Things are starting to return to “normal.” Help us build a NEW and better “normal” for LGBTQIA+ people and the church in 2022.

The year 2021 has been a time of great challenge – but also great opportunity. More churches than ever are wrestling with how to effectively and meaningfully welcome and affirm LGBTQIA+ people … and many are realizing how much work there is to do and how much help they need to do it.

Last month, the Covenant Network of Presbyterians held our first in-person Covenant Conversation since the start of the pandemic. In Charlotte, North Carolina, we encountered dozens of eager, faithful church members and leaders (and dozens more who joined us online through our livestream and interactive Zoom workshops). Every person we met was glad to be together – and every one of them told us how essential our work remains.

We hope you’ll consider a one-time gift to support our work in 2022. You can read below some of our accomplishments from the year, and our hopes for the year ahead. What a list of activities won’t tell you is the stories of people and congregations whose lives are being changed through your generosity…

  • A small congregation in North Carolina who held a church dinner to hear three gay members of their church family tell their stories of past hurt and newfound community
  • A pastor who received support and care, even as he encountered harassment from his church after being open about his identity as a bisexual man
  • Churches around the country able to bring an openly LGBTQIA+ preacher into their (virtual) pulpit – many for the first time
  • Elders in virtual session workshops asking – with honesty and openness — about how to provide safer spaces for transgender and non-binary people in their church

We’ve seen the faces of each of these people who have benefited from this work and ask you to help that work continue.

We’ve decided to take a chance in 2022: The need and opportunity are so great, that we are investing even more deeply in the work to be done. I’ll be increasing my work hours for the Network in the year ahead, empowering even more education, engagement and equipping across the church. We’re also expanding our digital presence, taking our witness to new and expanding platforms. But this has a cost. I hope as this year ends, you’ll consider a gift of $50, $100 or more. Your support is critical for our ability to help the church live into the promises of what we’ve accomplished together so farYou can donate securely right now by clicking here.

While the pandemic continued to be a setback for travel and in-person gatherings, the work of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians continued—and in some ways grew stronger! Here’s just a fraction of what we’ve undertaken:

  • We’ve preached and taught – virtually and, in the last few months, in person – in churches all over the country. Esteemed leaders from the Covenant Network of Presbyterians staff and board of directors have offered messages of inclusion and pride with theological depth and hope for the church’s future, while weekend-long events have supported congregational efforts to deepen and expand their welcome.
  • We’ve engaged with leaders of the Presbyterian Mission Agency to support their efforts to keep the church’s commitments to work for LGBTQIA+ justice and inclusion nationally and internationally, and will continue to hold them accountable for that work.
  • We’ve expanded our social media and digital presence, recognizing that online sources are increasingly where people are finding information, connection and direction. We will cultivate shareable content that encourages, challenges and transforms.
  • We’ve fielded inquiries, requests and cries for help from pastors, candidates, presbytery leaders and denominational officials, all seeking our resources, wisdom, and experience breaking through barriers, preserving unity and catalyzing transformation.

Even as we return to even more opportunities to be together in person, we also continue to expand our thinking about how we can serve the church in whatever the “new normal” looks like. We’ll extend and grow all the activities listed above, while also building on them in the year ahead. We anticipate:

  • Our biggest year yet for our signature Covenant Conversations, visiting presbyteries and other groups of congregations with worship, training and facilitated conversations that equip that group Presbyterians at different stages of their journey toward inclusion for mutual support and meaningful engagement.
  • New efforts to address the challenges facing LGBTQIA+ call seekers, including video and digital resources for training and supporting candidates and inquirers, pastor nominating committees, and presbytery committees on ministry and preparation for ministry.
  • A cataloging, expansion and promotion of our other digital resources online, equipping congregations for worship, adult and youth education, and training in evangelism and mission in this new, more video-dependent age.

The Covenant Network of Presbyterians remain immensely grateful for your prayers, encouragement, and financial support toward our work. Know that we’re always happy to hear from you with your ideas, questions or ways we can support you in your own context.