LGBT Friendly Churches in Charlotte for LGBT and Allied Christians

Members of the LGBTQ community often have a complicated relationship with religion. But as the South and its cities get increasingly accepting of gay people (despite certain setbacks), so do a growing number of its churches.

Charlotte boasts a very large list of LGBTQ-friendly churches (also known as affirming churches) that don’t discriminate, won’t try to change you, and foster welcoming and friendly communities.

This guide highlights some of the largest and most notable LGBTQ-friendly churches in Charlotte. By no means should this be viewed as a complete list. Rather, consider this a starting point for newcomers to the city, or newcomers and returners to the church scene in Charlotte.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Sends a Clear Signal About Its Stance on LGBTQ Issues

One of the best-known LGBTQ-friendly churches in the city, Holy Trinity Lutheran has been supporting the LGBTQ community before it was cool. In the first year after same-sex couples were granted the right to be married in North Carolina, Holy Trinity’s female pastor performed about 20 same-sex weddings.

Holy Trinity also regularly organizes a booth at Charlotte’s annual Pride festival.

Holy Trinity Lutheran is also active in the local community, performing community service acts at local schools and crafting hats and scarves for people in need in Charlotte. In addition, the church has a choir and other fun social activities for its members.

The church is located in Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood.

First United Methodist Church Flies a Rainbow Banner and Emphasizes Art

First United in Charlotte’s Uptown neighborhood is located in a beautiful building adjacent to Charlotte’s busy Tryon Street. The church recognizes that church can be a painful place for communities, like the LGBTQ community, that have been excluded in the past.

The church seeks to be welcoming to individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities, in addition to people with varying economic statuses and physical and mental abilities. The church can be found hosting a booth at Pride and marching in the Pride parade.

The church also emphasizes promoting the arts. The church hosts visual art including photographs and paintings, and productions of plays. It also hosts screenings of films.

The church live streams its sermons on its website so you can test out this church in a low-stakes way each Sunday. The link to the website is at the bottom of the page.

Myers Park Baptist Church Shows Its Support by Sponsoring Pride

Myers Park Baptist is one of the only, if not the only, church in Charlotte that is an official sponsor of Charlotte Pride. Myers Park Baptist focuses on “inclusivity, community, spirituality, and justice.” The church’s logo features a dove over a multi-colored background, signaling its inclusive mission.

The church has a diverse leadership staff that includes people of different races and genders. You can get a sense for whether this is the right church for you by watching videos of sermons hosted on their website (view the link at the bottom of the page). As the name suggests, the church is located in Myers Park.

Park Road Baptist is a Progressive Baptist Voice in Charlotte

Park Road Baptist Church has been proudly welcoming and affirming of LGBT people for decades. The church supports the local LGBTQ community by hosting the Charlotte Pride Band for rehearsals and concerts. Queer people participate as members, deacons, and pastors at Park Road Baptist. 

The church hosts a number of adult services to foster community, including bible study groups, a sewing and knitting group, a senior exercise group and more. Park Road also supports the Charlotte community through its homeless ministry, as well as its efforts to spread the word about race equity.

The church is conveniently located at 3900 Park Road near the Park Road Shopping Center in Charlotte.

Caldwell Presbyterian Church Emphasizes Diversity and Inclusion

Caldwell Presbyterian is centrally located in Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood. The church uses the tagline “God Invites. We Welcome. All.” Its mission statement emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and justice.

Language on the church’s website specifically calls out that it is open to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The church also features gender-neutral bathrooms.

In addition to inclusion for LGBTQ people, Caldwell Presbyterian also focuses on racial and ethnic diversity. Caldwell has organized an “Anti-Racism Council” which, among other things, provides a self-check on the church to make sure it stands up to its own standards.

Caldwell also offers a gospel choir and social events like a book club and planned dinners.

Honorable Mentions

While we won’t dive into these churches in detail, they are also friendly and welcoming places for LGBTQ people to congregate.

• Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte – While Unitarian communities are not exactly churches in the traditional sense, since they welcome people of all faiths whether or not Christian, UUCC is a great place for LGBTQ people looking to get in touch with their spiritual sides. UUCC is located in Dilworth.
• Dilworth United Methodist Church – Also located in Dilworth, this Methodist church describes itself as “progressive and welcoming.” Its “Amplify Team” aims to amplify marginalized voices in the Charlotte community.
• First United Methodist Church – Located in Fourth Ward within Charlotte’s Uptown neighborhood, First United works with local LGBTQ community groups, as well as refugee communities in Charlotte
• Holy Covenant United Church of Christ – A unique and inclusive church located in north Charlotte, this Church avoids using pronouns for God, believing God to be non-gendered.
• St. Peter’s Episcopal Church ­– This Uptown church, just down the street from First United Methodist, emphasized gender quality and LGBTQ inclusion, in addition to affordable housing, refugee support, and racial reconciliation.

References

• LGBT friendly churches, synagogues in Charlotte, NC | Charlotte Observer
• Axios Charlotte – Charlotte Churches Take Sides After Gay Marriage Became Legal
• Charlotte Pride – Sponsors
• HTLC Charlotte
• Myers Park Baptist Church
• Caldwell Presbyterian
• First United Methodist Church Charlotte (charlottefirst.org)
• Park Road Baptist Church