A Slightly Annotated Gay Spirituality and Religion Directory for Gay Folk in L.A.

BY DON KILHEFNER

There are countless ways to differentiate spirituality from religion. My favorite: Religion is for people who don’t want to go to Hell. Spirituality is for people who have already been there.

Bookstore

The Bodhi Tree
8585 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood
310/659-1733; www.bodhitree.com
The nation’s best religious/spiritual bookstore is located right in our own backyard. If you have never been there, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Buddhist

Gay Zen LA
International Buddhist Meditation Center, Los Angeles
213/384-0850; www.gayzenla.org
Rev. Vajra Karuna, a lesbian Zen Dharma Teacher, provides a non-sexist and non-homophobic environment for the practice of Buddhism and meditation. A unique resource.

Catholic

Dignity Center
126 S. Avenue 64, Highland Park
323/344-8064; www.dignitylosangeles.org
Dignity, a gay/lesbian Catholic group run by President Jason Craig and operating outside the institutional church, grew out of gay liberation and has been operating for 37 years. Provides weekly Sacrament of Communion celebrated by an ordained priest; a finer group of people will be hard to find.

Episcopalian

St. John’s Cathedral
514 W. Adams St., Los Angeles
213/747-6285; www.stjohnsla.org
People at St. John’s are diverse in gender, ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation, so you are welcome here!

St. Thomas The Apostle Church
7501 Hollywood Blvd., West Hollywood
323/876-2102; www.saintthomashollywood.org
Rev. Ian Elliot Davies is a wonderful, charming gay Welshman and the people in this parish are entirely welcoming.

Trinity Church
4274 Melrose Ave., Silver Lake
323/660-1110
This church is headed by Rev. Liz Munoz. Bishop Jon Bruno of Los Angeles has been firm and strong in his support of gay and lesbian people while there has been backsliding by Episcopalians worldwide. Virtually any Episcopalian church in Los Angeles will be welcoming to us. St. Thomas is so-called High Church; Trinity has a strong social justice consciousness.

Evangelical Christian

WeHo Church
916 N. Formosa Ave. (behind Target), West Hollywood
www.stmatthewsnoho.org
Any Lutheran Church designated as a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation will be openly welcoming to gay and lesbian people. Headed by widely respected Rev. Susan Wolfe Devol, St. Matthews conducts Holy Unions for gay and lesbian couples.

Christ Chapel of the Valley
11050 Hartsook Street, North Hollywood, CA
818/985-8977
Christ Chapel knows that many within our community are disenchanted with religion. They were formed to offer a message of spiritual hope and comfort to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals.

Christ Chapel World Harvest Faith Center
637 E. Albertoni #111, Carson
310/947-9741; www.ccworldharvest.com
Under the visionary leadership of Rev. Tony Bell, a special outreach is made to gay and lesbian people. Emphasis placed on Christian healing and renewal through spiritual, economic and social empowerment.)

Gnostics

Ecclesia Gnostica
3363 Glendale Blvd., Atwater Village
323/467-2685; www.gnosis.org
Headed by Bishop Stephan Hoeller, a central figure in the worldwide revival of Gnosticism. Gay and lesbian priests with the Mass of Saints Serge and Bacchus (gay lovers made saints by the Catholic Church) for the well-being of the gay community by Rev. Michael Lafferty the first Sunday of every month.

Islam

Al-Fatiha Foundation
P. O. Box 33015
Washington, D.C. 20033
www.al-fatiha.org
At this point in history there are no mosques in the Los Angeles area that openly welcome gay Muslims. Al-Fatiha is a progressive, national religious organization for gay Muslims and their families with chapters throughout the country. It sponsors conference and retreats, provides asylum support, family education, HIV/AIDS outreach, and has a clear social justice agenda. It publishes an excellent brochure on gays and Islam.

