Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement

The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) describes itself as "UK-based international Charity which challenges homophobia and transphobia, especially within the Church and faith based organisations".[1]

The Gay Christian Movement was founded in 1976 at St Botolph's Aldgate,[2] and the Revd Richard Kirker as its first general secretary. In 1977, local chapters were organised, followed in 1978 by the Women's Group, the Evangelical Fellowship in 1979 and Young Lesbian and Gay Christians in 2000. The name was eventually changed to the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement in 1987.[3] The twentieth-anniversary event, held on 16 November 1996 at Southwark Cathedral with John Gladwin, then Bishop of Guildford, as preacher, was the first Anglican cathedral service in Britain held for gay people. Over 2,000 people attended. About 50 local churches held vigils in protest.[4]

The Anglican churches in the British Isles are the main focus of LGCM activity, but its membership and interests are nonetheless entirely ecumenical and international.[5]

The movement has criticised Pope Benedict XVI over his statement that gender theory could lead to the "self-destruction" of humanity. The Reverend Sharon Ferguson, then chief executive of the LGCM, called the statement "totally irresponsible and unacceptable... When you have religious leaders like that making that sort of statement then followers feel they are justified in behaving in an aggressive and violent way."[6] When Benedict visited the United Kingdom, the movement criticised secular protesters, urging people to "disagree with respect", calling the protests "unhelpful and counterproductive" and holding a prayer vigil.[7]

The current chief executive is Tracey Byrne. The movement's headquarters are located in Newark-on-Trent.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.lgcm.org.uk/about-us/
  2. ↑ "1974-today". St Botolph without Aldgate. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. ↑ Lee Badgett, Mary Virginia (2007). Sexual orientation discrimination: an international perspective. Taylor & Francis. p. 218.
  4. ↑ "Tea for two thousand". The Advocate. December 24, 1996. p. 18.
  5. ↑ Giltz, Michael (January 21, 2003). "Good heavens". The Advocate. p. 33.
  6. ↑ "Pope attacks blurring of gender". BBC. December 23, 2008.
  7. ↑ Butt, Riazat (September 1, 2010). "Gay and lesbian Christians criticise plans to disrupt pope's visit". The Guardian.
Gill, Sean (1998). The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement: campaigning for justice, truth and love. Cassell. 
Hunt, Stephen (2009). "The lesbian and gay Christian movement". Contemporary Christianity and LGBT sexualities. Ashgate Publishing Ltd. pp. 105–121. 

External links


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