This web page is here to provide Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning teenagers in Tucson and Southern Arizona with information about spiritual amd religious organizations that are open and accepting of Gay teens and young adults.
Many of these congregations are a part of the Rainbow InterFaith Community--a group of Tucson interfaith communities united in reaching out to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people.
I have known for quite a long time of the homophobia inherent in the Religious Right, specifically an extremely vocal group of so-called Christians known as Promise Keepers. This group is comprised of supposedly Christian men who espouse love for their wives (property), their families, all the "family values" we expect to hear trumpeted by the Religious Right, all the things you'll hear on a regular basis on Fox News. [grin] But what most news services/media outlets don't cover about the PKs is their extreme homophobia, hatred of anyone GLBT, including, I imagine, their own children. Here's great coverage provided on FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting).
So... what to do about this group that promotes so much hatred and venom towards LGBT people?
The more GLBT people keep quiet about this attack on us, the more these groups will feel comfortable spreading their filth in public! How far removed is Promise Keepers from rabid hatemongers like the so-called Rev. Fred Phelps?
The Religious Tolerance web site provides an overview of many types of religious practice with the main focus of seeing all religious and spiritual practices as vehicles to allow us all to connect and love each other.
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is a spiritual practice and philosophy: social justice, pacifism/non-violence.
The local group can be contacted for future discussion gatherings and meetings.
The Chapter of The American Friends — Service Committee (AFSC) is the activist "arm" of the Religious Society of Friends in Arizona.
Pima Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
931 N. 5th St., Tucson AZ 85705
Email the Pima Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) about monthly meetings
Email Chapter of The American Friends — Service Committee (AFSC)
The American Humanist Association (an Open and Affirming group) is a philosophy: for people who think for themselves, who are focused upon human means for comprehending reality, is for reason and science in the pursuit of knowledge...rejecting arbitrary faith, authority, revelation, and altered states of consciousness. Humanism is a philosophy for the here and now and of compassion.
The local group can be contacted for future discussion gatherings and meetings.
Humanist Community of Tucson
Ms. Joan A. Morris
6200 E. Frontier Pl., Tucson AZ 85750
National Contact: (800) 743-6646
Email American Humanist Association
The Arizona Diamond Zen Center is a Korean Zen Buddhistm community with a newly established meeting center (or zendo). It appears to be catering mostly to the local Korean population that has been anxiously waiting for a Korean Zen center to be established.
Arizona Diamond Zen Center
Ina Rd. and I-10 area, Tucson AZ 85750
Contact: 572-3777
The Bodhisattva Institute is a Buddhist spiritual center focused on the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The Institute center is used for daily meditations and weekend trainings and meditation sessions.
Bodhisattva Institute
714 N. Desert Ave., Tucson AZ 85711
The Buddhist AIDS Project is not a local spiritual center, but an organization with a focus of supporting people with AIDS (PWA). A local organization with a similar purpose is SAAF (Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.) The Buddhist AIDS Project provides Buddhist practitioners with a way to use helping of people with AIDS as part of their socially-engaged Buddhist practice and a way of maintaining mindfulness in different aspects of their life.
The Catholic Diocese of Tucson, through the Department of Parish Life and Ministry, is committed:
To provide information and assistance to parishes in ministry with gay and lesbian persons and their families.
To foster a spirit of compassion, understanding and fellowship for and amoung gay and lesbian Catholics and their families so that they can share mutual support in living out their lives of faith within the Church.
To support efforts at overcoming alienation, discrimination, and hostility and to promote social justice with regard to the rights of gay and lesbian persons.
The Catholic Bishop of Tucson, the Most Reverend Manuel D. Moreno, D.D. signed a statement of support of the ministry in a brochure handed out by the ministry at this year's OUToberFEST. (Now, if we can just get The Vatican to get on-board with this...)
Catholic Diocese of Tucson
Mike Berger -- Resources and Services. 886-5202.