Jewish

Beth Chayim Chadashim
6000 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles
323/931-7023; www.bcc-la.org
Headed by Rabbi Lisa Edwards, progressive BBC is the world's original gay and lesbian synagogue. Houses the Queer Jewish Think Tank led by Rabbi Benay Lappe, the first out lesbian conservative rabbi.

Congregation Kol Ami
1200 N. La Brea Ave., West Hollywood
323/606-0996; www.kol-ami.org
Headed by Rabbi Denise Eger with Cantor Mark Salzman, Kol-Ami emphasizes a highly liberal Friday Shabbat worship. This is a singing congregation with melodies old and new. Uses English and Hebrew.

Lutheran

St. Matthews Lutheran Church
11031 Camarillo St.; North Hollywood
818/762-7439; www.stmatthewsnoho.org
Any Lutheran Church designated as a "Reconciling in Christ" congregation will be openly welcoming to gay and lesbian people. Headed by widely respected Rev. Susan Wolfe Devol, St. Matthews conducts Holy Unions for gay and lesbian couples.

St. Matthew's Church
1920 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale
818/842-3138; www.matthewchurch.com
Under Rev. Keith Banwart's inspired leadership, St. Matthew's has made a special outreach to the gay and lesbian community. Also has services in Spanish.

Methodist

Hollywood United Methodist Church
6817 Franklin Ave. (at Highland), Hollywood
323/874-2104; www.hollywoodumc.org
Any Methodist church listed as a “reconciling congregation” is truly welcoming and inclusive of gay/lesbian parishioners. Under Rev. Kathy Cooper-Ledesma’s leadership, this church is particularly vibrant, socially conscious (HIV/AIDS and homeless ministries) and attracts Hollywood professionals with its celebrated choir and theater presentations.

Metropolitan Community Church

MCC Los Angeles
8714 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angles
310/854-9110; www.mccla.org
Under the dynamic leadership of Rev. Neil Thomas, MCC-LA is one of the most active and gay-centered congregations in the city, including a Spanish-speaking ministry. Congregations in Costa Mesa, North Hollywood, Long Beach, Lancaster, Palm Springs, etc. I have periodically been attending MCC services since 1968 and have always felt the presence of Spirit in the room.

Mormon

Affirmation Gay and Lesbian Mormons
P.O. Box 46022, Los Angeles, CA 90046
661/367-2421; www.affirmation.org
Largely an information clearing house for Mormons of all sorts. The L.A. chapter no longer meets regularly, but it has strong on-line activity and discussion groups.

Presbyterian

West Hollywood Presbyterian Church
7350 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
323/874-6646; www.wehopres.org
A gay and lesbian presence has revitalized this church and under Rev. Dan Smith’s passionate leadership it has become one of the most welcoming, friendly churches in town. Has an HIV/AIDS ministry.

Religious Science

Agape International Spiritual Center
5700 Buckingham Parkway, Culver City
310/348-1250; www.agapealive.com
Rev. Michael Beckwith does a great job—never a dull moment. Outstanding music. It’s truly alive. Tons of gay and lesbian people around the place.

Shamanism

Gay Men’s Medicine Circle
P.O. Box 93561, Los Angeles, CA 90093
323/630-7576; www.gaymensmedicinecircle.org
Traditionally gay people have been associated with shamanism wherever it has been found in the world. Provides shamanic training, workshops, and seasonal ceremonies in West Hollywood Park. Jo Jo De Rodrigo is Keeper of the Circle.

Yoga and Meditation

Golden Bridge Yoga Center
6322 De Longpre Ave. (at Vine just behind Arclight Cinema), Los Angeles
323/936-4172; www.goldenbridgeyoga.com
The late Yogi Bhijan, its founding guru, was notoriously homophobic but there is no sign of that under Gurmukh’s current leadership. Recently attended Rumi’s 800th Birthday Celebration there, amazingly in the presence of Rumi’s granddaughter, 22 generations removed, and Whirling Sufis. I was “stoned” for days.