The letter:

Changing Attitude Sussex &
Brighton and Hove Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
PO Box 328
Brighton BN2 9TB
24th September 2010

Dear

Helping lesbian and gay people to worship in Brighton and Hove

The Christian churches have often had an uneasy relationship with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people, who may consequently feel wary about attending their local church. Brighton and Hove has a large LGBT community and it may be helpful to potential new church members and also to gay visitors to the area to have a listing of those churches at which they might anticipate being welcomed, being able to be open, and being able to participate fully in church life. More generally it would be worthwhile for the approaches taken by churches in Brighton and Hove to the LGBT people in their midst to be known.

We would like to ask churches to inform us about their attitude to LGBT people. To this end we would be very grateful if you would complete the enclosed short survey questionnaire. Please tick the approach which best describes your church. You may wish to discuss this with your parochial church council and congregation. We would also welcome any written comments you might want to make. Please then return the questionnaire in the enclosed stamped addressed envelope.

We have discussed this survey with the Bishop of Chichester, the Right Reverend Dr John Hind, and he has issued an official press statement saying, ‘I consider this survey to be a helpful and appropriate contribution to the process of listening to the experience of gay people commended to all in the Anglican Communion by the 1998 Lambeth Conference.’ The Bishop’s statement also says that the results of the survey will form a useful basis for further discussion of this issue.

Once the list of churches is completed it will be published on the internet and in paper form for distribution through appropriate channels.

Please feel free to contact us if you would like further information about this survey or would like to discuss any of the issues that it raises. We will be more than happy to help. Contact details can be found on the websites www.changingattitudesussex.com and www.lgcm.com.

Thank you for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,





Dr Keith Sharpe and Nigel Nash
Chair, Changing Attitude Sussex and Chair, Brighton and Hove Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement


This is the questionnaire:



You can download a copy of the questionniare here:
Click here to download this file