CIRCLES of HOPE
A Small Group Curriculum to Help Christian Churches Support Parents with an LGBQT+ Child
Gary R. Tucker, PhD, MEdT
WHY
In your circle of influence, if there were 100 children in youth groups aged 8 to 15, the latest Gallup poll suggests that approximately 7 of these children would come out as gay to their parents in the next decade.
How would you respond if some of these parents were in your congregation? How would you support them if they came to you and shared how they are struggling with fear and doubts, grieving over what this might mean for them and their child's future?
How do you show up?
Who We Are
Our Guiding Principles
Parents with conflicting beliefs about their LGBTQ child's sexual orientation may feel alienated from their church community and their relationship with God.
Many parents often experience significant anxiety and struggle alone with fear, doubts, and a flood of questions.
Your motivation for considering joining a Circle may be to find the next steps after the coming out.
The mission of Circles of Hope is to provide restoration for families dealing with this spiritual trauma.
No matter where your family is in its journey or what beliefs it holds, prioritizing the relationship between you and your child is crucial.
Understanding how crucial the parent-child relationship is amidst this spiritual trauma, it is essential for parents to keep in mind the 3 Guiding Principles of Hope.
- Play the “long game” and trust God with the outcome.
- Use love to build bridges to Jesus; don’t lose the relationship.
- You can love well without losing your convictions of faith.
About Circles of Hope Small Groups
A Safe Place
What does it look like to hold space well and come alongside these parents when they are experiencing this kind of spiritual trauma?
Spiritual trauma can be overwhelming and difficult to heal without support.
They need spiritual support, and they need to be offered a safe space to express their grief and express their serious struggles and questions without fear of shame or judgment.
The Circle of Hope Curriculum employs the therapeutic approach of organizing small groups in circular formations and guiding them through principles and practices that facilitate a shared exploration process.
The curriculum is structured into different topics based on the five trauma stewardship practices developed by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky (2009).
These practices have been integrated with the five faith catalysts developed by Andy Stanley, a renowned author and senior pastor at North Point Ministries.