Terry McGuirk -- 577-3545
The Grace Group meets at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Madonna Hall) -- meets every 2nd and 4th Monday at 7:30 pm
1436 N. Campbell Ave. (across street from University Medical Center).
St. Pius X Catholic Church
1800 N. Camino Pio Decimo
Email Catholic Diocese of Tucson--Terry McGuirk
Church of the Painted Hills UCC
Rev. Lee Milligan
3295 E. Speedway Blvd., 299-9063.
Email Church of the Painted Hills UCC
Cornerstone Fellowship is an evangelical Christian church where all are welcome. A spokesperson for Cornerstone Fellowship writes a regular column in The Weekly Observer.
Cornerstone Fellowship
2901 N. Geronimo
622-4626.
Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church is accepting toward gay and lesbian members of the congregation. Reveille Gay Mens Chorus has had their Yule season concert in the church and was made very welcome.
Grace St. Paul's is located in the Blenman area of town on Adams Street near Tucson Blvd, a few blocks north of Speedway.
Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Gordon K. McBride, Rector
Elaine H. Breckenridge, Associate Rector
2331 E. Adams St. (near Tucson Blvd), 327-6857.
Email St. Paul's Episcopalian Church Rector
Email St. Paul's Episcopalian Church Associate Rector
The mission statement of the Interweave Continental, Inc.: Interweave is a membership organization affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association, dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of Unitarian Universalists who are confronting oppression as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender persons, and their heterosexual allies; and facilitates the celebration of the culture and lives of its members.
Interweave--Unitarian Universalists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns
167 Milk St. #406, Boston, MA 02109-4339
Zen Peacemakers is a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive peace education.
Or Chadash is a warm and welcoming community where all can experience God.
Congregation Or Chadash (Jewish Reform)
Rabbi Thomas A. Louchheim
630 N. Craycroft, Suite 232, Tucson, AZ 85711, 512-8500
Email Rabbi Thomas A. Louchheim of Congregation Or Chadash
Email Congregation Or Chadash
Email Howard Paley, President of Or Chadash
Ner Tamid is an open, warm community heeding in word and practice the commands of love and the unity of all people. Welcome!
Congregation Ner Tamid (Jewish Reform)
Rabbi Shafir Lobb
P.O. Box 30507, Tucson, AZ 85751, 722-8649
Email Rabbi Shafir Lobb of Congregation Ner Tamid
Email Congregation Ner Tamid
Email Alan Gilbert, President of Ner Tamid
Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ (an Open and Affirming Congregation) services are a celebration of Christ's Joy for the whole community. Ricon is a community of faith committed to growing in radical compassion and bold acts of hospitality.
Sunday services include 10:00 am inclusive worship and Sunday School, 8:30 am Folk music and Eucharist, and Wednesdays 7:00 pm Taize song and prayer
Rincon Congregational UCC
Rev. James Lumsden
122 N. Craycroft Rd., 745-6237
Email Rincon Congregational UCC
St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church (UMC) is an "open and accepting" congregation towards GLBT & Questioning members. It has "celebrations", and Jr. and High School classes on Sunday mornings. St. Francis has a meeting for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered parents and their children on the third Saturday of each month called Rainbow Families. Parents and family members meet for discussion and socialization.
There are many other adult and family activities throughout the week and weekends including R.C.P. (Reconciling Congregation Program) on the first Thursday at 6pm, and Family to Family--a support group for families dealing with AIDS; meets on the first & third Saturdays at 8:30am.
St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church
Rev. David Wilkinson
Rev. Susan Mullins
4625 E. River Road (at Swan), 299-9063.
Email St. Francis in the Foothills UMC
St. Mark's Presbyterian Church
Rev. Stewart Taylor
Rev. Sue Westfall
3809 E. 3rd St., 325-1001.
Email St. Mark's Presbyterian Church
St. Philip's Episcopal Church
Fr. John Hooker
4440 N. Campbell Ave., 299-6421.
Santa Cruz Lutheran Church
Pastor Al Rode
6809 S. Cardinal Ave., 883-2937
Tara Mahayana Buddhist Center is a Buddhist community that focuses on the Tibetan Kadampa practices.
