Presbyterian Church LGBT Support: What PC(USA) Policy Means for Houston Congregations
Finding a church where you’ll be welcomed exactly as you are can feel like navigating a minefield, especially when you’re asking questions about LGBTQ+ inclusion.
If you’re searching for clear answers about Presbyterian Church policies on LGBTQ+ members, you’ve probably already discovered something frustrating: the answer is both straightforward and complicated.
The straightforward part? The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) officially supports LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The complicated part? Individual congregations within the denomination maintain significant autonomy to interpret and apply these policies.
Let me break this down in practical terms that will actually help you find a church community where you belong.
What PC(USA) Denominational Policy Actually Says
Since 2011, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has officially permitted the ordination of LGBTQ+ individuals as ministers, elders, and deacons. This reversed earlier requirements that limited ordination to people who were either single and celibate or married to someone of the opposite sex.
In 2015, the denomination went further by authorizing Presbyterian ministers to perform same-sex marriages and permitting these ceremonies in church buildings. The official marriage definition was changed to recognize commitment between two people rather than specifically between a man and a woman.
More recently, 2024 amendments added sexual orientation and gender identity to the church’s non-discrimination policies, requiring ordination candidates to affirm commitment to inclusion and diversity.
That’s the official denominational position. Now here’s what that means in practice.
Why Congregational Autonomy Matters More Than You Think
Presbyterian church government operates through a system of interconnected councils. Individual church sessions (the local governing body of elders) maintain considerable authority to make decisions about their own congregation.
This means that while the denomination permits same-sex marriages, individual church sessions can decide whether to allow these ceremonies on their property. While the denomination ordains LGBTQ+ individuals, individual congregations participate in that ordination process through their own representatives.
In plain English: two Presbyterian churches in the same city can have very different practices around LGBTQ+ inclusion while both remaining part of PC(USA).
This isn’t a loophole or a contradiction. It’s actually a fundamental principle of Presbyterian polity called the “Priesthood of All Believers.” The idea is that church members have the responsibility and capacity to read Scripture, discern truth, and make decisions about how their community lives out Christian faith.
Some people find this ambiguity frustrating. I understand that. When you’re trying to figure out if you’ll be welcomed, you want a simple yes or no answer.
But here’s what I’ve learned in decades of pastoral ministry: this ambiguity actually protects something important. It means churches can’t hide behind official policies. They have to own their actual practices. And it means you need to evaluate the specific congregation, not just the denominational label.
## The Real Question You’re Asking
When people search for information about Presbyterian Church LGBT policies, they’re usually not actually asking about denominational parliamentary procedures.
They’re asking some version of these questions:
“Will I be welcomed here as I am?”
“Can I serve in leadership?”
“Will my relationship be recognized and celebrated?”
“Is this a safe place for me to explore faith?”
“Will my family be included in the full life of the church?”
Those are the questions that matter. And you deserve honest answers.
The only way to get those answers is to visit specific congregations and pay attention to more than just official policy statements.
## What to Look for Beyond Policy Statements
When you’re evaluating whether a church will truly welcome you, look past the marketing language. Here’s what reveals a congregation’s actual culture:
- Listen to the sermon. Does the pastor reference LGBTQ+ people naturally and positively? Or do references only come up in the context of “difficult issues” or “controversial topics”?
- Notice the prayers. Are diverse families mentioned in pastoral prayers and joys and concerns? Do prayer requests reflect the actual lives of LGBTQ+ people and families?
- Observe who serves in visible leadership. Are LGBTQ+ individuals serving as elders, deacons, teachers, ushers, and in other leadership roles? Or are they conspicuously absent from visible service?
- Check the bulletin and website. How does the church describe itself? Does inclusive language appear naturally, or does it feel like an afterthought added to check a box?
- Ask direct questions. This is the most important step, and I’ll talk more about it in a moment.
How St. John’s Presbyterian Approaches Inclusion
At St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Houston, we describe ourselves as an inclusive community that focuses on intent over doctrine. We’re moderate people who believe following Jesus matters more than winning culture wars.
Our congregation includes people with different political views, theological perspectives, religious backgrounds, and life experiences. We’re about evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, which tells you something about our commitment to making space for genuine diversity.
We take seriously the Priesthood of All Believers. We trust our members to read and interpret Scripture themselves and make their own decisions about how faith connects to life. We don’t demand ideological uniformity on political or social issues.
What we do demand is that everyone treat each other with respect and dignity. That people show up for each other when life gets hard. That we serve our community together and take mission work seriously.
Some churches in Houston pride themselves on taking extreme positions on cultural issues. They turn political alignment into a test of authentic faith. If that’s what you’re looking for, we’re probably not the right fit.
