We Value AffirmationCompassionDiscernmentInclusionDiversityJusticeServiceHope
About
The Diocese of West Missouri seeks to create an environment where LGBTQ+ individuals and their families are fully embraced, celebrated, and supported throughout their faith journeys. By advocating for inclusion through a loving theology, ensuring justice, and offering compassionate service, the church strives to be a beacon of God’s love to empower LGBTQ+ people to live out their faith as integral members of the body of Christ. Through outreach to isolated LGBTQ+ communities and educating congregations on LGBTQ+ theology, we strive to create a welcoming space where all can worship, heal, and thrive.
Mission Statement
We commit to fostering a church community where LGBTQ+ individuals and their families are fully embraced, celebrated, and supported at any point in their faith journey. We strive to be a beacon of God’s love by advocating for inclusion, discerning a loving theology, ensuring justice, uplifting through compassionate service, and cultivating spaces where all can worship, engage, serve, heal, and thrive.
Vision Statement:
To embrace all LGBTQ+ people as integral members of the body of Christ and empower them to live out their faith with authenticity and joy.
Upcoming Events
Join us for a parade in Kansas City on June 7 and Springfield on June 14 to celebrate Pride and the LGBTQ+ community. Ahead of each parade, we will be hosting a Pride Eucharist. More details to come soon.
T-Shirts Available to Order
Please place your order by May 16 to ensure your order is received in time for Pride. Contact Raja Reed, Chair for LGBTQ+ Committee, for questions or details.
A Word from our Bishop
I look forward to my first celebrations of Pride with West Missouri this year! Last year, the tradition of celebrating the Eucharist before the Pride Parade began; and I am honored to continue that tradition both here in Kansas City on June 7 and in Springfield on June 14. I invite you to join these celebrations: these are the most public moments and opportunities to support our diverse communities.
Every person is a beloved child of God, no matter gender or sexual orientation. The reality is that our transgender and non-binary siblings, and their families, face enormous challenges. In response to rising harassment and discrimination, our vocation is to be a voice of Christ’s love, especially as our culture seeks to erase their presence in our midst. My presence at the Pride events is just one way I seek to affirm and support all people. I hope you’ll join me!
The Episcopal Church believes that God loves us all, no exceptions. We know that the primary ministers of the Gospel are all those baptized into the community. Every member has a vocation and ministry for the sake of the Gospel: proclaiming that the kingdom of God is near to us. For this reason, for the sake of Christ, we welcome all people in our churches with Christ’s compassion, grace, and love. Our churches are places where we “seek Christ in all persons” and “respect the dignity of every human being” (BCP, p. 303-304). Every time we open our doors with radical hospitality and grace, we proclaim the Gospel of Christ in our communities.
If you have questions about either of the Pride events or how we can support our LGBTQ+ siblings, do not hesitate to contact me. Most of all, I pray that you know and experience the love of Christ in your own life and share that love with everyone you meet.
Peace be with you,
Our Objectives
How we plan to put our mission into action.
Theology, Scripture, & Liturgy
Educate congregations to resist exclusionary scripture readings and theology while promoting existing LGBTQ+-affirming liturgies and develop new ones, including Transgender Day of Remembrance services, Renaming ceremonies, and Pride services.
Congregational Support
To equip parishes to move beyond statements of support into tangible acts of sanctuary and inclusion and provide congregational training and examples of creating affirming and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals. Develop resources to better minister to LGBTQ+ members.
Chaplaincy
Establish a presence at Pride events as a ministry of chaplaincy and inclusion. Offer pastoral resources to transgender and nonbinary individuals and their families navigating faith and identity. Also provide spiritual and emotional support to LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those affected by discrimination, harassment, and violence.
Evangelism & Outreach
Expand outreach to rural and isolated LGBTQ+ communities, ensuring they know they are loved and welcomed andengage in acts of service that address daily struggles, such as food insecurity, housing instability, and mental health support.
Legal & Policy Advocacy
Track and respond to local and state legislation affecting LGBTQ+ rights. Equip congregations with information and action steps for advocacy.