There are many different forms of meditation practice available throughout the different days of the week, scheduled in the mornings and the early evenings.
Tara Mahayana Buddhist Center
1721 E. Miles St. (2 blocks south of Broadway)
Email Tara Mahayana Buddhist Center
Tucson Area Wiccan/Pagan Network (TAWN) embraces diversity. Since its beginnings in 1988, the Tucson Area Wiccan/Pagan Network, comprised primarily of Wiccans and other Pagans in the Tucson, Arizona vicinity, has grown to include members from many traditions. All who follow the Wiccan Rede are welcome. Paraphrased, that is "if you harm none, do as you will."
One of TAWN's missions is to provide correct information about us and our beliefs, ethics, and values. Few outside the Craft understand our "three-fold law," that whatever we send out returns to us three times over. That's quite an incentive to be sure only helpful, constructive actions are sent out to the world! Our beliefs hold us accountable for all we do.
Tucson Area Wiccan/Pagan Network
P.O. Box 482
Tucson, AZ 85702-0482
Voice mail messages about upcoming events are at (520) 570-7005
Email TAWN's web site WebMaster
Tucson Community Meditation Center is a spiritual center focused on a form of Buddhism called Vipassana, found in Southeast Asian countries. Vipassana, also known as Insight Meditation,
Tucson Community Meditation Center
1231 E. Edison St. Link to Google Maps
(located one block south of Grant, just west of Mountain, on the north side of the street)
Tucson Shambhala Meditation Group is a spiritual center focused on a form of Buddhism called Shambhala, started by a profound Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Trungpa Rinpoche developed a spiritual practice based on Buddhist principles, but not strictly tied to any Buddhist lineage or ideology.
Tucson Shambhala Meditation Group
3250 N. Tucson Blvd.,
520-795-2740
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northwest Tucson is an "open and accepting" congregation towards GLBT & Questioning youth and members.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northwest Tucson
The Reverend Susan Manker-Seale, Minister
3601 W. Cromwell, 579-7094.
The Unitarian Universalist Church Tucson is an "open and accepting" congregation towards Gay & Questioning youth and members.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson
The Reverend Stanley Stefancic, Minister
uu1@mindspring.com
4831 E. 22nd St., 748-1551.
Water of Life Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is a local gay Christian-focused church. MCC churches are located throughout the United States in larger metropolitan areas and have gay and lesbian clergy. Water of Life offers services on Sundays. A spokesperson for Water of Life writes a regular column in The Weekly Observer.
Water of Life Metropolitan Community Church
Reverend Gale Rawson, Pastor.
3269 N. Mountain Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 Link to Google Maps
292-9151
Zen Desert Sangha is a local Zen Buddhist community that meets at an established meeting center or zendo. This sangha is affiliated with Diamond Sangha started by Robert Aitken Roshi. Zazen is practiced in the Soto Zen style evenings and Saturday mornings with a dharma talk (or discussion of a particular topic on spirituality, ethical behavior, or Buddhist principles and practices) directly after the zazen period.
Zen Desert Sangha
3226 N. Martin Ave., Tucson, AZ 85733
P.O. Box 44122, Tucson, AZ 85733-4122
Evangelicals Concerned Western Region (ECWR)
"is a non-denominational community that is a safe place for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians to reconcile and integrate their faith and sexuality. As a volunteer organization, Evangelicals Concerned Western Region (ECWR) fosters an atmosphere for spiritual growth for all who are on their journey of faith through conferences, local groups, bible studies, and educational resources."
There is no local Tucson group, the closest group of this reconciling association is in Phoenix. They appear to put on a few conferences around the country, with a large number of these associations in California. They appear to oppose any of the work being done by the so-called "ex-gay" movement.
Last updated June 5, 2007