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While PFLAG is not affiliated with any ethnic, religious, economic or political group, many of us have questions involving religion. The good news is that there is a wealth of information that can help you to understand homosexuality and keep you strong in your faith.
We also invite you to take this opportunity to learn about the many faith-based organizations which are welcoming gays and lesbians into their fold, just as God created them. Through faith, understanding and unconditional love, people across the country are realizing that religious faith and homosexuality are not incompatible. God’s love truly is for all of us just as we are.
Is homosexuality a sin?
No. Homosexuality is innate. Studies show it exists in every species God has created. It is not a choice nor the result of an abusive childhood nor a lifestyle. Just as heterosexuality is neither moral nor immoral, homosexuality is neither moral nor immoral.
What does the Bible say?
People throughout the ages have used particular passages of the Bible to support their viewpoints and have selectively ignored other passages. Walter Wink frankly talks about
this selectivity and the changes in our scientific knowledge and cultural views over the past 2000 years in Homosexuality and the Bible.
What do affirming religious leaders believe?
Several years ago, PFLAG National surveyed 19 prominent religious leaders from various faiths and denominations. “We believe the views are representative of a vast body of religious thinkers of a broad range of faiths, who in their search for truth do not necessarily confine themselves to their own faith's literal teachings, but who view ethical and social issues from a broader and more universal perspective.” Please read the responses of these theologians to the PFLAG survey,
Is Homosexuality A Sin?, and the discussion at its conclusion.
Welcoming Religious and Spiritual Groups
Listed below are some of the many groups within the religious community that are gay welcoming and affirming. The first are groups within Georgia, followed by a list of national organizations representing most denominations. If you know of others, please help us keep this list current by letting us know.
Welcoming and Affirming Baptist Congregations
Episcopal Welcoming Congregations
Lutheran Reconciled in Christ Congregations
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St. Luke Lutheran
- Atlanta
3264 Northside Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30327, 404-237-4413 |
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St. Luke Lutheran - Savannah
2716 Mechanics Avenue, Thunderbolt, GA 31404, 912-354-6815. |
| St. John's
Lutheran 1410 Ponce de Leon Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA
30307, 404-378-4243 |
Presbyterian More Light Congregations
| Clifton Presbyterian Church - Atlanta
369 Connecticut Ave., 404-373-3253 |
| Ormewood Presbyterian Church - Atlanta
1071 Delaware, 404-627-2216 |
United Church of Christ Open and Affirming Congregations
United Methodist Reconciling Congregations
Other Welcoming Congregations and Ministries in Georgia
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Oakhurst Baptist Church - Decatur
222 East Lake Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030, 404-378-3677 |
| Circle of Grace Community Church - Atlanta
Meets in ACME lofts Sunday 5pm
533 W Howard Ave., Decatur, GA, 404-624-1140 |
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New Covenant Community Church - Atlanta
Sunday services 6:00 p.m. at Virginia Highlands Baptist Church, 404-881-6336 |
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Congregation Bet Haverim (Jewish)
Friends School of Atlanta, 121 Sam’s St., Decatur, GA, 404-607-0054 |
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Gentle Spirit Christian Church of Atlanta
Sunday services at 7:00 p.m. at Epworth UMC
1561 McLendon Ave., 404-522-1444 |
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Unity Fellowship of Christ Church - Atlanta
2001 Martin Luther King Dr, 404-752-5030 |
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St. Luke’s Episcopal Church - Atlanta
435 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA, 404-873-7600 |
| St.
