Methodists at Pride

Are you a Methodist who takes part in your local Pride event? Or maybe you're from a Methodist Church or Community that longs to show up at Pride to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and sensitively proclaim the good news of a God for all and a Church for all. This webpage seeks to support you and resource you in this calling. 

This new video released for LGBT+ History Month 2023 shares some of the stories of Methodists at Pride. Methodists – both members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies - attend Pride because it’s a fabulous opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, meet new people, build relationships, offer hospitality, hold safe space for people to explore faith, and take our Methodist Church way beyond the walls of our buildings.

The God for All strategy for evangelism and growth says: We want to be known nationally as a Church that proclaims the saving Good News of God for all and a Church for all... with apologetic sensitivity, cultural relevance, and a Methodist distinctiveness. 

Evangelistic engagement in Pride events might mean joining the march, holding a stall, being present on the Pride route, supporting Pride in prayer and worship - or more!

There are diverse approaches to engaging in Pride appropriately as Christians, including humility and repentance as well as celebration and joy. The Methodist Church has claimed evangelism as an imperative dimension of our mission and identity, and therefore in our engagement with Pride - as in our whole lives - we do wish to be people who proclaim the good news of a God for all and a Church for all appropriately, contextually and sensitively yet unashamedly and authentically through our words, actions and prayers. 

Resources 

New to Pride? This guidance pack is here to help Methodists seeking to engage in a Pride event. It includes practical guidance as well as suggested liturgy, content for newsletters, and helpful links.

Many Methodists have a long history of diverse and good engagement in Pride marches and the work of Dignity and Worth as well as ecumenical groups One Body One Faith and Christians at Pride have been resourcing and inspiring this engagement for many years. Do take a look at the excellent resources available through these three organisations. 

'Love is Love' resources

• 'Love is love' badges to wear or give out to your church members, family, or friends. 
• 'Love is love' banners to carry during a Pride event, or to decorate a stall or the exterior of a church.
• 'Love is love' posters to put up outside your church when your local Pride event happens.
• 'Love is love' postcards to give out at Pride events, with a blank space for adding your church details.

Methodists at Pride Facebook group

If you are a Methodist who has engaged in Pride events in the past, or who is seeking to do so, please join this supportive Facebook group where members share stories, ideas, and resources to help one another.