Churches across East and West Sussex are to be ranked for gay-friendliness in an effort to encourage lesbian and gay worshippers.
A survey, organised by Changing Attitude Sussex, will be sent to all churches to find out how welcoming they are the gay and lesbian people. Responses will be used to compile a chart of churches, ranking their views from ‘homosexuality is condemned in the bible’ through to ‘openly gay people are integral to the life of our church’.
The survey has already secured the backing of Bishop of Chichester Dr John Hind, who attended a meeting with the survey organisers. They commented: “I consider the proposed survey to be a helpful and appropriate contribution to the process of listening to the experience of gay people, commended to all in the Anglican Communion by the 1998 Lambeth Conference.”
The survey will start this Autumn with Church of England churches in Brighton and Hove before being rolled out across Sussex and across other Christian denominations.
Dr Keith Sharpe, Chair of Changing Attitude Sussex, said that the support of the bishop was a very positive and productive move.
“We were pleased to hear the Bishop emphasise both the commitment of the church to the pastoral care of LGBT people and the importance of listening to their experience, something enjoined on all Anglicans," he said. "His supportive attitude to this significant project will be helpful in ensuring a good response to the survey.
“We believe the eventual dossier will be very useful to LGBT people in choosing a church. Other organisations are watching what we are doing and this survey may become a model for similar projects in other parts of the country. We hope therefore that the Diocese of Chichester will be seen to be in the vanguard of an important development.”
More details on: changingattitudesussex.com