On Saturday, November 9, Presbyterians from across South Carolina gathered for a Covenant Conversation entitled “Making Space at the Table: Faithfully Responding to Gender and Sexuality.” This Covenant Conversation was designed to equip faith leaders and congregation members with resources for taking the next steps in navigating important conversations and creating more welcoming spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

On October 19, Presbyterians gathered at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Minn. for “The Courage To Be Transformed,” a Covenant Conversation focused on personal and congregational transformation. This event, jointly co-sponsored by the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, was designed to explore what it means to belong to God, especially for LGBTQIA+ people in faith communities.

On April 27, Presbyterians gathered at First Presbyterian Church in Davenport, Iowa for “Expanding Our Welcome: Creating Safe and Inclusive Sacred Spaces Together.” This event, jointly co-sponsored by the Presbyteries of East Iowa and Great Rivers, was designed for leaders and members of every congregation to take the next steps in offering an authentic welcome to LGBTQIA+ people in ways that show God’s love and build up the church.

On November 11, nearly a hundred Presbyterians from across New Castle Presbytery and the country gathered at The Presbyterian Church of Dover, Delaware, for Covenant Conversation: New Castle Presbytery, “Making Space for Curiosity, Authenticity, and Community.” Participants worshiped, shared stories, and sought to live into the promises of a more inclusive Church and world. As a Matthew 25 presbytery, New Castle Presbytery intentionally emphasized intersectionality and diversity to model Christ’s radical welcome of all people.

On Saturday, September 30, Fourth Presbyterian Church hosted Covenant Conversation: Chicago with the theme of Beyond Words: From Mere Welcome to True Belonging. This event was sponsored by the Presbytery of Chicago, Fourth Presbyterian Church, and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, with support from additional congregations in the presbytery. In planning for this Covenant Conversation, several questions arose, including: As Christians who believe that God’s love truly extends to all people, how can we show true hospitality to anyone who walks through our church doors, especially members of the LGBTQIA+ community? We’ve said we’re welcoming, but how can we show this welcome beyond the walls of our churches and offer God’s love to the broader community?

As Christians who believe that God’s love truly extends to all people, how can we show true hospitality to anyone who walks through our church doors, especially members of the LGBTQIA+ community? We’ve said we’re welcoming, but how can we show this welcome beyond the walls of our churches and offer God’s love to the broader community? At Covenant Conversation: Nebraska, we’ll worship, learn, and converse together about how we can live into a “new day” in the church and renew our commitments to witnessing to God’s love for the whole world.

What does it meant to be welcoming of LGBTQIA+ people in the church … and how welcoming are we? It has been a decade since the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved inclusive policies on ordination and marriage — but how can our presbytery and our congregations have better conversations and take meaningful action to put our commitments into action? What is the difference between “welcoming” queer folks and really “affirming” them? Wherever you and your church are on this journey of understanding and ministry, we hope you’ll join this opportunity to connect with others and take the next steps toward a church that experiences and shows forth God’s love for all!

This event offers biblical and theological foundation and practical help in ensuring the church’s full embrace of LGBTQIA+ people. We’ll consider how we as Presbyterians have historically thought about issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, and how we have changed. And we’ll consider particular acts of hospitality we can take with our words and deeds to strengthen our congregations and our common life for all people.

We are living in complicated, challenging times … and that is especially true for people of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations in the church. Even when we sense God’s call to reach out in compassion and work for equity and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people, it can still be difficult to understand, to find the right words, to know how best to proceed. This event is for everyone seeking to move forward in the journey toward being a truly welcoming church. In keynote presentations, in workshops focusing on particular topics and interests, and in conversations around lunch tables, we’ll start a conversation that can touch lives and transform the church!

You are invited to gather with Covenant Network of Presbyterians, members of North Central California Presbytery and guests from across our region in prayerful reflection and thoughtful conversation about our calling to be a people of hospitality, radical love, inclusion and equity. How do we manifest that calling with LGBTQIA+ persons who have been historically marginalized and excluded?

Join us for a time of learning, sharing, and discovering together what it means to be a church that truly welcomes all!

Join us for a Covenant Conversation, as we explore LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the church and our role in creating a church where all are truly welcome.