We’ve compiled a list of churches, congregations, and spiritual communities that have visibly identified themselves as open and affirming to LGBTQ people. An open and affirming congregation is accepting of you as you are, and it validates you, your life, and your relationships. This list was compiled over the course of several months and drawn from several sources, including the research of the “Coming Out, Coming Together” coalition.
If you do not see a particular congregation on the list, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it is not welcoming. Some groups are welcoming and affirming in essence, but have never debated the issue or created a public, wide-reaching statement about LGBTQ people in their community. If your church or community is not on this list, be sure to ask what the congregation’s position is. Some may be tolerant, but ask that you remain quiet about your personal life – a “don’t ask, don’t tell” proposition. And some conservative denominations have appeared to be welcoming to all, but attempt to convince LGBTQ people to be celibate or to “convert” to heterosexuality.
We hope that this list will encourage you to revisit your spiritual past or embark on an exciting journey of discovering what faith and spirituality mean to you today.
Advent Lutheran Church and Community of Hope United Church of Christ
7118 Old Sauk Rd., Madison
608-836-1455 madisonchristiancommunity.org
Advent Lutheran and Community of Hope UCC share wor-ship space at the Madison Christian Community. Both are open and affirming congregations, and Community of Hope is led by openly LGBT pastor Rev. Tisha Brown.
Baraboo First Congregational United Church of Christ
131 Sixth Ave., Baraboo
608-356-4300 uccbboo.org
Founded in 1847, First Congregational UCC has a long history of social justice witness, including supporting the sufferage and abolitionist movements. The membership includes several gay and lesbian members and adapted its open and affirming statement in 2001.
Benedictine Women of Madison
4200 County Highway M, Middleton
608-836-1631 benedictinewomen.org
The Benedictine Women of Madison are at Holy Wisdom Monastery and are an “ecumenical” community, which means they are open to all. Although historically tied to the Catholic Church, it refers to itself as a Christian community on its website. Among the nuns is an ordained Presbyterian minister.
Bethany United Methodist Church
3910 Mineral Point Rd., Madison
608-238-6381 bethanymadison.org
According to Pastor Sharon L. S. Cook, Bethany United Meth-odist is open and affirming to LGBT congregants, and the pride flag is prominently displayed on Bethany’s website.
First Baptist Church
518 North Franklin Ave., Madison
608-233-1800 firstbaptistmadison.org
First Baptist is a liberal Baptist congregation and is one of the largest congregations in Madison. In addition to its status as an open and affirming congregation, First Baptist is also one of the most culturally diverse congregations, with a wide range of cultural backgrounds and outreach programs for youth and elderly members.
First Congregational United Church of Christ
1609 University Avenue, Madison
608-233-9751 firstcongmadison.org
First Congregational has a long history of being an open and affirming congregation. It adopted its affirmation statement in 1992. Rev. Curt Anderson was a visible leader on the “No” vote during the marriage amendment debate, and he has been profiled in a previous issue of Our Lives, as Rev. Eldonna Hazen, also at First Congregational, is profiled in this issue.
First Unitarian Society
608-233-9774 fusmadison.org
First Unitarian Society is a liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue. The Society, the third largest Unitarian Universalist congregation in the country, meets in the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Unitarian Meeting House in Shorewood Hills, which was placed on the National Reg-is-ter of Historic Places in 1973.
First United Methodist Church
203 Wisconsin Ave., Madison
608-256-9061 wisconsinumc.org/madison-firstumc
First United Methodist Church is an open and affirming congregation in downtown. It offers an LGBT young-adult program that explores the issues surrounding faith and homosexuality. FUMC also works with a statewide United Methodist group, and will host an event in 2009 on the changing concept of family.
Integrity/Dignity
608-836-8886 idmadison.org
Integrity/Dignity is a coalition of LGBT Christians and LGBT members of the Roman Catholic Church. In Madison, the groups meets at St. Dunstan’s on most Saturdays from September to June for fellowship and worship.
James Reeb Unitarian Universalist
2146 East Johnson St., Madison
608-242-8887 jruuc.org
Reeb is one of the youngest congregations in Madison, having been a “spinoff” from the First Unitarian Society in 1993. Reeb has about 120 members and maintains its worship space in a former T-shirt printing facility. The congregation is culturally diverse and includes every aspect of the LGBT community.
