A Narrative Inquiry about Pastors Embracing the Coming out of LGBTQ+

The purpose of this study is to explore pastors' experiences of LGBTQ+ congregants' coming out. For this purpose, two pastors were interviewed in-depth and analyzed using Clandinin and Connelly's narrative inquiry method. This study developed a concept of 'inclusion' that drew from the pastors' unique experiences and meanings. The study found that pastors learned to understand LGBTQ+ people and built bridges to help non-LGBTQ+ people also understanding LGBTQ+ people, creating an 'extension of embracement'. The embracement shown by non-LGBTQ+ people and LGBTQ+ people was 'mutual embracement', where each parts waited for the other to understand and accept the other. This study can be used as a resource for how to practice spiritual generosity and inclusion rather than threatening and excluding each other from different identities and differences.