A regional dialogue of more than 100 participants representing church-based lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) groups, interested ministers from local congregations and church leadership structures, leaders of ecumenical organizations and representatives of LGBTI community groups from 13 countries, was held in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, on 7 and 8 April 2016.

The convening explored and assessed current church-based approaches to affirm the dignity of women and men who are homosexual, as well as transgender and intersex people, and to counteract homophobic social attitudes.

It was designed to enable practitioners in the field to collectively reflect on their current approaches while in conversation with engaged individuals from within the churches. The intention was to firmly ground the work being done by various groups in the social realities and opportunities within Africa rather than in international debates that are either focused on abstract church doctrinal debates or political posturing in international organizations.

This report was produced by the listening team for the convening that was led by Janet Trisk, a Canon of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, and comprised of Mote Magomba from the UKZN School of Religion, Dumisile Sibisi from St Joseph’s Theological Institute, Mabuluki Kangwa from the All Africa TEE Association, Philippa Cole from the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary, and Albert Bangirana from the UKZN School of Religion.