Patrick’s Episcopal Church
4755 North Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, 770-455-6523 |
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Cathedral of
St. Philip - Atlanta
2744 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30305,
404-365-1000 |
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Emory
Episcopal Center - Atlanta
1227 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30307, 404-377-0680 |
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Holy Innocents'
Episcopal Church - Atlanta
805 Mt. Vernon Highway, Atlanta, GA 30327, 404-255-4023
St. |
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Bartholomew's
Episcopal Church - Atlanta
1790 LaVista Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, 404-634-3336 |
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St. Bede's Episcopal
Church - Atlanta
2601 Henderson Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30345
The Rev. Janice Chalaron 770/938-9797 |
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St. John's Episcopal Church - College Park
3480 Main St., College Park, GA 30337, 404-761-8402 |
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Episcopal Church
of the Nativity - Fayetteville
130 Antioch Road, Fayetteville, GA 30215,770-460-6390 |
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St. Francis' Episcopal Church - Macon
432 Forest Hill Road, Macon, GA 31210, 478-477-4616 |
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St. Matthew's Episcopal - Savannah
1401 MLK, Jr. Blvd, Savannah, GA 31415, 912-233-5965 |
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St. Paul the
Apostle Episcopal - Savannah
1802 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401, 912-232-0274 |
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Trinity
Episcopal - Statesboro
4401 Country Club Road, Statesboro, GA 30459-2005,
912-489-4208 |
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Good
Shepherd Episcopal - Swainsboro
621 West Main Street, Swainsboro, GA 30401,
478-237-7122 |
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All Saints' Episcopal -Tybee Island
804 Jones Ave., Tybee Island, GA 31328, 912-786-5845 |
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Christ the
King Episcopal - Valdosta
101 East Central Ave., Valdosta, GA 31601, 229-247-6859 |
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Atlanta Friends (Quaker)
701 W Howard Ave., Decatur, Georgia 30030 404-377-2474 |
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St. Marks United Methodist Church - Atlanta
781 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 404-873-2636 |
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Metropolitan Community Churches – STATEWIDE.
See website for local listings |
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Unitarian Universalist Congregations – STATEWIDE.
See website for local listings |
| Congregation Etz
Chaim (Jewish Conserv.)
1190 Indian Hills Parkway, Marietta, GA 770-973-0137 |
| Decatur First
United Methodist Church
300 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 404-378-4541 |
| North Decatur
Presbyterian Church
61 Medlock Road, Decatur GA 404-636-1429 |
| Druid Hills Presbyterian
Church
1026 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA
30306 404-875-7591 |
| Nacoochee
Presbyterian Church
260 Highway 255 N, Sautee-Nacoochee, GA
30571 706-878-2226 |
| St.
Michael The Defender, Catholic Church, a parish of
the Catholic Church in America
1071 Delaware Ave. , Atlanta, GA 404-627-7212 |
| First Church of
Religious Science
3025 Maple Dr., Atlanta, GA 30305, 404-233-2061 |
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North
Point Church of Religious Science
100
Hannover Park Rd, Atlanta, GA 30350, 770-552-5889 |
| Marietta/Kennesaw
Mountain Church of Religious Science
Wingate Inn Magnolia Room, 750 Cobb Place Blvd., Kennesaw,
770-656-8467 |
| Trinity Church of
Religious Science
Frazer Center, 1815 S. Ponce de Leon Ave, Atlanta, GA
404-296-6064 |
| God, Self and
Neighbor Ministries United Church of Christ
743 Virginia Ave., Atlanta, GA, 404-881-0880 |
| Drepung
Loseling Institute (Buddhist)
2531 Briarcliff Road NE, Suite 101, Atlanta, GA 30329,
404-982-0051 |
| Rameshori
Buddhist Center
Classes throughout the Atlanta area, 404-378-8599 |
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Cathedral at Chapel
Hill
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National Religious Organizations Affirming Gays and Lesbians
Interfaith Groups
What about the religious right?
For a comprehensive breakdown of various religious viewpoints on gay issues go to
Religious Tolerance: Homosexuality. Also review the
Religious Tolerance Table of Contents
for additional articles such as religious hatred and intolerance.
Information is
also available at Religion and Gays.
(www.religionandgays.org)
What about “reparative” or “conversion” therapy promoted by far right groups?
The American Psychological Association states that “scientific evidence does not show that conversion therapy works and that it can do more harm than good. Changing one's sexual orientation is not simply a matter of changing one's sexual behavior. It would require altering one's emotional, romantic and sexual feelings and restructuring one's self-concept and social identity.” Conversion therapy has also been repudiated by the American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Where can I get more information?
From the PFLAG National publications
page, you can download or read online a very comprehensive pamphlet, “Faith In Our Families”. Besides covering some of the information above, it has an extensive list of reading material and additional suggestions for steps you can take to strengthen your faith as you support your glbt family member or friend.
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