Francis DeBernardo has served since 1996 as executive director of New Ways Ministry, a national Catholic ministry of justice and reconciliation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Catholics and the wider church community. He earned a Master's in English from the University of Maryland (UMD) and has completed doctoral coursework in Rhetoric there and at the Catholic University of America. He has taught courses in writing, rhetorical theory, and literature at UMD. He is currently a board member of the Quixote Center, and he serves on the advisory board of the Catholic Committee of Appalachia. He is the author of Mychal Judge: Take Me Where You Want Me toGo published by Liturgical Press. His writing has appeared in Commonweal, National Catholic Reporter, and American Catholic.

"An absolutely essential book for parish ministry to LGBTQ people written by one of the leading experts in the field. So often people ask 'How do I start a LGBTQ group in my parish?' 'What do I need to know?' 'How can I best make our LGBTQ parishioners—and their families—feel welcome?' It's all here in this useful, accessible, inviting, pastoral and wise new book."James Martin, SJ, author of Building a Bridge

• ContentsIntroduction: “No Longer Strangers and Aliens”    ix1. Experiencing the Call to LGBTQ+ Ministry    12. Church Teaching and Pastoral Application   93. Prejudice and Discrimination    304. LGBTQ+ Faith Journeys    455. Examining the Local Faith Community    616. Responding to Opposition    777. LGBTQ+ Ministry in Action    888. Developing a Pastoral Plan for LGBTQ+ Ministry    102Acknowledgments    125Glossary    127Notes    131Additional Resources for LGBTQ+ Ministry    137