Toward an Affirmational Theory of Congregational Thriving

Although churches inclusive for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals have been studied, little is known about how churches practice radical affirmation and advocacy of LGBTQ persons. This article employs a case study approach to identify markers of affirmational advocacy supplement existing standards of congregational thriving in an LGBTQ-affirming congregation in Chicago, Urban Village Church (UVC). This two-year ethnographic study demonstrates how for UVC, congregational thriving depends on five additional themes: 1) LGBTQ affirmational theological stance, 2) “Disagreement and discussion as healthy”, 3) Representational and queer leadership, 4) Deep community care for LGBTQ and other marginalized group, and 5) Receptivity to the wider LGBTQ community’s needs. Implications for micro and macro practice are discussed for both social workers and religious institutions.