We’re also not a mega-church offering feel-good messages that avoid the hard work of actually following Jesus’ teachings. We dig into Scripture. We wrestle with difficult passages. We take discipleship seriously.
But we do all of that in a community where people with different perspectives worship together, serve together, and care for each other.
Why This Matters for Your Church Search
I know that some people reading this want me to give you a simple answer: “Yes, St. John’s performs same-sex marriages” or “No, St. John’s doesn’t ordain LGBTQ+ individuals.”
I’m not going to do that, and here’s why.
Because my job as a pastor isn’t to tell you what you want to hear. It’s to help you find a community where you can grow in faith, serve effectively, and build genuine relationships.
And that requires more than checking a policy box. It requires you to actually experience a congregation’s culture, meet its people, and have real conversations about what matters to you.
Different people need different things from a church community. Some LGBTQ+ individuals want to attend a church that makes inclusion its primary identity and organizing principle. Others want to be part of a diverse community where their sexual orientation or gender identity is simply one aspect of who they are, not the defining characteristic.
Some people want to join churches that hold identical views on every theological and social issue. Others value communities where people with different perspectives learn from each other.
I can’t tell you which of these approaches is right for you. Only you know what you need.
The Conversation You Should Have
If you’re considering St. John’s or any other Presbyterian congregation, here’s what I recommend:
Visit for worship. Pay attention to how you feel during the service. Notice who’s there and how they interact with each other.
Stay for coffee hour. Talk to actual members. Ask them about their experiences. You’ll learn more in ten minutes of honest conversation than you will from hours of reading policy statements.
Then request a conversation with the pastor. Come prepared with your actual questions. Not theoretical questions about denominational policy, but personal questions about your specific situation.
For example:
“I’m in a same-sex relationship. Will my partner be welcomed in all aspects of church life?”
“I’m transgender. Will I be able to serve in leadership?”
“I’m the parent of a gay son. Will this church support my family?”
“I’m still figuring out my own identity and beliefs about sexuality. Is there space for that questioning here?”
Any pastor worth their salt will give you honest, specific answers to those questions. If they dodge or give you vague platitudes about “welcoming everyone,” that tells you something important.
You deserve clarity. You deserve honesty. And you deserve a community that will commit to welcoming you fully, not conditionally.
## What Makes Presbyterian Communities Different
Here’s something people often miss about Presbyterian churches: we’re required to think theologically.
Our tradition comes from the Reformed heritage of the Protestant Reformation. We take Scripture seriously. We value education and thoughtful engagement with difficult questions. We expect our members to study, think, pray, and discern for themselves rather than simply accepting whatever the pastor tells them.
This can feel uncomfortable if you’re used to churches that provide simple answers to complex questions. It can feel liberating if you’ve been waiting for permission to think for yourself about faith.
At our best, Presbyterian communities create space for people to wrestle with real questions while supporting each other in the struggle. We don’t demand that you check your brain at the door or pretend that following Jesus is always easy or obvious.
That theological seriousness matters when it comes to questions about inclusion. Because we’re not going to tell you that the Bible is silent on sexuality (it’s not). We’re also not going to tell you that cherry-picking six verses settles every question (it doesn’t).
We’re going to invite you into the harder work of understanding Scripture in context, grappling with how ancient texts speak to contemporary questions, and discerning together how to live faithfully in our time and place.
Some people find that exhausting. Others find it essential.
The Houston Church Landscape Context
Houston has churches of every type and theology. You can find congregations that will tell you exactly what to believe about every issue. You can find churches so large that you’ll never have a meaningful conversation with the pastor. You can find communities organized entirely around political or cultural identity.
St. John’s offers something different.
We’re small enough that everyone’s participation matters. With about 250 members and average Sunday attendance around 75, you can’t hide in the crowd. People will notice if you’re not there. They’ll care when you’re struggling. They’ll celebrate your joys and support you through your challenges.
We’re serious enough about mission that we actually do it. We partner with Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services to help single-parent families on the verge of homelessness develop stability and independence. We support the Braes Interfaith Ministries food pantry. We’re involved with orphan care in Uganda and ministry to seafarers through the Houston International Seafarers Center.
This isn’t busy work to keep church members occupied. It’s kingdom work that makes a real difference in people’s lives.
And we’re diverse enough that you’ll encounter people who think differently than you do. That diversity includes political views, theological perspectives, life experiences, and yes, views on sexuality and gender.
