Affirming Spirituality
This section includes houses of worship and/or communities where all people are welcomed, accepted, and affirmed as they are regardless of sexual preference, gender identity, gender expression, religion, or no religion.
They also do not subscribe to the belief that LGBTQIA+ individuals will not be saved unless they remain celibate. It used to be very difficult to find affirming churches or congregations, but now there are many options. In San Antonio, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of options when it comes to finding a spiritual home that does not require people to be someone they aren't.
Some congregations are "Welcoming" but not "Affirming". They welcome all, but they require LGBTQ+ people to remain celibate or they cannot become members of the church or have leadership positions. This is the case with most of the mega-churches in the US. It's particularly harmful to youth who learn that they are not loved by the church they grew up in. It causes trauma and many youths are kicked out of their own families and churches, often becoming homeless.
The Charter for Compassion calls "all men and women to restore compassion to the center of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions, and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies."
Click here to read and affirm the entire Charter for Compassion
Affirming Sprituality in San Antonio
Bethany Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)
500 Pilgrim Dr., San Antonio, TX 78213
We are an Open and Affirming Congregation. We are People of Extravagant Welcome. Our Church is among those whose doors are open to God’s Children of different cultures, races, genders, ages, sexual orientations, abilities, economic situations, and theological traditions.
702 Donaldson Ave, San Antonio, TX 78201
Celebration Circle is an inclusive, multi-faith community with a creative approach to spirituality. We gather to honor and nurture the Sacred in ourselves, each other and all of Creation.
We hold a weekly MeditationCIRCLE on the #secondSunday and #fourthSunday in the main Woodlawn Pointe Sanctuary at 10am as well as several "small circle" meetings throughout the month including ArtistsCIRCLE (a creativity play date), DiningCIRCLE (a shared meal fundraiser), BiblioCIRCLE (a bookclub without a book), and more.
Join us in affirmation that WE ARE ONE! All are welcome, we have no membership rules or requirements. We love you, we bless you, we see the light in you!
Congregation Shalom of San Antonio
We are a Reform Jewish Synagogue that embraces all who wish to connect with Judaism and the Jewish people. We offer weekly Shabbat worship and a children's education program, as well as adult learning classes.
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 700817
Physical Address (as of Aug.1): 10226 Ironside Drive 78230
Tel: (210) 474-6082 Lisa@shalomsa.org
Ally, ✡Jewish-owned
Dignity/San Antonio 1018 E Grayson Street, San Antonio. Tel: 210-340-2230 A light to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight community since 1976 Dignity USA works for respect and justice for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy, and support. We invite you to join us for liturgy and social events at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
4515 Fredericksburg Rd Suite 8. Balcones Heights, TX 78201 (210) 647-6053 info@embracechurchsa.org
Embrace Church is an affirming & inclusive Church centered around the Word of God. We are Spirit-led, Gospel-Centered, and lovers of Jesus. We embrace everybody, in every stage of faith, from every walk of life. Come experience Embrace! Church.
First Unitarian Universalist Church
7150 W Interstate 10, San Antonio, TX 78213.
First UU seeks to foster a climate of purposeful inclusion of all regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. We have historic roots in the Jewish and Christian traditions, but today individual Unitarian Universalists may also identify with Atheism, Agnosticism, Buddhism, Humanism, Paganism, or with other philosophical or religious traditions.
New Living Spiritual Center at Woodlawn Pointe
702 Donaldson Ave, San Antonio, TX 78201 (210) 468-2787
We are a Non-Denominational Progressive Christian Church. We aim to take the Bible seriously and not literally or fundamentally. While we believe the ancient writers of the Bible were inspired to write, they were working to “figure it out” just as we are. We can learn from their experiences, just as we can learn from those of other faiths who struggled to find answers to life’s questions.
