by Sandy » Wed Jun 29, 2016 5:13 pm
I'm not sure anyone is doing research on this subject, specifically. Denominations that have become open to ordination of LGBT clergy are going through a period of record, accelerated decline from what they were previously experiencing, but that's not connected specifically to local church ministry with LGBT persons. Like you, Timothy, I can only reference anecdotal information pertaining to specific churches of which I know that have become welcoming and affirming. What I've seen are churches which focus a ministry toward LGBT persons, and go through controversy and conflict in the church to do it. Then, once they have sacrificed by losing members and having the controversy, the LGBT ministry becomes its main focus, and other ministries go lacking. So more people drift out, but because the LGBT community doesn' t have a high level of church interest, they don't drift in.