|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
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 is an updated version of a list that was compiled in the very first year of Our Lives. It is 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 & 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 worship space at the Madison Christian Community. Both are open and affirming congregations. They host a monthly Transgender Community Meal for trans and nonbinary people in the Dane County area, which is also supported by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
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 suffrage and abolitionist movements. The membership includes several gay and lesbian members and adopted its open and affirming statement in 2001. The lead pastor, Rev. Douglas Fauth, was the first openly gay ordinand in the Penn Central Conference of the UCC.
Beth Israel Center
1406 Mound St., Madison | 608-256-7763 | bethisraelcenter.org
An egalitarian community of Conservative Judaism, Beth Israel Center has hosted an annual Pride Shabbat each summer since 2018. Rabbi Betsy Forester is committed to helping LGBTQIA+ people feel at home and “enhance their Jewish lives in relation to their LGBTQ+ journeys.” BIC is one of the sponsors of the annual Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance. The synagogue is also active in other areas of social justice work, including immigrant justice and racial justice.
Bethany United Methodist Church
3910 Mineral Point Rd., Madison | 608-238-6381 | bethanymadison.org
Lead Pastor Rev. Julie Wilson led her previous church in becoming an LGBTQIA+-affirming congregation and is committed to making Bethany a place where all are welcome. The church is part of the Reconciling Ministries Network of UMC (rmnetwork.org), which is committed to intersectional justice and the full participation of all LGBTQIA+ people in the life and leadership of the church.
Circle Sanctuary
5354 Meadowvale Rd., Barneveld | 608-924-2216 | circlesanctuary.org
A Nature Spirituality church founded by Rev. Selena Fox in 1974, Circle Sanctuary operates from a privately owned 200-acre nature preserve in the Driftless region, about 13 miles west of Mount Horeb. Here the Sanctuary hosts Full Moon circles, seasonal sabbats, volunteer days, and Sacred Fire Circles. Circle Sanctuary is one of the sponsors of the Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance. The nature preserve is not open to drop-in visits, but visitors are welcome at a variety of festivals and educational events, including the annual Earth Day Celebration. Circle Sanctuary also maintains an active online community and mailing list for its members.
Covenant Presbyterian Church of Madison
326 S. Segoe Rd., Madison | 608-233-6297 | covenantmadison.org
In 2018 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to affirm its commitment to full welcome, acceptance, and inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people. The inclusiveness of individual congregations varies, however, and the Covenant Network is working on expanding the church’s commitment to inclusion, equity, and social justice. Covenant Presbyterian Church of Madison is currently the only congregation in Dane County that is part of the Covenant Network, though the denomination’s Pres House Campus Ministry (see below) is also explicitly LGBTQIA+ affirming.
The Crossing Campus Ministry
1127 University Ave., Madison | 608-257-1039 | thecrossinguw.org
The Crossing is an inclusive, multi-faith, non-profit organization at UW-Madison. They host a variety of events on campus, including a pay-what-you-can family dinner every Monday night and weekly gatherings on Wednesday night at the Wesley Chapel. They list “Trans is Beautiful” as one of their core affirmations on the organization’s website, and back this up as sponsors of the Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance. The ministry is affiliated with and funded by the United Methodist Church, the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin, and the United Church of Christ.
Holy Wisdom Monastery
4200 County Highway M, Middleton | 608-836-1631 | holywisdommonastery.org
Originally founded as the St. Benedict Center by the Roman Catholic Church, Holy Wisdom Monastery is now an “ecumenical” organization, which means they are open to all. Its Sunday Assembly is an inclusive and welcoming worship community of about 200 people from diverse Christian backgrounds, focused on community building, social justice practices, and care for the earth. Its Center for Clergy Renewal provides “residential immersion” programs for early and mid-career pastors to connect with one another across differences of age, gender identity, ethnicity, denomination, and spiritual practice.
First Baptist Church
518 North Franklin Ave., Madison | 608-233-1800 | firstbaptistmadison.org
First Baptist is a progressive Baptist congregation, part of the American Baptist Churches USA and the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. In 1994 it became one of the first Baptist churches in the United States to openly declare itself welcoming to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Their pastor since 2020, Rev. Tim Schaefer, is an out gay man with training in Gender and Sexual Justice from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. They have been described as one of Madison’s most inclusive congregations.