Madison Square Presbyterian Church
319 Camden Street San Antonio, Texas
78215 210-226-6254 church@MSqPC.org
Madison Square Presbyterian Church is a place bearing witness to the unconditional love of God, Madison Square Presbyterian Church welcomes all of God’s children into the life of the church regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, physical or mental ability, mental health, educational background, economic situation, religious background, or documentation status.
We affirm the worth of all and nurture each individual’s spiritual pilgrimage no matter where you find yourself. We expect and welcome questions, honor doubt, and recognize that faith is not a destination but a journey.
No matter who you are, or where you are in your spiritual journey, we welcome you to join us in our worship and ministries of care, reconciliation, social justice, action, and advocacy.
MacArthur Park Lutheran Church,
2903 Nacogdoches Rd., San Antonio, Tx. 78217
macparklutheran@gmail.com 210-824-7135
Metropolitan Community Church San Antonio
611 E Myrtle St, San Antonio, TX 78212
God's Love is for Everyone! An Inclusive, Vibrant, and Loving Spiritual Community in San Antonio. Saturday Food Pantry 8a-12p
New Beginnings Christian Community Church
599 Spencer Lane – San Antonio, Texas 78201
The church is a place of life, renewal, and hope – restoring the world for God’s Glory. At New Beginnings Christian Community Church, we are an authentic, difference-making, Christ-centered community. Our ministries provide something for everyone. At any and every stage of life, there is a place to connect in community with one another, grow together in faith, and serve each other in love. We believe a holistic worship experience is possible by being a truly whosoever welcoming, affirming, and loving church.
Northwood Presbyterian Church,
518 Pike Road San Antonio, TX 78209
We are a community of believers who love and worship Jesus Christ as Lord, welcomes and celebrates people of every age, sex, race, color, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, socio-economic status, political affiliation, disability, family and marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity into full participation in the church, including membership, leadership, the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and the rites of marriage.
San Antonio Zen Center
417 W. Woodlawn Ave, San Antonio, 78212. Tel: (210) 257-8383 email: info@sanantoniozen.org.
The San Antonio Zen Center community offers a haven of peace and harmony in which to engage in the arduous task of self-discovery through Zen practice. Welcoming diversity, the practice of zazen is available to people of every race, religion, nationality, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability. May all beings realize their true nature.
We are on Instagram: @sanantoniozencenter
Ally, Sober-Friendly, Sustainable
6110 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78238
You are welcome here. Straight, Gay, Bi, Pan, Ace, Young, Old, Rich, Poor, Black, Indigenous, White, People of Color, Conservative, Liberal, Atheist, Believer, Agnostic, Spiritual, Cisgender, Transgender, Intersex, Single, Married, Divorced, Widowed.
Note: All Episcopal churches are welcoming and affirming. However, some are still a little more traditional and don’t as of yet, offer LGBTQiA+ marriages.
211 Belknap Place, San Antonio, TX 78212.
To many, it is much more than an edifice. It is the heart of Reform Jewish life and community in San Antonio. Vibrant. Empowering. Uplifting. Dedicated to enhancing the lives of those it touches. Passing on traditions and teachings to future generations. Caring. Active. Involved. Taking steps to aid those in need from every walk of life. Nurturing personal growth. Comforting in times of despair. Sharing in times of joy.
We would love to expand this Category to include all Affirming Spiritual Churches and Centers in San Antonio!
Click here to add yours or send an email to info@smallbizsa.com
230 E Travis Street. San Antonio, TX. (210)226-8341. Our mission at Travis Park Church is the practice of unconditional love and justice. Travis Park is unconditional love and justice in action. Unconditional Love Our commitment to unconditional love means that we welcome and affirm without judgment ALL people. Yes, we mean all races, nationalities, ages, genders, marital status, and sexual orientations. We mean the rich, the poor, the brilliant, the ignorant, the irreverent, the powerful, the homeless, the disabled, the uneducated, the illiterate, the religious, the mentally ill, the beautiful, the ugly, the average, and the merely above average.
