LifeJourney Church

LifeJourney Church–originally known as Jesus Metropolitan Community Church–was founded in 1990 as a trailblazing church of refuge for LGBTQ Christians. At the time, it was the only predominantly LGBTQ congregation in Indianapolis.

Over the years, the church grew to become a congregation of over 400 and became a leading advocate for spiritual and legal equality for LGBTQ people. Examples of its advocacy efforts included organizing ICON, the Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination, a statewide coalition of affirming congregations that formed in 2001 and advocated for LGBTQ equality at the Statehouse and beyond.

The church published The Children Are Free: Reexamining The Biblical Evidence On Same-Sex Relationships in 2002. The book has been translated into seven languages. The church also conducted a citywide campaign in 2006 and 2007 proclaiming “Would Jesus Discriminate?” emblazoned on 35 billboards and 2,000 yard signs. The billboards and yard signs, which directed viewers to a website highlighting LGBTQ issues, made national news.

In one of its boldest actions, LifeJourney brought 120 people to a 2004 Statehouse hearing aimed at amending Indiana’s Constitution to prohibit gay marriage. During the hearing, all 120 individuals went to their knees in silent prayer, then sang “We Shall Overcome,” and then held a mock funeral, complete with caskets, to dramatize how discrimination was causing incidences of LGBTQ youth suicide.

As progress has been made toward LGBTQ equality, LifeJourney has evolved and broadened its mission, becoming a multicultural congregation for people of all sexual orientations, genders, races, ages, and socioeconomic statuses.