SUMMARY: 2023 Survey
Welfare of LGBTQ+ people from a Christadelphian Background 2023.
31% of the 84 LGBTQ+ people surveyed said that their Christadelphian parents did not know they were LGBTQ+;
88% of in-fellowship responders, said that their ecclesia does not know that they are LGBTQ+;
11 people surveyed have attempted suicide due to being LGBTQ+ and connected with the Christadelphian Community.
Our Position
Kindness to LGBTQ+ people is not an endorsement of same-sex relationships. In presenting this report, we have no intention of challenging non-affirming or affirming views. What we are highlighting is an opportunity to reach out to people who need our love and support: "Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2, NRSV).
Report Summary
You can also view the full 70-page reportWhy did we undertake this survey?
The purpose of the survey was to better assess the wellbeing of our LGBTQ+ people. Our work with the Support Group clearly suggested a much greater issue than we generally acknowledge as a community. The feedback should also assist our understanding and help identify ways of nurturing this vulnerable group within a largely non-affirming Christadelphian community.
What do you hope to achieve by sending this out?
We know that this is an incredibly difficult subject to discuss and historically, we have shied away from doing so. What we do need to acknowledge however is that ‘too difficult to deal with’ issues can be suppressed to the point that those who may be touched by such issues feel unable to gain any effective support within their ecclesial (and natural) families and are consequently driven into dark places, both mentally and spiritually.