Find a Church Near You
FAQ’s
Isn’t being gay a sin? Will a church really accept me for who I am? These are all questions that most of us have asked ourselves at one point or another. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of common questions for you to look through and how we, as The Episcopal Church, respond and welcome those in LGBTQ+ spaces.
Is being gay a sin?
No. Sins are acts that separate us from God and keep us from loving our neighbors as ourselves. Being gay is not a sin. Bullying is a sin. Being hateful to other people is a sin. Putting yourself in the place of God to judge others is a sin. Being gay is not.
What did Jesus say about gay people?
Jesus said the same thing about gay people that he said about all people: God loves you beyond your wildest imagining and calls you to walk in love with God and with each other. He also said a whole lot about welcoming the stranger, embracing the outcast, ministering to the marginalized and loving – not judging – your neighbor.
Does the Bible really condemn homosexuality?
The short answer is no, it does not. The handful of passages in the Old and New Testaments that talk about God condemning specific sexual acts have nothing whatsoever to do with sexual orientation and everything to do with contexts such as cultic prostitution or gang rape. To put it another way, using the Bible as a handbook on human sexuality makes as much sense in the 21st century as using it as a handbook on astronomy did in the 16th. The church got it wrong when it misused the Bible to condemn Galileo and it gets it wrong when it misuses the Bible to condemn LGBTQ+ people.
How do I respond when people say “God hates f-s”?
First of all, God’s nature is to love, not to hate. We believe that what God cares about is not our sexual orientation but our theological orientation – and that the question that matters is not “who do you love?” but “do you love?” Recognizing that homophobia causes some folks to project onto God their own fears, prejudices, and biases against LGBTQ+ people, sometimes the best response is simply no response. It can be a challenge but getting triggered by hate-mongers prevents us from being the change we want to see.
How about transgender and non-binary people? Where do they fit in?
The same place all God’s beloved children fit in: smack dab in the center of God’s care, love and desire for health and wholeness for every single human being.
What do I tell people when they say being gay is a sin and a choice?
Tell them that Jesus said absolutely nothing about being gay, but he said a lot of things about judging other people. Then tell them that while there is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation, there is consensus that sexuality is a continuum. So the “choice” is not to be gay, straight or somewhere in between; the “choice” is to build our own healthy relationships – and give other people the grace to build theirs.
How do I respond when politicians condemn my sexuality, citing their belief in the Bible?
Remind them that the First Amendment protects them in believing whatever they want to about what God does or does not bless, but it also prohibits them from using those beliefs to decide who the Constitution protects or doesn’t protect. Tell them to stop confusing their theology with our democracy. And then campaign for and donate to their opponent in the next election cycle.
What about those who say they need “religious freedom laws” to protect their right to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people because of their religion?
They are wrong. The Constitution already protects their right to exercise their religion. It does not protect their right to impose their religion. Just as using the Bible to justify racial segregation was wrong in the 1960’s, using it to justify LGBTQ+ discrimination is wrong today.
So I get LGBT – but I don’t understand the Q. I’ve heard it stands for “questioning” and I’ve also heard it stands for “queer.” So which one is it?
Both. Questioning means someone who is figuring out their gender identity and/ or figuring out how they want to identify their sexual orientation. Queer is not specific to sexual orientation or to gender identity but is more of an umbrella term for anything that exists outside of the dominant hetero-centric narrative. Originally pejorative for gay, it is now being reclaimed by some gay men, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender persons as self-affirming language.
You may also see the acronym LGBTQIA. The additional “IA” is added to include those who identify as intersex/ intergender and asexual. Some iterations of the acronym also add a “+” sign at the end, symbolizing the inclusion of all other identities.
Yes, it’s complicated. It is also not at all surprising that as we grow in both our understanding and experience of the complicated continuum of sexual orientation and fluidity of gender identity/expression our language will grow and change as well.
Leadership
Members
- Jami Blakeley
- The Rev. Jennifer Blevins
- Matthew Briggs
- Cassie Brown
- The Rev. Alisa Carmichael
- Trisha Dorn
- Zachary Phillips
- The Rev. Robin Rusconi
- Brandon Smee
