LGBTQ-affirming religious groups

Abrahamic religions

Christianity

• Anglicanism : The Anglican Communion is divided over the issue of homosexuality. "The more liberal provinces that are open to changing Church doctrine on marriage in order to allow for same-sex unions include Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, South India, South Africa, the US and Wales."
• * The Anglican Church in New Zealand: In 2014, the "General Synod passe a resolution that will create a pathway towards the blessing of same-gender relationships, while upholding the traditional doctrine of marriage...It therefore says clergy should be permitted 'to recognise in public worship' a same-gender civil union or state marriage of members of their faith community..." On a diocesan level, the Dunedin Diocese already permits a blessing for relationships irrespective of the partners' gender. "Blessings of same-sex relationships are offered in line with Diocesan Policy and with the bishop's permission." In the Diocese of Auckland, a couple was "joined in a civil union at the inner-Auckland Anglican church of St Matthews in the City in 2005." The larger Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia allows priests to bless same-sex civil marriage or civil unions, but not to carry out same-sex marriage ceremonies in an Anglican church.
• * The Anglican Church of Australia: The church does not have an official position on homosexuality. In 2013, the Diocese of Perth voted to recognise same-sex relationships. The Social Responsibilities Committee of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland supported "the ability for same-sex couples to have a legally recognised ceremony to mark their union." The Diocese of Gippsland has appointed clergy in a "same-sex partnership." St. Andrew's Church in Subiaco, in Perth, has publicly blessed a same-sex union. In 2020, the church's highest court, the Appellate Tribunal, ruled that a diocese may authorise the blessing of persons in same-sex unions.
• *The Anglican Church of Canada: In 2016, the Anglican Church of Canada voted to permit same-sex marriage after a vote recount. The motion must pass a second reading in 2019 to become church law. The dioceses of Niagara and Ottawa, both of which already allowed blessing rites, announced after the 2016 vote that they would immediately allow same-sex marriages. In 2019, the General Synod approved a resolution which allows each provincial synod and diocese to bless or perform same-sex marriages if they choose to do so. The Diocese of Toronto has specifically allowed churches to perform same-sex marriages as of mid-November 2016 when Archbishop Colin Johnson issued the Pastoral Guidelines for Same-Sex Marriages. In brief, the guidelines stated that such marriages could proceed in the Church "at the pastoral discretion of the Bishop and with the agreement of local clergy". At the same General Synod, a resolution, called "A Word to the Church", was approved that recognised that a diocese may choose to perform same-sex marriages.
• *The Anglican Church of Southern Africa: Clergy are not permitted to enter in same-sex marriages or civil unions, but the church "tolerates same-sex relationships if they are celibate". Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, the current Anglican Primate, is "one among few church leaders in Africa to support same-sex marriage". The Diocese of Saldanha Bay has proposed a blessing for same-sex unions. Famous anti-apartheid activist and theologian Desmond Tutu, who was an archbishop within the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, was a major advocate for gay rights and religious acceptance of LGBTQ individuals.
• * The Church in Wales: Clergy are allowed to enter into same-sex civil partnerships, and there is no requirement of sexual abstinence. In 2015, a majority of the General Synod of the Church in Wales voted for same-sex marriage. Also, the "Church has published prayers that may be said with a couple following the celebration of a civil partnership or civil marriage." In September 2021, the Church in Wales voted to "formally bless same-sex couples" instead – but still not legally recognising same-sex marriage within titles of the Church officially.
• * The Church of England: Since 2005, clergy are permitted to enter into same-sex civil partnerships, but are requested to give assurances of following the Bishops' guidelines on human sexuality. In 2013, the House of Bishops announced that priests in same-sex civil unions may serve as bishops. As for ceremonies in church, "clergy in the Church of England are permitted to offer prayers of support on a pastoral basis for people in same-sex relationships; many priests already bless same-sex unions on an unofficial basis. Some congregations may offer "prayers for a same-sex commitment" or may "offer services of thanksgiving following a civil marriage ceremony."
