Welcomes people of of any sexual orientation and gender identity
Who we are
The Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians (EFLGC), formed in 1979, is a group of women and men, most of whom are lesbian, gay or bisexual and come from an evangelical Christian background.
We are an Inclusive Fellowship and have an ethos that underlines our respect for ourselves and for others.
The Evangelical Fellowship gives the opportunity:
- to meet and share experiences with other lesbian, gay and bisexual Christians
- to support and be supported in times of difficulty or stress
- to encourage one another in the Christian faith
- to think through issues relating both to faith and sexuality.
Our aims are
- To support evangelical Christians who know that they are homosexual, or who are seeking to explore their sexuality.
- To help other evangelical Christians to re-examine their understanding of sexuality.
- To encourage members to witness to their faith to others who are homosexual, and to witness to their conviction about human sexuality within the Church.
What we believe
In Christian circles, it is often difficult for someone who is gay to be known as such. In recent years, therehas been an opening up of the debate about sexuality in some sections of the Church, yet it is still the case that lesbian and gay people often face intense difficulties within their local church. This is because many Christians believe that a homosexual way of life is condemned in certain verses of scripture and is therefore condemned by God. As a result, many lesbian and gay Christians have been forced down a path of self-hatred, which has in some cases led to loss of faith, breakdown and even suicide.
Most of us within the Fellowship have therefore had to face the challenge of reconciling our Christian faith with our sexuality. We recognise that individuals differ in many ways – for example, personality and physical build – and this same variety extends to our sexuality. Each of us is unique. We believe that God loves and values us as God has created us and understands us better than anyone.
We are encouraged by the example of Jesus, as described in the Gospels, who time and time again showed that he was the friend of the outsider – the marginalised. He reached out and touched those suffering, especially those on the fringes of society. Jesus’ behaviour now would be no different from 2000 years ago.
The important things for us are our faith as Christians and the knowledge that God loves and values us for who we are. We therefore firmly believe that there is no contradiction in being both gay and Christian.
What we offer
- Residential weekend conferences twice a year, with discussion on relevant themes, prayer and worship.
- Regional gatherings in some parts of the country.
- A quarterly newsletter (including a prayer corner) and various other publications.
- Telephone link persons who act as a point of contact for members.
- Liaison with other similar Christian groups in the UK and worldwide.