Lake Edge Lutheran Church
4032 Monona Dr., Madison
608-222-7339 lelc.org
The congregation is a member of the group Reconciling in Christ/Lutherans Concerned, which affirms people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Madison Jewish Community Council
6434 Enterprise Ln., Madison
608-278-1808 jewishmadison.org
The MJCC is the Jewish Federation of South Central Wisconsin. According to executive director Steven H. Mor-ri-son, the MJCC, while not a congregation per se, is “fully committed to being open and affirming
and to full and equal rights for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender in-di-vid-u-als and couples.”
McFarland United Church of Christ
5710 Anthony St., McFarland
608-838-9322 mcfarlanducc.org
McFarland United Church of Christ is, like many UCC member churches, an open and affirming congregation. Mem-bers of the
congregation represented McFarland UCC during the ACT 5 AIDS Ride in 2007.
More Light Presbyterians mlp.org
Dale Heights Presbyterian daleheightspc.org
The national Presbyterian Church as an organization is not currently affirming or welcoming. However, “More Light Presbyterians” is a coalition of Presbyterian congregations and individuals working to make the Church more wel-coming.
In Madison, there are three More Light congregations: Covenant Presbyterian, 326 South Segoe Road; Dale Heights Presbyterian, 5501 University Avenue; and Parkside Pres-by-terian, 4002 Lien Road.
Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
1501 Gilbert Rd., Madison
608-271-7212 orucc.org
Orchard Ridge’s mission statement is “Spiritually Alive, Joyfully Inclusive, Committed to Justice.” There are LGBT people in every group, ministry, and leadership team at Orchard Ridge. The congregation voted to be open and affirming in 1993. One group that ministers to many LGBT members is called SAFE (Spiritually Affirming Friends Every-where.) A member of SAFE recently said to the congregation, “LGBT people are so fully integrated into the leadership and activities of the church that we hardly need a social group for people to feel accepted.”
Plymouth United Church of Christ
2401 Atwood Ave., Madison
608-249-1537 pcucc.org
Under the leadership of Rev. Charles Wolfe, Plymouth UCC is one of the most visible open and affirming congregations in Madison since 1996. Rev. Wolfe is also an instrumental force in “Coming Out, Coming Together,” a local coalition of open and affirming congregations and groups from all walks of spiritual life.
Prairie Unitarian Universalist
2010 Whenona Dr., Madison
608-271-8218 uuprairie.org
Formed when First Unitarian Society’s growth showed a clear need for expansion in Madison, Prairie UU is led by its members and it starts each service with a wel-com-ing, affirming statement to its members.
Shaarei Shamayin
2010 Whenona Dr., Madison
608-245-3775 shamayim.org
Shaarei Shamayim is a progressive Jewish community. The con-gregation shares space of the Prairie Unitarian Universalist congregation. Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman is the spiritual leader here; she and her partner, Rabbi Renee Bauer, live on the east side of Madison.
St. Mark’s Lutheran
605 Spruce St., Madison
608-256-8463
In the words of Pastor Mary Pharmer, “St. Mark’s endeavors to be defined by Hospitality and Welcome. This is made real in the congregation’s willingness to welcome those who are seeking blessings of unions and those who are LGBT. The community, especially on the south side, knows that we are a place of good food and welcome friendship.”
St. John’s Lutheran Church
322 East Washington Ave., Madison
608-256-2337 stjohnsmadison.org
Like Lake Edge Lutheran, St. John’s is also a member of Reconciling in Christ/Lutherans Concerned. The congregation voted to be part of the organization in 2006. St. John’s openly affirms its members, and it has developed a “house-hold covenant” to address its congregants’ wishes for bless-ings of their unions.
Sufi Order of Madison Spiritual Community
Rev. Nano Boye Nagle
608-290-4443 sufiorder.org
Sufi followers define spirituality as the “religion of the heart.” LGBT people who are part of the Sufi religion can take active roles, including spiritual leadership. Sufi ministers officiate at same-sex weddings and commitment ceremonies.
Temple Beth El
2702 Arbor Dr., Madison
608-238-3123 templebethelmadison.org
Temple Beth El is a member of the Union for Reform Ju-da-ism, which has, as a national organization, been open and af-firm-ing since 1987. The temple was one of the most visible opponents to the marriage amendment, and it hosted a town hall meeting on the amendment in 2006.
0 Comments