• * The Episcopal Church in the United States: At its 2015 triennial General Convention, the Episcopal Church voted overwhelmingly to allow religious weddings for same-sex couples. Many dioceses had previously allowed their priests to officiate at civil same-sex marriage ceremonies, but the church had not yet changed its own laws on marriage. The church law replaced the terms "husband" and "wife" with "the couple". Individual members of the clergy may still decline to perform same-sex weddings. Previously, the Episcopal Church had voted to allow a "generous pastoral response" for couples in same-sex civil unions, domestic partnerships, and marriages.
• * The Scottish Episcopal Church: Since 2008, St. Mary's Cathedral in Glasgow has offered blessing services for same-sex civil partnerships. The Scottish Episcopal Church agreed to bless same-sex marriages in 2015. In 2016, the General Synod voted to amend the marriage canon to include same-sex couples. The proposal was approved in a second reading in 2017, and same-sex marriages may be legally performed in the Scottish Episcopal Church.
• *Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil voted, by an overwhelming majority, to amend to define marriage as a 'lifelong union between two people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity' thus permitting same-sex marriages within the church.
• Baptists : Some Baptist associations do not have official beliefs about marriage in a confession of faith and invoke congregationalism to leave the choice to each church to decide. This is the case of American Baptist Churches USA, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, National Baptist Convention, USA and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Some Baptist associations support same-sex marriage. This is the case of the Alliance of Baptists, the Canadian Association for Baptist Freedoms, the Aliança de Batistas do Brasil, the Fraternidad de Iglesias Bautistas de Cuba, and the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.
• The Latter Day Saint movement
• * The Community of Christ: In 2013, the Community of Christ officially decided to extend the sacrament of marriage to same-sex couples where gay marriage is legal, to provide covenant commitment ceremonies where it is not legal, and to allow the ordination of people in same-sex relationships to the priesthood. However, this is only in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The church does have a presence in countries where homosexuality is punishable by law, even death, so for the protection of the members in those nations, full inclusion of LGBTQ individuals is limited to the countries where this is not the case. Individual viewpoints do vary, and some congregations may be more welcoming than others. Furthermore, the church has proponents for support of both traditional marriage and same-sex marriages. The First Presidency and the Council of Twelve will need to approve policy revisions recommended by the USA National Conference.
• Lutheranism :
• * The Church of Norway: In 2013, the bishops announced that they would allow "gay couples to receive church blessings for their civil unions..." In 2017, the Church of Norway decided to allow same-sex marriages to be performed in churches.
• * The Church of Sweden: On 22 October 2009, the governing board of the Church of Sweden voted 176–62 in favour of allowing its priests to wed same-sex couples in new gender-neutral church ceremonies, including the use of the term marriage.
• * The Evangelical Church in Germany : The EKD is a federation of twenty Protestant churches in Germany. The blessing of same-sex unions is allowed in many constituent member churches.
• * The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: During its 2009 Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA passed a resolution by a vote of 619–402 reading "Resolved, that the ELCA commit itself to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships."
• * The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada permits same-sex marriages.
• * The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark: In 2012, the Danish parliament voted to make same-sex marriages mandatory in all state churches. Individual priests may refuse to perform the ceremony, but the local bishop must organize a replacement.
• * The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland: The church does not currently allow same-sex marriages to be legally officiated in churches. However, couples may enter in a civil partnership and "the couple may organise prayers with a priest or other church workers and invited guests. This may take place on church premises – but practice varies from parish to parish." After a civil same-sex marriage, couples may request the same prayers in church. "All of the bishops have taken the position that it is possible to hold prayer services to bless same-sex couples."
• *The Church of Iceland permits same-sex marriages.
• *The Union of Evangelical Churches in Germany allows for the blessing of same-sex marriages.
• *The Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy permits same-sex marriages
• The Metropolitan Community Church performs same-sex marriages. The MCC was founded to support LGBTQ Christians. In 1968, MCC founder Rev. Troy Perry officiated the first public same-sex marriage ceremony in the United States, though it was not legally recognized at the time.
• Methodism :
• * The Methodist Church of Great Britain permits same-sex marriage. Clergy are allowed to enter into same-sex civil partnerships or marriages.
• * The Methodist Church of New Zealand: Clergy may enter into same-sex unions and permits same-sex marriages.
• * The Methodist Church of Southern Africa: In Southern Africa, the Methodist Church has allowed clergy in same-sex relationships, but they are not permitted to be in a same-sex marriage. The Methodist "Church allowed to be in a homosexual relationship whilst being a minister, and allowed to stay in the Church's manse with partner, but drew the line at recognising same-sex marriage." "The Methodist Church 'tolerates homosexuals' and even accepts same-sex relationships..."
