Addressing Care, Counseling, and Spiritual Growth of LGBTQ People at Trinity UMC Church
This research will focus on understanding and addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ people within the congregation of Trinity UMC Church. It will be based on a social analysis that has identified a gap in the care, counseling, and spiritual growth opportunities available to this demographic. The paper will explore the current state of care, counseling, and spiritual growth for this population in the church, evaluate it, identify areas for improvement, and propose actionable strategies to better serve the LGBTQ community.
To engage with scholarly literature, the paper will use various sources that explore the intersection of religion, sexuality, and community support, including Yip (1997), Rodriguez and Ouellette (2000), Thumma (1991), Walton (2006), Levy and Reeves (2011), Pitt (2009), Dehlin et al. (2015), Borgman (2009), Wilcox (2003), and Subhi and Geelan (2012) just to name a few. These sources deal with the experiences of gay Christians, and give some insight into the challenges they face within religious communities and the strategies that tend to be employed to reconcile their faith and sexuality. They explore how participation in a gay-positive church influences the integration of religious and sexual identities among gay and lesbian Christians, and they look at the tension between faith and
Interviews will be conducted with LGBTQ members of the Trinity UMC Church congregation, as well as with church leaders and other members of the community. The purpose of these interviews will be to gather personal narratives and...
…the identified gaps in care, counseling, and spiritual growth opportunities.
Ultimately, the research means to inform actionable strategies to better support LGBTQ individuals within the Trinity UMC Church congregation. This could involve recommendations for changes to church practices, the development of targeted support programs, or initiatives to foster a more inclusive and welcoming community. The assumption is that the church can work towards creating a more supportive and nurturing environment for all members of its congregation.
In conclusion, this research will focus on understanding and addressing the needs of LGBTQ individuals within the Trinity UMC Church congregation, using scholarly literature and ethnographic research methods. Through interviews and direct observation, the study will be able to gain insight into the experiences of this population and the factors that may be contributing to gaps in support. The ultimate intention is to inform strategies to…
