Our faith in following Jesus is about committing ourselves to living God's path of unconditional, selfless, sacrificing, redeeming and transforming love. While the Episcopal Church has long embraced the gifts of the LGBTQIA+ community, Christianity as a whole has caused pain and harm. To further this mission, Bishop Deon Johnson has appointed DeWayne Trainer as the diocese's missionary for the participation of LGBTQIA+ people. DeWayne is tasked with going beyond the diocese to represent the bishop and the diocese of Missouri in meetings that promote the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people and, at the same time, to advocate in the diocese to continue to eliminate barriers that prevent the full expression of the church's ministry.
We invite you to explore the resources on this page to learn more and to actively participate in this ministry. If you have any resources to add to our collection, contact DeWayne Trainer. Approximately 10,000 people in eastern and central Missouri find their home of faith with us. Approximately three-quarters of our members are in the metropolitan area of St.
Louis, but our diocese extends far beyond St. You'll find more than 40 Episcopal churches, missions, and religious communities as far north as Kirksville, as far west as Columbia, and as far south as Poplar Bluff (and many points in between). If you're looking for a church or simply a faith community to visit, we invite you to explore the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. Of specific interest to ordained clergymen who reside canonically in this diocese or are licensed to exercise their functions in it.
Do you have any questions or need more information? Several Christian denominations do not consider homosexuality or transgender identity to be sins. These include entire denominations, as well as individual churches and congregations. Some are comprised primarily of non-LGBT members and also have specific programs to welcome LGBT people, while others are comprised primarily of LGBT members. In addition, some denominations that do not defend the LGBT community include groups organized by LGBT members that do not have the official approval of the denominations themselves.
There are also ecumenical or para-church programs that explicitly target LGBT people, but are not identified with any particular church, tradition, or denomination. Prior to purchasing the Waterman Building, MCCGSL leaders researched several church properties; however, in some cases, once the owners discovered MCC's mission they decided to remove the property from the market. During this time, the church staff also expanded considerably to accommodate the needs of a much larger church community. In November 1996, Dolman's church was sold and the MCC congregation began renting space at St.
In the 19th century, John Church (minister) was considered to be the first minister to openly celebrate same-sex marriages in his English church. Now it belonged to what The Post Dispatch called “the only congregation here (in St. Louis)” when reporting on its relocation. After almost ten years at Waterman branch, in 1984, with about 130 active members, MCC bought a building in Lafayette Square at 1120 Dolman Street.
When members of Berea Congregation began opposing use of their facilities by an church group that had a special ministry for gay community, MCCGSL started looking for other facilities. Today churches in St Louis are actively engaging with local LGBTQ+ community by providing them with resources and support they need for their spiritual journey. They are also providing them with a safe space where they can express themselves without fear or judgement.
