Church in America

Pentecostal Church Resources

Fellowship of Reconciling Pentecostals International
The "Fellowship of Reconciling Pentecostals International" is a network of Pentecostal ministers, churches, and ministries which seeks by means of the full gospel of Jesus Christ to reconcile all repentant people to God without regard to race, gender, political persuasion, economic or educational status, sexual orientation, nationality, religious affiliation, or any other thing that divides. RPI provides wounded Apostolics an affirming home among those of "like precious faith", and a safety net for those in personal, family, or religious crisis. We stand together in love, and for the glory of Jesus' Name, to promote apostolic truth, Pentecostal worship, righteousness, counseling, education, evangelism, ministerial accountability, and fellowship. We extend our hands and hearts to all Bible believers that together we may be the open arms of the Lord Jesus Christ, reaching all the people, with all the gospel until Jesus returns.

Presbyterian Church (USA) Resources

More Light Presbyterians
Seeking the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

That All May Freely Serve
Called by the life and teachings of Jesus, compelled by our faith, and charged by our conscience, we advocate for an inclusive church for all who are disenfranchised a church that honors diversity and welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons as full members full membership, which includes eligibility for ordination to the offices of Elder, Deacon, and Minister of Word and Sacrament.

Quaker Resources

Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns
is a North American Quaker faith community that affirms that of God in all people. Gathering twice yearly for worship and play, we draw sustenance from each other and from the Spirit for our work and life in the world. We are learning that radical inclusion and radical love bring further light to Quaker testimony and life.

Reformed Church in America Resources

Room for All
A community of Christ-followers in the Reformed Church in America committed to welcoming and supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies, and pursuing authentic dialogue with those who think differently.

Roman Catholic Church Resources

Dignity USA: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics

Dignity USA
DignityUSA envisions and works for a time when Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality, and as beloved persons of God participate fully in all aspects of life within the Church and Society.

Seventh Day Adventist Resources

Seventh Day Adventist Kinship International Inc.
is a volunteer support organization that champions human rights for all people. We believe everyone is created in the image of God and that no one should be mistreated or discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Through education, advocacy, and reconciliation, Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. facilitates and promotes the understanding and affirmation of LGBTI Adventists among themselves and within the Seventh-day Adventist community worldwide.

Unitarian/Universalist Church Resources

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

Denominational Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Ministries (LGBTQ Ministries) is guided by the vision that someday we will be able to put ourselves out of business and that oppression against people of all ages, abilities, colors, and economic classes who are marginalized on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity--whether the oppression be overt or subtle--will be a thing of the past.

United Church of Christ Resources

United Church of Christ Coalition of LGBT Concerns
Provides support and sanctuary to all our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sisters and brothers, their families and friends; advocates for their full inclusion in church and society; and brings Christ's affirming message of love and justice for all people.

United Methodist Church Resources

Reconciling Ministries Network
The Reconciling Ministries Network is a growing movement of United Methodist individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups working for the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church.

Affirmation
United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns

(UMC) Church Within a Church

Unity Church

For further denominational resources, visit The Institute for Welcoming Resources

Denominational Blogs

Reconciling Works: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Dignity News: DignityUSA (Roman Catholic)

More Light Blog: Presbyterian Church (USA)

Find a Welcoming Church

There are many THOUSANDS of officially welcoming churches! To find one in the Chicago metro area (beyond our current coalition members) or in another part of the world, visit:

The Institute for Welcoming Resources

GayChurch.org