First Congregational United Church of Christ
1609 University Ave., 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. Its senior minister, Rev. Eldonna Hazen, is an out lesbian who was profiled in the May 2008 issue of Our Lives.
First Unitarian Society
900 University Bay Dr., Madison | 608-233-9774 | fusmadison.org
First Unitarian Society is a progressive religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue. They are an independent organization but are affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). The Society meets in the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Unitarian Meeting House in Shorewood Hills, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The community has a strong commitment to social justice and donates half of its offerings to progressive nonprofits in Dane County.
First United Methodist Church
203 Wisconsin Ave., Madison | 608-256-9061 | fumc.org
First United Methodist Church is an open and affirming congregation in downtown Madison. It is part of the Reconciling Ministries Network of UMC. The church is a sponsor of the OutReach Magic Festival at Warner Park.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
5701 Raymond Rd. & 7291 County Highway PD | 608-271-6633 | gslcwi.com
Good Shepherd is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the largest and most progressive of the denominations in the U.S. (Note: Despite the name, the ELCA is not an “Evangelical” denomination in the cultural sense of the word.) GSLC became a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation by a membership vote in 2019, affirming its commitment to full inclusion for LGBTQIA+ persons. It is one of the sponsors of the Transgender Community Meal that meets at Advent Lutheran and Community of Hope.
ID-Madison
608-836-8886 | idmadison.org
ID-Madison is an ecumenical Christian faith community affiliated with DIGNITY, a nationwide organization of LGBTQIA+ Roman Catholics and their friends, and with INTEGRITY, a similar organization for LGBTQIA+ members of the Episcopal church. The Wisconsin Conference of Churches has recognized ID-Madison as an AIDS Caring Community, meaning that it provides all of its services to HIV-infected persons without judgment, hesitation, or reservation. The group meets at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church (6205 University Ave.) on most Saturdays from September to June for fellowship and worship.
James Reeb UU Congregation
2146 East Johnson St., Madison | 608-242-8887 | jruuc.org
James Reeb Unitarian Universalist (UU) Congregation was spun off from the First Unitarian Society in 1993. JRUUC affirms and includes people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people. The congregation is culturally diverse and includes many members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Lake Edge Lutheran Church
4032 Monona Dr., Madison | 608-222-7339 | lelc.org
An ELCA church, Lake Edge is a member of the group Reconciling in Christ, which affirms people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The congregation is active in the community on issues of social justice, environmental stewardship, and anti-racism education.
Madison Insight Meditation Group & Madison Vipassana
Madison Insight Meditation Group and Madison Vipassana practice meditation in the tradition of Theravada Buddhism. Insight meditation (vipassana) is a practice of developing calm through sustained awareness of a meditation object (frequently the breath) and developing insight through mindful observation, investigation, and reflection. Madison Vipassana hosts retreats, while Madison Insight Meditation Group provides regular local meditation sessions and various practice opportunities, both in person and online. They welcome people of every race, culture, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, age, and religion, and are one of the sponsoring organizations for the Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Madison Sufis
302 East Gorham St., Madison | madisonsufis.com
Spiritual director Shabda Kahn describes Sufism as “a mystic path based on the Awakened human heart recognizing its Unity with the Divine. The signs of this experience are the emergence of love, tolerance, compassion, and courage. Sufism is universal in nature and honors all the great messengers from the world’s religions.” LGBTQIA+ 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. The Madison Sufis host their “Dances of Universal Peace” twice a month at locations around Dane County.
McFarland United Church of Christ
5710 Anthony St., McFarland | 608-838-9322 | mcfarlanducc.org
McFarland UCC is, like many UCC member churches, an open and affirming congregation. Members of the congregation represented McFarland UCC during the ACT 5 AIDS Ride in 2007. The church’s lead pastor, Bryan Sirchio (sirchio.com), is also a singer/songwriter who writes worship music for progressive Christian communities.
Memorial United Church of Christ
5705 Lacy Rd., Fitchburg | 608-273-1008 | memorialucc.org
Memorial UCC is an open and affirming congregation that welcomes people of all ages, races, sexual orientations, gender identities, and church backgrounds. The church hosts the Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance honoring the memories of those lost to acts of anti-transgender violence, in partnership with many other faith organizations in Dane County.
