At Southminster, we believe that God unconditionally loves all people and intends for them to feel included and celebrated.  To that end, we welcome all people into our church and into full participation in our church life, celebrating a rich diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. 

The Rainbow Ministry seeks to create a safe and affirming space for all God’s people; to educate and equip members and friends on how to expand our welcome to the LGBTQ+ community; and to bear witness to justice through our faith, words and actions.

Southminster belongs to  More Light Presbyterians, and Covenant Network Presbyterians, both are  national organization of open, affirming Presbyterian churches.

Upcoming Events

Past Events & Presentations

Southminster’s Rainbow Ministry Team presented Carolyn Pinta, a champion for the LGBTQ+ community in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs, with our church’s first Heart of a Lion Achievement Award. We recognized Pinta for her “exceptional courage, dedication, and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ Community.”

Pinta, a Buffalo Grove resident, has been making a positive impact on LGBTQ+ people for the past eight years. She is co-founder of the annual Buffalo Grove Pride Parade, which has grown to more than 100 entries, 2,000 participants and crowds of thousands. Pinta also is founder of the nonprofit Pinta Pride Foundation that raises awareness and support in suburban Northwest Chicago communities for LGBTQ+ people. Since 2022, her card-writing initiative has sent messages of love and care to thousands of LGBTQ+ people in need of affirmation and support locally and throughout the United States.

Please click here to watch the ceremony. Click here for the story that was aired on Fox 32 News Click Here to read the article in the Daily Herald

Southminster was recently featured in an article on the Buffalo Grove Pride Parade in the Lake county Sun-News on the front page! Please click here to read the article.

• What are the Risks and Rewards of Coming Out as LGBTQ+ ?- Click Here for Video
• What is a Welcoming Church? – Click Here for Video
• What Does it Mean to Be a Welcoming and Affirming Church and How Do We Get There?  Click Here for Video
• “Why does the LGBTQ+ community need a special parade?”  Click Here for Video
• Through My Eyes video and discussion on LGTBQ+ youth of faith Click Here for Video
• Ben Greene video interview and discussion on being transgender Click Here for Video Week 1 & Week 2
• The Village video on transgender acceptance within families Click Here for Video
• Transgender Day of Remembrance video
• Discussions of the book Torn by Justin Lee. Click Here for Video

Resources

• Pinta Pride Project – Card-writing initiative & Buffalo Grove Pride Parade
• HRC – Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization in the U.S.
• PFLAG – Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is a national support and information organization
• GLSEN – Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network is the leading national organization working to create safe and inclusive schools for all.
• Ben Greene’s Good Queer News (his Instagram here)—Ben is a public speaker, LGBTQ+ inclusion consultant and openly transgender man
• LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in the Church (PCUSA 2022)

Books

• God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines
• Torn by Justin Lee
• God vs. Gay – the Religious Case for Equality by Jay Michaelson
• My Child is Trans. Now What?  by Ben Greene