Welcome to the Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement

All the world's major religions are faced with having to come to terms with a modern understanding of homosexuality. The place of gay and lesbian people in the life of the Church is currently Christianity's most divisive issue. Confronting homophobia is its greatest challenge. The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement is proclaiming a basic Christian truth. It is working for the very love and freedom that Christ brings to his people through his life, death and resurrection. LGCM is working for love, for peace, for justice, and for the promotion of the Christian faith especially within the LGBT community.
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  1. LGCM welcomes confirmation of Mary Glasspool as Suffregan Bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles

    22 March 2010

    Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) has enthusiastically welcomed the news that on 17th March the Episcopal Church confirmed the appointment of Canon Mary Glasspool as the global Anglican Church’s first openly lesbian Bishop.

    Canon Mary Glasspool, 56, was elected to the position of suffregan (assistant) bishop at the end of 2009 in the Diocese of Los Angeles, California within the Episcopal Church.

    Rev Sharon Ferguson said: “We were thrilled when Mary Glasspool was elected last year. After such an election a process takes place in which the church as a whole has to confirm this decision. It was our prayer that wisdom, maturity and justice would guide this process. Our prayers have been answered and we are thrilled by the outcome. The Episcopal Church have demonstrated a commitment to the inclusive gospel of Christ and have recognised the qualities, experience and deep Christian faith which have characterised Mary Glasspool’s ministry thus far.”

    Bishop-elected Mary Glasspool issued a statement in which she said: “I am profoundly grateful for the many people – in Los Angeles, in Maryland, and around the world – who have given their prayers, love, and support during this time of discernment. I am also aware that not everyone rejoices in this election and consent, and will work, pray, and continue to extend my own hands and heart to bridge those gaps, and strengthen the bonds of affection among all people, in the Name of Jesus Christ.“

    LGCM echoes these sentiments and hopes that even those who find this to be a decision they cannot accept will join with her in furthering the cause of the gospel in a hurting world.

    Category: Press Releases


  2. LGCM condemns decision in the high court to exempt Catholic adoption agency from sexual orientation regulations

    17 March 2010

    The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement today condemned the decision in the high court to allow Catholic Care’s appeal for an exemption from the sexual orientation regulations. In doing so Catholic Care, a Catholic adoption society, is able to continue its policy of refusing to consider homosexual couples as suitable parents.

    The adoption agency which works within the dioceses of Leeds, Middlesbrough and Hallam in South Yorkshire, had said it would give up its work placing children rather than bow to government legislation. Many other Catholic adoption agencies have already given up their work while some have severed official links with the Catholic church in order to conform with the law.

    The decision by Mr Justice Briggs, has been welcomed by Catholic Care and the Catholic Church. LGCM however joins with gay campaigners and others in condemning the decision.

    Rev. Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive of LGCM, said today:

    “It is both unacceptable and outrageous that laws can be passed which the high court then allows to be ignored. We do not doubt that Catholic Care has done good work in the past but it should only continue to do so within the current legal framework. It makes no sense and is entirely unjust to allow exemptions of this nature. Would Mr Justice Briggs have reached the same decision if Catholic Care had asked to be allowed to discriminate against couples on the grounds of their race or physical ability?

    Children deserve the right to the very best adoptive parents and what makes a couple suitable to be parents is not their sexual orientation. In some cases it will be more beneficial for the parents to be heterosexual and in some cases to be homosexual.

    Furthermore, the implications of this decision for the potential erosion of equality through the back door is extremely worrying.”

    Category: Press Releases


  3. Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement celebrates the decision by the House of Lords to allow civil partnerships to be performed in places of worship

    3 March 2010

    The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement joins with other religious and secular groups in enthusiastically welcoming the decision by the House of Lords to back an amendment to the Equality Bill put forward by Waheed Alli, a gay Muslim and Labour peer.

    Currently opposite-sex couples can choose to have either a religious or civil marriage whereas a same-sex couple cannot.

    Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive of LGCM said:

    “This is a wonderful first step towards equality and I’m grateful that Stonewall has taken this issue up on behalf of the lesbian and gay faith community following our urging of this action last year. The vote was overwhelmingly in favour, 95 votes to 21, which clearly expresses the Lords’ opinion that God should not be excluded from the celebration of our relationships. LGCM will be joining with others in celebrating this victory. Christians of all convictions on this issue ought to see this as a step toward greater not lesser freedom of religious expression.

    “The claim by some that this will force religious organisations to perform same-sex ceremonies is false. The Law does not force ministers and other religious leaders to marry opposite sex couples now, and won’t force them to conduct civil partnerships for same-sex couples.”

    The change to the law will however enable those organisations who wish to offer this to be able to do so. Several religious communities – Quakers, Liberal Judaism, Metropolitan Community Churches and many of the Unitarian and Free Christian Churches – have already expressed a wish to hold legally recognised religious ceremonies for same-sex partnerships.

    LGCM will continue to campaign for full equality with regards to the legal recognition of same sex relationships.

    Category: Press Releases