• *Many of the Protestant Church of Switzerland churches permit blessings for same-sex couples.
• *The Evangelical Methodist Church in Argentina allows "the freedom to accompany homosexual couples" in ministry.
• *The Evangelical Church in Uruguay, a Methodist denomination, has "resolved that pastors that wish to minister to homosexuals may do so freely". Each pastor is free to provide blessing services for same-sex unions if he or she chooses to do so.
• National Council of Churches 'in India leadership has expressed support for LGBTQ rights.
• The Old Catholic Church: A group of churches which separated from Roman Catholicism over the issue of papal authority.
• * Many American Old Catholic churches perform same-sex marriage ceremonies including American Apostolic Church, Catholic Apostolic Church in North America, Ecumenical Catholic Communion, American Catholic Church in the United States, American Catholic Church Diocese, and the National Catholic Church of America.
• * The Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches' is a federation of six European Old Catholic organizations, four of which allow same-sex marriage ceremonies.
• Presbyterianism and Reformed Christianity :
• * The Church of Scotland: In 2015, the Kirk voted to allow congregations to ordain clergy who enter into same-sex civil partnerships. The General Assembly voted to allow clergy in same-sex marriages in 2016. Then, the General Assembly approved draft legislation that would allow ministers of Word and Sacrament and deacons to marry same-sex couples if they wish for further consideration of the general assemble and membership.
• * The Presbyterian Church, the largest Presbyterian group in the United States, voted to allow same-gender marriages on 19 June 2014. This vote allows pastors to perform marriages in jurisdictions where same-sex marriages are legally recognized. Additionally, the Assembly voted to send out a proposed amendment to the Book of Order, changing the description of marriage from "between a man and a woman" to "between two people, traditionally between a man and a woman." This amendment needed to be approved by a majority of the 172 Presbyteries to take effect. On 17 March 2015, the New Jersey–based Presbytery of the Palisade became the 87th presbytery to approve the ratification, making the change official.
• *In 2011, the United Reformed Church allowed blessings of same-sex couples. In July 2016, the United Reformed Church allowed same-sex marriage.
• Quakerism
• * The Canadian Yearly Meeting supports the right of same-sex couples to marry.
• * Several American, British, and Australian Quaker groups bless same-sex marriages.
• United and uniting churches are mostly theologically liberal and often LGBTQ-affirming:
• *The United Church of Canada: The General Council of the church accepts same-sex marriages. However, each individual congregation is free to develop its own marriage policies.
• *The United Protestant Church in Belgium permits same-sex marriage.
• *The United Church of Christ: In 2005, the General Synod adopted a resolution supporting equal access to marriage for all couples, regardless of gender. This resolution encouraged individual congregations to adopt policies supporting equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
• *The Protestant Church of Switzerland is a group of 26 member churches. Several of its member churches permit prayer services and blessings of same-sex civil unions.
• * The Protestant Church in the Netherlands: The church has allowed the blessing of same-sex unions since 2001. This has included the blessing of same-sex unions as well as marriages.
• * The United Protestant Church of France authorized the blessing of same-sex unions by pastors in May 2015, two years after the government legalized same-sex marriages. Individual vicars may refuse to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.
• *The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria permits same-sex marriages.
• *The Church of South India has many members and clergy that support same-sex marriages.
• *The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa permits same-sex marriage
• *The United Church of Christ in the Philippines supports LGBTQ rights and inclusion.
• Rainbow Catholics India now has representation at Mumbai, Goa, and Bangalore
• The Philippine Independent Church is LGBT-supportive and "acknowledges past homophobic wrongs" through their statement "Our Common Humanity, Our Shared Dignity".
• The Waldensian Evangelical Church permits same-sex marriage.
• Mennonites in the Netherlands offer marriage to both heterosexual and same-gender couples.
• The Mennonite Church Canada offers marriage to both heterosexual and same-gender couples.
• Each congregation within the Christian Church is permitted to determine if would like to perform same-sex marriages.
• Parts of the Moravian Church permit same-sex marriage.
• The Unity Church is fully LGBT-affirming.