Statement on LGBTQIA+ AFFIRMATION

Leichhardt Uniting Church (LUC) is a vibrant community and home to many queer, trans and gender diverse folks. It’s a place where many of us find refuge: from past experiences, institutions or theologies that have caused us harm. It’s a place where we find ways to live out our identities not in spite of our faith, but inspired by it. Where we are given space to heal from potential traumas but are not defined by them. Where the revelation of creation through our bodies, hearts and minds is acknowledged and celebrated every day.

Creation is full of divine miracles that exist within the space between. Dawn and dusk, autumn and spring - sacred spaces are so often those that transcend the binaries and boundaries that seek to contain. So, too, do LGBTQIA+ people embody a sacredness that expands understandings of faith, creation and discipleship. We are made in the image of an expansive, transgressive, transfigured and evertransitioning God, a God who refuses to be contained (“I am who I am”). Through our creativity and courage we embody what it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made.

At LUC, we believe that LGBTQIA+ people reveal to us aspects of the triune God: an assertion of life over death, the power of living in community and the holiness of radical love. Queer love is radical love - it empowers us to reconsider what we thought was possible and open our hearts to the possibility of life beyond that which we currently know. Queer love is kin(g)dom work. We stand firmly in an ancient tradition of welcome and expanding the table so that all may join, a practice modelled by Christ and deeply embedded within LGBTQIA+ communities. We do this not because it suits our agenda but because we understand that this is what we are directly called to do.

LGBTQIA+ people have existed since the first breath - since life was exhaled into creation by a loving and living God. We see ourselves, our bodies, relationships, families and communities all throughout scripture. We are not diminished by those who have sought to silence us and erase us from the histories and stories we share with our siblings in faith. Rather, we engage in rigorous study of the bible and are affirmed by what we read. Theology at LUC empowers us to see ourselves and to assert ourselves proudly: our love is holy, ancient and future-assured. We are and have been, from the very beginning, blessed, beloved children of God.

As members of the LGBTQIA+ community, we know that safety and security cannot be taken forgranted. While many of us enjoy the freedom to live as our whole selves, we know that this is not the case for many of our queer and trans siblings across this continent, and the world. For that reason, we are committed, as a church, to activism and advocacy that affirms the rights of LGBTQIA+ peoples. In doing this, we acknowledge the bravery and wisdom of our elders, both within and outside of the church, who have fought so hard for the rights and freedoms we now enjoy. Similarly, we acknowledge that the struggle for LGBTQIA+ liberation is deeply entwined with anti-racism, anti-capitalism, decolonisation and disability justice, and that our work must be informed by and stand in solidarity with these movements.

We practice our faith on lands that have known and celebrated queer love since the first sunrise, and are strongest when we centre First Nations voices, elders and kin. We commit to building safer spaces and seeking justice for those who have been harmed and hindered by the church.

In practice, this means that:

  • Couples of all sexualities and genders are married in our sanctuary and by our ministerial team

  • Rainbow families are embraced and are a core part of our community

  • Baptism and confirmation are available to those who seek it

  • Our liturgies and worship are LGBTQIA+-affirming in language, tone and form

  • We respect pronouns and the sacredness of naming and (re)naming, affirming that all of us are seen as our whole selves by God

  • We strive to ensure our premises and amenities are accessible and safe for all.

Acknowledging that this work extends beyond the church walls, we also commit to:

  • Building relationships with LGBTQIA+ people and communities that are grounded in deep listening and respect

  • Showing up and supporting community-led activism such as rallies for LGBTQIA+ rights

  • Building networks that support other LGBTQIA+-affirming faith communities and leveraging our collective strength

  • Developing and sharing resources and initiatives that promote LGBTQIA+ affirmation across the wider church and beyond

  • Honouring the proposal endorsed at the 17th National Uniting Church Assembly seeking to affirm, welcome and honour the life and faith of transgender, intersex and gender diverse people.

As a community, we are constantly learning, and we will not always get this right. However, we commit to this work whole-heartedly and faithfully, welcoming feedback with open hearts and minds. We are proud of our place within the Uniting Church in Australia and commit to this work as a continuation of the Church’s mission and vision. We call upon churches, Uniting and otherwise, to commit to this work alongside us. Our hope is that LUC may be a living embodiment of the life-giving liberation that is LGBTQIA+ affirmation, celebration and care. We are created in love and so too through love do we seek to change the world.

Written by members of Leichhardt Uniting Church

Endorsed by Leichhardt Uniting Church Council - 21 September 2025

A PDF version of the statement is available here.