Author Archives: Ann Thompson Cook
Reparative therapy: Not the path to welcome
We often hear pastors express their conviction that they welcome all to their flock, and increasingly—in an attempt to love those they don’t completely understand, and to minister to real needs and questions—their churches are offering “reparative” or “conversion therapy” …
5 tips to begin welcoming gay/transgender people in the church
Perhaps you love your congregation, but you’re troubled or hurt by its failure to acknowledge and affirm the presence of gay and transgender (LGBT) people. You know the church is failing in its mission to welcome all, but it’s hard …
6 steps for pastors: Opening dialogue about welcoming gay and transgender people in the church
Is your congregation silent on the subject? Contrary to popular assumptions, most churches are not loudly condemning gay and transgender (LGBT) people; they’re simply silent. In fact, many pastors want to be affirming but fear the congregation’s reaction, and many …
Opening ourselves to change
It often happens that everyone will agree that a particular pastor or a church elder will never change their views. But over the years, I've noticed that I'm not that good at predicting who will change and who won't. People's hearts are moved, and they change their views. And no-one saw it coming.
What’s the role of straight people?
I’ve heard people say that the job of supportive straight people (heterosexuals) is to help gay and transgender people, that the work we do for equality is to benefit them. Similarly, I’ve heard supportive straight folks say that they feel uncertain how to act, because they’re not sure they have permission to speak.