Middleton Community Church UCC
645 Schewe Rd., Middleton | 608-831-4694 | middletonucc.org
“We recognize every person as a unique creation and beloved child of God,” says MCC’s website. “We celebrate this diversity and welcome women and members of the LGBTQ+ community to serve at every level of church leadership.” Their lead pastor, Rev. Zayna Hart Thomley, helped found the Southwest Wisconsin Rainbow Alliance, which is committed to promoting equity, justice, and quality of life through support and advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community. Associate pastor Rev. Rachel Kirk, who joined the staff in October 2024, is “a proud Millennial and LGBTQ+ leader.” The church is one of the sponsors of the Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance.
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 LGBTQIA+ people in every group, ministry, and leadership team at Orchard Ridge. The congregation voted to be open and affirming in 1993. The church is also active in addressing social justice issues, including mass incarceration, homelessness, and racial and immigration justice.
Plymouth United Church of Christ
2401 Atwood Ave., Madison | 608-249-1537 | pcucc.org
Plymouth UCC has been one of the most visible open and affirming congregations in Madison since 1996. In June 2024, the church voted unanimously to declare itself an “Immigrant Welcoming Congregation,” developing practices and programs to insure the respectful welcome and inclusion of immigrants and refugees. The church’s website states its continued intention “to work toward helping those who feel marginalized or oppressed in our community.”
Pres House Campus Ministry
731 State St., Madison | 608-257-103 | preshouse.org
A proudly LGBTQ+ affirming church for UW-Madison students, located on Library Mall. A ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Pres House welcomes individuals of every perspective and background. The church is led by two BIPOC clergy, Rev. Erica Liu and Rev. Nii Addo Abrahams. According to their website, “We celebrate queer identities and experiences, draw on the richness of queer theology in our preaching, and welcome queer folks to lead in worship, serve on our Council, and otherwise shape our life together.”
Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society
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 welcoming, affirming statement to its members. The church’s Social Action Committee sponsors the Madison Pride Parade and is active in combating homelessness in Madison.
Shaarei Shamayin
900 University Bay Dr., Madison | 608-257-2944 | shamayim.org
Shaarei Shamayim is a Reconstructionist Jewish community, which believes that Judaism is “a means for bringing justice, holiness, and joy to the world.” The congregation of over 200 households is LGBTQIA+ inclusive and welcomes Jews-by-choice and Jews of color. Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman is the spiritual leader here; she and her partner, Rabbi Renee Bauer, have two children.
St. John’s Lutheran Church
322 East Washington Ave., Madison (Temporarily at 1127 University Ave.)
608-256-2337 | stjohnsmadison.org
St. John’s voted to become a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation in 2006. Its “More for Madison” campaign (moreformadison.org), begun in 2022, is tearing down its downtown building and replacing it with a 10-floor development that will include 130 affordable housing units, plus worship and community spaces. Lead pastor Rev. Peter Beeson is an out trans person and a member of Proclaim, a professional network of LGBTQIA+ Lutheran leaders. (Full disclosure: Vica-Etta Steel, a longtime contributor to Our Lives, is also a member of leadership.)
St. Mark’s Lutheran church
605 Spruce St., Madison | 608-256-8463 | stmarksmadison.org
The mission statement of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is to “share the unconditional love of God. This includes those who have felt alienated because of sexual orientation, gender, age, physical or intellectual disability, financial resources, and family status.” The church is a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) ELCA congregation, and incorporates both Spanish and American Sign Language into its worship services.
Temple Beth El
2702 Arbor Dr., Madison | 608-238-3123 | templebethelmadison.org
Temple Beth El is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, which has, as a national organization, been open and affirming since 1987. They are part of Keshet (keshetonline.org), an organization that works for the full equality of all LGBTQIA+ Jews and their families in Jewish life. In 2021, TBE joined the Union for Reform Judaism’s assessment process for Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, committing themselves to listen more intentionally to community voices and improve their inclusivity and accessibility. TBE is one of the organizers of the Interfaith Transgender Day of Remembrance service.
Unity of Madison
601 Tompkins Dr., Monona | 608-221-1376 | unityofmadison.org
Unity Church is a spiritual organization founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in 1889. Unity of Madison describes Unity as “a positive, practical, progressive approach to Christianity based on the teachings of Jesus and the power of prayer. Unity honors the universal truths in all religions and respects each individual’s right to choose a spiritual path.” They welcome everyone “regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, gender, economic status, and anything else under the sun.”
0 Comments