Meeting in South Africa Plans African Research Collective on LGBT and Theology
Participants at a theological education gathering held in Pretoria, South Africa, from October 14 to 16, 2026, agreed to begin forming an African queer theological research collective. Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM), the organization supporting LGBT people of faith that hosted the meeting, announced this in an October 29 report.
The gathering, themed “Imagining a Queer Africa,” took place at Future Africa at the University of Pretoria. According to IAM, it brought together church leaders, theologians, researchers and activists from various African countries. Discussions concerned LGBT people’s place in theological education.
Participants shared experiences from churches, academia and civil society organizations, then discussed research, curricula and possible joint projects. IAM says a steering committee expressed willingness to guide the formation of the research collective.
Other ideas included a queer theology podcast and resources on pastoral care, believers’ wellbeing and theology attentive to local contexts.
IAM is a South African organization working with faith communities on sexual orientation and gender. As MambaOnline reported on its 25th anniversary, it was founded in 1995 as Gay and Lesbian Christian Outreach and adopted its current name in 2001.
Queer theology examines faith, sacred texts and religious traditions through LGBT people’s experiences and analysis of ideas about gender and sexuality. Urania previously explained the field’s main approaches.
