On July 3 Orthodoxy in Dialogue published A Special Kind of Clergy Directory, in which we appeal to priests in canonical Orthodox jurisdictions who feel spiritually, pastorally, and emotionally equipped to serve Orthodox Christians, inquirers, and others who identify somewhere along the LGBTQI spectrum. 

By the grace of God, our directory has grown to eight priests in four countries in just under two weeks. Every good structure begins with the first few stones.

We have made three referrals and are in contact with a fourth individual who is discerning whether to be referred.

In a fifth, heartbreaking case, we helped an individual through the discernment process of finding an ecclesial home outside of the Orthodox Church. This person wishes with all his/her heart to remain Orthodox, and is under no illusions that one church is just as good as another—but if one has been chased away, what can one do? One has to eat somewhere. This case is particularly shameful in that the priest accused the person of lying about being in a sexually abstinent relationship and excommunicated him/her.

In yet another shameful case, an OCA bishop continues to ignore our request for a priest to accompany a bisexual married man on the path to repentance from adultery.

Dear fathers in Christ, please read our appeal prayerfully and reach out to us if you feel called and emboldened to do so.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to contact us if you need the pastoral support of such a priest. If we do not know of one in your area, perhaps we can find one for  you or arrange for you to correspond with one who lives elsewhere.

All contacts from priests and laypersons will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

See the Fifty Years after Stonewall and extensive Sexuality and Gender sections in our Archives by Author & Subject.

See our Patrons page for instructions if you wish to support our work financially as a one-time, occasional, or monthly contributor.

Join the conversation on Facebook and/or Twitter, and by submitting an article or letter to the editors.