Loved by God
We gather and support Christian LGBTQ+ people and allies and work for churches and society to be safe places, for life and for faith.
The organization started back in 1976 and has since fought for open and inclusive churches and Christian environments for LGBT+ people.
The fight is far from over. Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, judgmental theology, Bible-related violence, conversion attempts and a harsh debate climate, not least in various churches, continue to contribute to unsafe environments, mental illness and prejudice.
For more open churches and communities
EKHO has existed in Sweden since 1976 when three people started the "Christian group" within RFSL. This soon changed its name to EKHO - the Ecumenical Group for Christian Homosexuals. Over time, more people have been included in EKHO - the ecumenical groups for Christian LGBTQ people.
At the 2024 annual meeting, a decision was made to change our slogan to the Christian Rainbow Movement. Read more
During our almost 50-year history, we have fought for the right of all people and the opportunity to be open LGBTQ people in Christian churches, denominations and congregations. Thanks to EKHO, several communities have changed their minds about issues of sexuality and gender identity, forms of cohabitation and, not least, what love is. In this important work, your support is important to us.
Riksförbundet EKHO is an umbrella organization for the EKHO movement's local associations and seed groups. As a national association, we support, inspire and encourage the important work of local associations.
We are a non-profit organization that receives government support from The Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF).
Riksförbundet EKHO is a member of ILGA and part of the European Forum of LGBTI+ Christian Groups
We want as an organization
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to be a living and liberating community for LGBTQ+ people, where Christian faith and LGBTQIA+ identity meet
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spread knowledge about LGBTQ within churches and communities and be an ecumenical meeting place for people from many different traditions
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support individual hbtqia+ people as well as their friends and families in forming faith and a life in Christian community
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deepen the understanding of hbtqia+ in a Christian context through ongoing conversation, study and reflection
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cooperate with other organizations that work for openness, equality and democracy
We want every person to have the opportunity to
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seek a faith in the God who saved the world through Jesus Christ
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see their gender identity and sexual orientation as an expression
for God's creative creativity -
rejoice in one's gender identity and one's sexuality as a gift from God, which broadens our understanding of life and of God
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express their gender identity and sexuality without facing prejudice and discrimination
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find belonging and participation in the church community
We want the church
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welcomes every LGBTQ person and rainbow family naturally and with basic respect and love
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sees how the community is enriched through diversity in sexual orientation, gender expression and family constellations
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constantly works for the equal value and opportunities of all people and works for human rights
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gives hbtqia+ people the confidence to hold all positions and assignments on the same terms as everyone else
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shapes theology, teaching and liturgy together with the LGBTQ+ people who are part of the community
Our foundation
The core of all our activities is based on the fact that we are all God's children and therefore part of the rich diversity that God created. We believe that it is our role as Christians to defend people's rights, stand on the side of the oppressed and encourage and free God's people to what is good, so that God's love becomes visible in the world.
The national confederation consists of a confederation board, autonomous local associations and a number of seed groups. The Federal Board's mission is to support our local associations and seed groups through coordination, as well as drive opinion formation.
We believe that it is through association organization that we create a sustainable activism that is allowed to live on. In our local associations and seed groups, our members get to meet in communities that are often decisive for faith and life.
Another important part of the federal board's work is to drive opinion formation. Addressing inequality and building bridges forward. We strongly believe that our vote for inclusion should be based on the needs and experiences of our members.
We are happy to stand up as lecturers connected to trans, Bible-related violence and other things that concern our queer Christian community.
Bli medlem
- du behövs
EKHO är en ideell organisation som drivs av sina medlemmar. Som medlem är du med och stöttar vårt viktiga arbetet för öppna kyrkor och samfund. Som medlem är alla välkomna som vill stödja vårt arbete oavsett sexuell läggning, könsidentitet eller tro.