If you want a church where everyone agrees with you about everything, we’re not it. If you want a community where you can grow by engaging with people who see the world differently while still serving together and caring for each other, we might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Beyond the Policy Question
I want to say something that might sound strange coming from a pastor: church membership isn’t primarily about finding a community that perfectly aligns with your views on every issue.
It’s about finding a place where you can grow spiritually, serve effectively, and build relationships that sustain you through life’s challenges.
I’ve watched people spend years searching for the “perfect” church that checks every box on their list. They never find it, because it doesn’t exist.
Meanwhile, I’ve watched other people commit to imperfect communities where they don’t agree with everyone about everything. They show up anyway. They serve anyway. They love people who are different from them anyway.
And they grow in ways that people in ideologically uniform communities never do.
The LGBTQ+ inclusion question matters. I’m not minimizing its importance. For many people, it’s literally a question of whether they can participate in church life at all.
But it’s not the only question. And sometimes it’s not even the most important question.
The most important question is: “Can I grow in faithfulness to Jesus in this community?”
Everything else flows from that.
What I Can Promise You
I can’t promise you that every member of St. John’s will agree with you about every issue related to sexuality and gender. They won’t.
I can’t promise you that our congregation has figured out all the right answers to complex theological and ethical questions. We haven’t.
I can’t promise you that being part of our community will always feel comfortable or easy. It won’t.
Here’s what I can promise:
You will be welcomed as a full member of the community, invited to participate in worship, fellowship, service, and leadership.
You will encounter people who take faith seriously enough to engage difficult questions rather than avoiding them.
You will find a community committed to serving Houston’s real needs through genuine mission work, not just programs designed to attract members.
You will experience worship that focuses on God rather than entertainment, teaching that engages Scripture with depth, and relationships where people actually know each other’s names and stories.
And you will have the space to ask your real questions, express your real doubts, and bring your real self to a community that believes following Jesus matters more than maintaining appearances.
How to Visit St. John’s
We’re located at 5020 West Bellfort Avenue in Houston, serving the Westbury, Meyerland, and Bellaire neighborhoods in the southwest part of the city.
Worship is Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. We also have Bible Study at 9:30 AM on Sunday mornings if you want a smaller group setting for your first visit.
Our worship follows a traditional style with hymns, piano, organ, and volunteer choir. Professional musicians lead, but the congregation participates together rather than watching a performance.
You don’t need to dress up, though some people do. You don’t need to know when to stand or sit; you can follow along. You don’t need to say anything to anyone if you’re not ready for conversation, though people will probably try to welcome you at coffee hour.
If you want to talk with me directly before visiting, call the church office at (713) 723-6262 or email me. I’m happy to have a conversation about your specific questions and situation.
You can also learn more about our community by reading our book, “Healing Happens Here,” which tells stories of how people have experienced faith and growth at St. John’s.
The Bigger Picture
The question “Does the Presbyterian Church support LGBT individuals?” reflects something bigger than just policy positions.
It reflects a deep human need to know: “Will I be welcome? Will I belong? Will I matter?”
Those are the questions every person asks when they consider joining a faith community. And those questions deserve real answers, not just official statements about denominational policy.
The PC(USA) has taken official positions supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion. That matters. It means the denomination as a whole has wrestled with these questions and reached conclusions that prioritize inclusion.
But what matters more is what happens in actual congregations where real people worship together, serve together, study Scripture together, and care for each other through the joys and struggles of life.
That’s where you discover whether inclusion is real or just rhetoric. That’s where you find out if a community will support you or merely tolerate you. That’s where you learn whether you can bring your whole self or just the parts deemed acceptable.
At St. John’s, we’re trying to build the kind of community where people can be known, needed, and missed. Where your absence is noticed and your presence matters. Where service to others takes priority over internal programming. Where following Jesus is taken seriously enough that we’re willing to wrestle with hard questions rather than settling for easy answers.
We won’t be the right fit for everyone. No church is.
But if you’re looking for an authentic community in Houston where you can explore faith, serve effectively, and build genuine relationships with people who take Christianity seriously without turning it into a culture war, we’d love to meet you.
Take the Next Step
Wondering whether St. John’s might be the right community for you?
The only way to find out is to experience it yourself.
Visit us for worship this Sunday at 11:00 AM. Stay for coffee hour and meet some of our members. Pay attention to how you feel and what you observe.
Then let’s have a conversation about your specific questions and needs. Because you deserve more than generic answers about denominational policy. You deserve a community that will commit to welcoming you fully.
Peace,
Pastor Jon Burnham
St. John’s Presbyterian Church
5020 West Bellfort Avenue
Houston, TX 77035
(713) 723-6262
Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM
Sunday Bible Study: 9:30 AM
