Pastor on Trial - Organizations

The following organizations are involved in seeking full equality for LGBT people in the Evangelical Lutheran Church.  After this listing of organizations you will find resources for other denominations.  (If you have additions, please use the contact form to let me know. I'll post additions as often as possible. Thank you.)

Evangelical Lutheran Church:  LGBT Advocacy Organizations.

goodsoil:
About: goodsoil.org is the official website of the collaboration to overcome the policy and practice of discrimination within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) against lgbt clergy, same-sex marriages and covenanted relationships. Read the goodsoil platform regarding ordination, marriage, and bisexual and transgender inclusion.

Lutherans Concerned North America (LCNA):
Mission: The ministries of Lutherans Concerned / North America (LC/NA) embody, inspire, and support the acceptance and full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, their families, friends and allies, within the Lutheran communion and its ecumenical and global partners.

Through our Reconciling in Christ Program, ministries, resources, events and alliances, LC/NA: builds community for worship, education and support; fosters welcome and acceptance in all Lutheran settings; advocates for the ecclesial changes necessary to ensure full participation in all rites, sacraments, and ministries of the Church; and invites all people into Gospel lives of authenticity, integrity and wholeness.

Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries (LLGM):
What We Do: LLGM provides financial, pastoral, and legal support to sexual minority pastors and to the congregations that support them. In addition we encourage congregations to consider calling sexual minority clergy by serving as a placement vehicle for pastors approved by the Extraordinary Candidacy Project (ECP). LLGM has provided assistance to scores of Lutheran pastors, often after their congregations, colleagues and bishops have deserted them. Annually, LLGM provides financial support to congregations who call our pastors.

The Extraordinary Candidacy Process:
About: The Extraordinary Candidacy Project (ECP) was formed in 1993 to promote the full participation of sexual minority persons in the professional life of the Lutheran church. We actively resist the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's exclusionary practices and discriminatory policies toward sexual minority pastors and candidates for ministry. We exist as a hopeful alternative and model for preparing candidates and certifying the credentials of sexual minority persons who are seeking to have their vocations affirmed and their committed relationships honored.

Wingspan Ministries:
Description: Wingspan Ministry is a ministry of St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church. Wingspan is a ministry of pastoral care, education, advocacy and support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Lutheran Network for Inclusive Vision (The Network):
Description: a public roster of church leaders committed to witness to the inclusive Gospel of Jesus Christ by fostering full inclusion of sexual minority people in the congregational life and ordained ministry of the ELCA. The Network encourages ELCA clergy, AIMS, and church members to challenge the policies and practices which continue to bring so much pain to lgbt members of our church and their families, and deprive the church of gifted professionals.

National Inter-denominational Advocacy and Support Organizations:

Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS): 
To advance the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people and to transform faith communities and the wider society by taking a leading role in shaping a new public discourse on religion and sexuality through education, research, community building and advocacy.

Gay and Lesbian Acceptance (GALA)
The purpose of GALA is to affirm the dignity and worth of all persons without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation. We support and encourage self actualization in an atmosphere of love, understanding, and confidentiality. We are dedicated to the celebration of diversity. We are committed to exploring the issues of spirituality and justice through dialogue, education, and action.

gaychurch.org
Gaychurch.org is a pro-gay Christian resource site that contains a 3,000+ world-wide church directory as well as numerous articles and in-depth studies of interest to the gay Christian community, in both English and Spanish. Other features include a large Christian art gallery from some very talented artists that frequent the board.

Grace and Lace Newsletter
The Grace and Lace Letter is a Christian publication for transgendered persons.

The Interfaith Alliance:
The Interfaith Alliance promotes the positive, healing role of faith in civic life, and challenges intolerance and extremism. Rooted in faith traditions the world over, we offer Americans a mainstream, religiously-based agenda committed to individual dignity and the importance of community.

Human Rights Campaign:  Religion and Faith Program:
The Faith and Religion focus of the Human Rights Campaign

Soulforce:
The purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.

The Shower of Stoles Project
The Institute of Welcoming Resources' Shower of Stoles Project is a collection of over a thousand liturgical stoles and other sacred items from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons from twenty-six denominations in six countries. Each stole contains the story of a GLBT person who is active in the life and leadership of their faith community in some way: minister, elder, deacon, teacher, missionary, musician, administrator or active layperson.
Whosoever
Whosoever is a online magazine intended for the spiritual growth of anyone who believes that God made gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people just the way they are, and is not asking them to change to be a part of God's kingdom.

Advocacy and Support Organizations of other denominations

Affirm United
Affirm United/S'Affirmer Ensemble (AU/AE) is an organization of persons working through education and social integration for the welcoming of diverse peoples, especially the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the life and work of the United Church. AU/AE is composed of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and so it is open to all people within the United Church of Canada who support these goals.
Affirmation
United Methodists for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered concerns.

Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests
BMC seeks to provide programming, support and advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals and their families and friends in the Mennonite Church USA and Canada and Church of the Brethren.
Dignity/USA
DignityUSA works for respect and justice for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy and support. 
 
Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciples (GLAD) Alliance
a prophetic voice calling for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Church. We nurture and support one another. We provide educational resources to the Church on issues important to LGBT Christians.
Integrity
A witness of God's inclusive love to the Episcopal Church and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
 
Metropolitan Community Churches
A worldwide fellowship of Christian churches with a special outreach to the world's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.
 
More Light Presbyterians
A network of people seeking the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).