Most LGBTQ+ Christians Do Not Feel Secure In Being Themselves In Church
An alarming report has shown that only a third of LGBTQ+ Christians feel secure in being themselves in church, for fear of “hostility and discrimination.”
The Keren Ozen report, in collaboration with 9 LGBTQ+ Christian organizations, is the result of a study conducted last year and supervised by Dr. Sarah Carr, an expert in mental health research and social care.
The survey received about 750 responses from queer Christian adults in the UK, with the majority (59%) attending Church of England churches, and the rest of the respondents belonging to other Christian denominations.
He found that less than a third (31%) of LGBTQ+ Christians felt they could “be themselves” in church, while gay men were most likely to “feel safe being outside of everyone in their local church” (45%).
That figure dropped significantly for lesbians (35%), even more so for trans and nonbinary people (28%), and only 23% of bisexual Christians said they felt safe being outside the church, as Bangladesh News writes.
Most respondents felt that while their physical safety was a top priority for church leaders, far less attention was given to their “spiritual,” “sexual,” “psychological,” and “emotional” confidence.
Dr. Carr said: “The findings show that fear and expectation, as well as experiences of hostility and discrimination, can make churches feel insecure, exclusionary environments in which many LGBT+ declare that they‘ feel afraid to be themselves.'
“While there was a recognition that churches focused on the physical aspects of protection, attention to emotional and psychological retention was found to be lacking – which findings suggest are exactly the type of protection that LGBT+ Christians need!”
When asked how safe the church looked, three-quarters of LGBTQ+ Christians described it as not being “concerned about what would be said in the sermon” and that they were able to be “open with the clergy about my sexuality and/or gender identity.”
The role of clerics in protecting Christians for being LGBTQ+ was clear, while others said church leaders “openly endorse same-sex relationships” that they had a “comprehensive statement on our church website” and “positive recognition of LGBT+ people in preaching” would cause them feel safer.
Right-wing pastor Paul Bice, a bishop from Liverpool and former chairman of the Ear Foundation, said the study “shows how important it is for church leaders to be clear about where they stand on LGBT+ issues.”
“Silence has a price – and now we clearly see who paid for it,” he added.
“I long for a day when all the LGBT people can enter the church and not feel apprehensive or anxious about how they will be treated.”
Dave Morton of Oasis Open House, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ believers, described the alarming findings presented in the report as “the result of faith-based rejection and conversion therapy.”
Morton said: “Guarding is one of the most challenging issues facing the church today, especially since many of our LGBT+ brethren are tragically harming themselves, leaving the church, and even taking their own lives.
“It’s a shame that many of our LGBT+ brothers feel safer in a gay bar than in one of our church congregations.”
The report included recommendations for church leaders, stating that churches should “be much more proactive in helping Christians to be LGBT+ feel safe enough to be themselves,” “expand their perception of safety to include matters affecting their emotional and mental health. Friends.” And “To make it clear where they stand on matters of LGBT+.” Wider faith communities must also “raise awareness of the pressures facing LGBT+ Christians.”
Jane Ozen, director of the Ozen Foundation, said: “This study shows how vulnerable LGBT+ Christians feel in our churches.
“The fact that so many are afraid to attend church and worried about what might be said in a sermon should come as a serious wake-up call to church leaders.
“The time has come for us to take seriously the well-being of the LGBT+ people in our care and to explore ways in which we can help them feel safe.”
Read related myGwork articles here:
Christian Fundamentalists Threaten To Sue Scottish Parliament Over Conversion Therapy Ban
Thousands Of Christian Pastors Preached In Favour Of Conversion Therapy Last Sunday
Gay Priest And Partner Make Church In Wales History With ‘Rejoiceful’ Same-Sex Blessing
Pope Francis Says No To Same-Sex Marriage Blessings: “I Have Spoken Clearly About This”
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