The church is called to be a welcoming, nurturing, loving and supportive community, a true church family, where all are welcomed, nurtured, loved and supported. The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Confession to God and LGBTQI people acknowledges the ways the denomination has fallen short in caring for the needs of LGBTQI2+ people and their families and commits the church to a change of heart and behaviour. This page contains resources to assist congregations, committees, presbyteries, theological colleges and camping ministries to have respectful and fruitful conversations about gender and sexuality, to review and amend policies to reflect the inclusion of all genders and sexual orientations, to learn from the experiences of LGBTQI2+ people, and to study topics related to gender, sexuality and inclusion.
Preparing for Dialogue
Get familiar with the definitions of commonly used words in discussions about sexuality
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Guidelines for Safer Church Courts and Committees
The guidelines in this resource will help make the courts and committees of the church safer spaces for all.
Resources to Address Situations that May Arise within a Church Court
Even as care is taken to create safer spaces within the church, disputes may arise where the support of denominational policies and procedures is needed. This resource is available to refer courts, agencies and congregations of the church to relevant policies and resources to assist in dispute resolution.
Examples of Covenants for Respectful Conversations about Sexuality:
Listening Circles Group GuidelinesCovenantal Pledges for Discussions About Issues of SexualitySome Ways to Create Sufficiently Safe SpacesPolicy Review Guidance
Watch this webinar recording to review the church’s decisions regarding marriage, ordination and LGBTQI2+ inclusion. The recording includes a short presentation followed by a time for participants to ask questions about how these decisions are applied in different contexts across the denomination.
A 12-page resource to assist church courts, agencies, colleges and camps as they review their policies, procedures and practices, including the language used to identify and revise aspects that fail to reflect the full inclusion of all people.
Well Chosen Words
A brochure that explains why inclusive and expansive language is important and suggests ways to express the fullness of God’s presence including guidelines for speaking and writing. Produced by the Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries in collaboration with the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns (PCUSA). The brochure is available to download here .
The Clerks of Assembly have prepared guidelines intended to ensure that calls to LGBTQI ministers and the election of LGBTQI elders are facilitated in presbyteries and congregations. The guidelines outline relevant information related to human rights legislation, liberty of conscience, pastoral considerations, and session decisions about wedding policies.
In 2021, the General Assembly adopted two parallel definitions of marriage. Since it is the Session that is responsible for all policy and procedures with respect to the use of church buildings and property, subject to the oversight of presbytery (Book of Forms 109.2), the question of whether the church will host same-sex weddings rests with the Session and not the congregation. The Clerks of Assembly have prepared guidance for Sessions regarding wedding policies, including a sample wedding policy that may be adapted.
Learning from the Experiences of LGBTQI2+ People
Rainbow Communion
In 2017, the General Assembly formed a Special Committee re: LGBTQI Listening (also known as Rainbow Communion) to hear stories of harm experienced by LGBTQI people and others, and to provide an appropriate response to the issue of homophobia, hypocrisy, transphobia and heterosexism in the denomination.
- Read the Rainbow Communion’s final report
- Download the resource booklet: Not All Are Welcome
- Watch the video: Not All Are Welcome
- Visit presbyterian.ca/listening to learn more
The PCC’s Confession to God and LGBTQI People
The 2022 General Assembly adopted a confession regarding the harm caused by homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism and hypocrisy in The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and committing the church to a true change of heart and behaviour. The whole church is called to live out this confession as individuals and communities of faith so that harm does not continue. Visit this page to read the confession or download booklet, poster or translated versions.
Join the Conversation: LMA Study Guide for Sexuality Overtures
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Presbyterians Are Talking About… Sexuality
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Body, Mind and Soul – Study Guide on Human Sexuality
In 2015 the General Assembly adopted the following motion:
Recommendation No. 5: That the Committee on Church Doctrine and the Life and Mission Agency (Justice Ministries) prepare a joint study guide on the topics of human sexuality, sexual orientation and other related matters raised in the overtures to be posted on the church’s website by the end of October, 2015 and that congregations, sessions, presbyteries and synods be invited to share the result of their conversation with both the Committee on Church Doctrine and Life and Mission Agency (Justice Ministries) prior to March 31, 2016.
To accomplish the General Assembly’s resolution, a Design Team was established with members representing the Committee on Church Doctrine and the Life and Mission Agency (Justice Ministries) to serve as an editorial body for the writer of the study guide, Body, Mind and Soul – Study Guide on Human Sexuality. The terms of the Design Team are found below.
Terms of Reference for Design Team
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The Study Guide is not a doctrinal statement. Its purpose was to promote and facilitate informed conversation about the topic of human sexuality and sexual orientation in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. In addition, the Study Guide was intended to help people understand what the PCC had said about the topic up to 2015, drawn from Acts and Proceedings and approved documents such as The Social Action Handbook. Thirdly, the Study Guide was designed to invite people and groups through the PCC into prayerful consideration of the matters regarding sexuality and sexual orientation.
The complete Study Guide consists of the main document and supplemental handouts. Both the main document and supplemental handouts are combined in one PDF that is available below to download and print. Alternatively, print copies are available to order online through the online order form .
Body Mind and Soul Study GuideBody Mind and Soul Study Guide – SupplementIs Body, Mind and Soul an official report of The Presbyterian Church in Canada?