8103 Broadway, Ste 210 San Antonio, TX 78209 210.824.7351 If you are looking for a spiritual community that is diverse, inclusive, and focused on spiritual growth, look no further. We offer classes, seminars, powerful prayer practices, and many other spiritual growth opportunities. People of all ages are active in our ministries, young people being especially important to us.
University Presbyterian Church
300 Bushnell Avenue San Antonio, TX 78212 on the corner of Shook and Bushnell. We welcome into full participation people of every age, sex, race, color, ethnicity, culture, immigration status, political affiliation, economic condition, physical and mental ability, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression.
Source of Light Center or SoL Center (Virtual and In-Person Workshops open to all)
We would love to expand this Category to include all Affirming Spiritual Churches and Centers in San Antonio!
Just click here to add yours or send an email to info@smallbizsa.com
Affirming Spirituality Nationwide
City Church Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Denver Community Church
Denver, CO
Forefront Church
Brooklyn, NY
Misc.
Advocacy
DignityUSA works for respect and justice for people of all sexual orientations, genders, and gender identities—especially gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual and intersex persons—in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy, and support.
Gay Bookstore
GayChurch.org Bookstore 100% of the proceeds from Calling the Rainbow Nation Home and a portion of every other purchase made through this bookstore goes directly to help the GayChurch.org website.
Another great way to help this ministry is to purchase your Amazon products through their Amazon portal*, as 0.5% of all Amazon sale proceeds go directly to GayChurch.org and help keep their ministry online.
Ordained Minister
Ordained Minister Wedding Officiant. Traditional, contemporary, formal, informal, religious, secular, straight and LGBT+.
Tel: (513) 629-0042 shanerayford@gmail.com
American Baptist Churches USA
Speaker
Author, Spiritual Coach, and Progressive Pastor
Combining progressive Christianity with conscious spirituality to help you, me, and we stay open to life and to love.
Author:
Online Course: UnClobber
Speaker
Paula Stone Williams is an internationally-known speaker on issues of gender equity, LGBTQ advocacy, and religious tolerance.
To book Paula for your event, contact Outspoken Agency at info@outspokenagency.com
For more information on Paula’s speaking profile, click here: www.outspokenagency.com/paula-stone-williams
Drag Performer, Singer Songwriter, Comedian, Entertainer
The comedy queen with the blistering voice, Flamy Grant is a gospel & roots musician from the Bible Belt who will move you, soothe you, help you heal some trauma and always leave you laughing.
Flamy’s 2022 debut record Bible Belt Baby is the world’s first full-length contemporary Christian album by a drag performer — and a 2023 San Diego Music Award nominee for Best Pop Album.
2023 Kerrville Folk Festival Winner!
To book an event featuring Flamy Grant, please email: FlamyGrant@gmail.com
Compassionate USA
Developed by the City of San Antonio, the Alamo Colleges District, and the San Antonio Peace Center, the Compassionate USA campaign includes a video series to introduce learners to key concepts about compassion, a free micro-course to deepen understanding, and a toolkit that provides resources to help create a compassionate community. Detailed information on these components and on formally partnering with the campaign is now available at Compassionate USA.
Compassionate USA
All are invited to engage with this 100pct free program to learn more about Compassion in Action and are asked to share the program with their communities, businesses, families, and friends. Together we can shine light over hate and division.
In February of 2008, Karen Armstrong, a respected scholar who studies the connective tissues between world religions, was awarded the TED prize for her groundbreaking work. With that funding and the support of the TED organization, to grant one wish, Armstrong chose to focus on compassion.
Specifically, she asked TED to help her create, launch and propagate a “Charter for Compassion, crafted by a group of leading inspirational thinkers from the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and based on the fundamental principles of universal justice and respect." This led to the creation of the Charter for Compassion. Millions around the world have now affirmed the Charter, from churches, to synagogues, to mosques, world leaders, businesses, and people just like you and I.
This is the text of the Charter for Compassion
"The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community."
