With an estimated 2.3 million members, the Episcopal Church is open and welcoming of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Are you seeking a truly welcoming faith community? A church that allows you to practice your faith as your authentic self and supports diversity, equity and inclusion for all?
St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Overland Park welcomes you!
We are an open, loving, and service-oriented community. We meet you where you are, celebrate who you are, and support you on your journey to grow closer to God.
We didn’t get here by accident. The Episcopal Church has long been a leader in welcoming the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Members of the LGBTQIA+ community serve as clergy and at all levels of church leadership.
- We celebrate marriage equality.
- LGBTQIA+ parishioners fully participate in all sacraments and rites of the church.
All are welcome!
Read on for more detail about church doctrine and the LGBTQIA+ community.
LGBTQIA+ EQUALITY
ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY
In 1976, both the House of Deputies and House of Bishops voted for a fully inclusive Episcopal Church, stating, “Homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the church.” Canon law includes “gender identity or expression” in its list of persons who are assured full access to the ministry of the church. The law further specifies that administrative forms must include options for both preferred and legal names and for gender identity and pronoun preference. In an intentional move toward diversity, it adds,
“As transgender people and their families increasingly come out within or find their way to congregations, their specific naming in our Canons . . . will encourage congregations to deepen their understanding and widen their welcome.”
ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY
The Episcopal Church codified theological support for same-sex marriage with two resolutions passed in 2015. The first (A054) formally approved gender-neutral and same-sex marriage ceremonies, while the second (A036) changed the current marriage “canons” to allow clergy to officiate same-sex marriages using either a marriage rite from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer or a “trial” liturgy.
ON NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Episcopal Church supports non-discrimination and has canon laws specifying that everyone has access to the governance of the church and lists “sexual orientation, gender identity and expression” as specifically protected from discrimination. In 2018, the church committed to oppose all legislation that restricts public restroom, locker room and shower access for transgender and gender non-conforming people.
ON ORDINATION
In 1994, “sexual orientation” was added to the non-discrimination canons for ordination in the Episcopal Church. In 2009, the Episcopal Church passed a resolution stating that, “God’s call is open to all,” and eradicating discriminatory barriers to the election of bishops. However, the church had already consecrated its first openly gay bishop in 2003. The Episcopal Church also approved transgender ordination at its 2012 General Convention. Women have been ordained priests and elected bishops in the Episcopal Church since 1974.
THE SACRAMENTS
As Episcopalians, we believe that the church’s sacraments are gifts from God and a means of grace. This means that the benefit of and participation in the sacraments is up to God and the traditions of God’s Church. LGBTQ+ people are treated in the same way regarding the sacraments as anyone else. Part of our tradition means that some sacraments have traditional requirements before they can be participated in; others have teaching components in place by the church to help people understand the sacraments more. However, these requirements are equal across the board, regardless of gender, orientation, or marital status. The requirements include, but are not limited to:
- BAPTISM – At least one parent & one godparent must be baptized. If you wish to have your child baptized but are not baptized, both parents & children may be baptized at the same time. We recognize that it may be difficult to select a godparent for your child if you are new to the Christian faith or new to our tradition, or if you don’t have supportive family and friends. We are honored to connect you to a seasoned member of our parish to serve as a godparent for you/your child if that is the case.
- COMMUNION – All baptized Christians (any tradition) may participate in Communion.
- MARRIAGE – Marriage is open to all legally marriable adults, including LGBTQ+ couples. There may be further requirements if either person seeking marriage is previously divorced (proof of divorce decree and bishop’s permission required by canon law). All couples must complete pre-marital counseling with our priest or with a mental health professional of their choice.
- OTHER RITES (Confession, Unction, Confirmation, Ordination) – These sacraments are open to all LGBTQ+ people in the church after fulfilling various requirements set forth by the church, diocese, or denomination. The requirements of LGBTQ+ people are the same as those outside of the LGBTQ+ community.
PRIDE Alliance at St. Thomas
St. Thomas PRIDE Alliance (formerly LGBTQIA+ Alliance) invites any members of the parish (all ages) to participate. The group is comprised of members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as allies (friends, relatives, supporters). The goal is for more visibility within the parish and more visibility of the parish in the LQBTQ+ community. The group meets on the first Monday of each month.