Christ the King Episcopal Church
Lakeland, Florida
LGBTQ+ OUTREACH & MINISTRY
We believe that God loves us all –
no exceptions.
In the first century, Jesus of Nazareth inspired a movement. A community of people whose lives were centered on Jesus Christ and committed to living the way of God’s unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial, and redemptive love. As Episcopalians, we believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Faithful Episcopalians have been working toward a greater understanding and radical inclusion of all of God’s children for nearly a half-century. For more visit LGBTQ+ in the Church - History.
Christ The King Episcopal Church warmly welcomes our LGBTQ+ siblings to the full life this church and leaves open all pathways of ministry, leadership, and pastoral care (except the sacrament of marriage - see below).
If you are in need of a safe place or assistance we stand ready to help.
Polk Pride
As a measure of outreach and a demonstration of support, Christ The King maintains an active presence with Polk Pride, an organization dedicated to the awareness and acceptance of Polk County's LGBTQ+ community.
Christ The King takes an active part in two annual Polk Pride events:
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We staff a tent at Pride in the Park - a family event held annually on the 3rd Saturday in June in Munn Park (downtown Lakeland).
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We help organize and present Pride in Faith - a interfaith celebration of Pride and LGBTQ+ identity held annually at Beacon Hill Fellowship (220 W. Beacon Hill Rd) on the Thursday before Pride in the Park.
All are welcome to join in the fun!
Same-Sex Marriage at Christ The King
It would be disingenuous to say that the entire church is in the same place on the journey of full inclusion. As with all spiritual journeys, everyone walks at their own pace; and so, as a parish in the Diocese of Central Florida, we cannot as yet offer the sacrament of marriage to same-sex couples.
LGBTQ+ Issues in the Resolutions of The Episcopal Church
The 1976 General Convention adopted resolutions stating that “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church,” and that they “are entitled to equal protection of the laws with all other citizens.”
Throughout the years, the polity and ethos of The Episcopal Church has had the goal of full-inclusion of and support for LGBTQIA+ persons in the life of the church.
1976 - affirmed the homosexual persons, as "children of God," have a "full and equal claim upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church" (1976-A069)
1976 - expressed the long-held and long-standing conviction "that homosexual persons are entitled to equal protection" under civil law. (1976-A071)
1994 – prohibited discrimination based on sexual identity to the rites of the church, providing equal access to ordination. (1994-C020)
2009 – supported federal, state, and local laws to "prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or the expression of one's gender identity." (2009-D012)
2012 – banned discrimination in access to the discernment process (for ordination) based on "...sexual orientation, gender identity or expression..." (2012-D002)
2012 - created a pathway for a rite of blessings of same-sex couples. (2012-A049)
2015 – permitted any couple the rite of Holy Matrimony in the Episcopal Church (though permission still depends on the local bishop) (2015-A036)
2018 - Authorized for trial use liturgies for same-sex marriage, carving out exceptions for dissenting bishops (2018-B012)
2022 – created the Office of Gender Justice focusing on women and LGBTQ+ people (its first general officer was hired in April 2024)
2024 - authorized (for trial use) "The Blessing and Celebration of Marriage 2" which, upon its 2nd reading in 2027, add the rite to the Book of Common Prayer, effectively allowing same-sex marriage in all Episcopal Church's - at the discretion of the priest (2024-D035)