How to Find a Welcoming & Affirming Baptist Church Through AWAB

AWAB (the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists) provides a Find a Church tool on its website, awab.org, for people looking for Baptist congregations that publicly welcome and affirm LGBTQ+ people. It is the practical starting point if you want a local or online faith community rather than a general directory of Baptist churches. AWAB describes itself as the only organization solely devoted to building the Welcoming and Affirming movement within Baptist traditions, and has supported churches in being and becoming welcoming since 1993.

What "Welcoming & Affirming" means here

A Welcoming & Affirming Baptist church is one that has committed to full inclusion of people regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation — not just a statement of friendliness, but an intentional stance reflected in congregational life. AWAB frames this as "Radical Welcome" and the "Ministry of Reconciliation," working with individuals, congregations, regional groupings, and as a national body.

That distinction matters when you search: a church may be kind to visitors without having taken a public affirming position. AWAB's directory is built around congregations that have made that commitment.

Steps to find a church

1. Go to awab.org and look for the Find a Church link, listed alongside Support, Newsletter, and Blog in the site's main navigation.
2. Browse the listings for congregations in your area. AWAB's network spans individuals, congregations, and regional groupings across the US.
3. Check the congregation's own details before visiting — service times, location, and whether they offer online attendance if you can't attend in person.
4. Contact AWAB directly if nothing appears near you or if you need guidance. The site offers a newsletter signup and blog, and AWAB positions itself as a national voice and point of connection for LGBTQ+ and allied Baptists.

If you can't find a nearby church

• Ask AWAB about regional groupings — a regional body may know of congregations not prominently listed.
• Consider online participation; the site's framing of community is not limited to a single building.
• Subscribe to the Welcoming Spirit newsletter to stay informed about churches and profiles in the movement.

What you'll find beyond the directory

AWAB's site also carries news and reflection that help you judge whether a community's culture matches its label. Recent items include an October 2026 edition of The Welcoming Spirit, its bi-monthly publication, and an opinion piece by Executive Director Rev. Dr. Brian Henderson in Baptist News Global arguing that "words matter in LGBTQ+ ministry because the people affected by them are already sitting in our churches, studying in our seminaries, and serving throughout Christian communities."

Reading this material before you visit can tell you how a congregation talks about inclusion in practice, not only in policy.

Supporting the network

If you want to sustain this work rather than only use the directory, AWAB invites people to join the Rainbow Circle, described as a membership that sustains compassion in faith communities. The site's appeal — "You can help someone come home to love and acceptance today" — is aimed at both seekers and allies.

Quick reference

The directory is the fastest route, but treat it as a starting point: confirm the congregation's current welcome statement and service details yourself, and reach out to AWAB when the listings don't answer your question.