La Tenda di Gionata is an Italian Christian volunteer association, founded by volunteers of the Gionata Project who agreed to a proposal of the catholic priest David Esposito. Following his intention, we commit ourselves to the welcoming, training and knowledge of LGBT Christians, their families and pastoral workers, in dialogue with the various Christian communities.
Welcoming: we arrange pastoral events (spiritual retreats, community meetings, pilgrimages, etc.), open to all who are interested, to help LGBT people and their families feel welcome in their Church, but also to foster in our Christian communities listening and to get to know each other.
Training: We promote theological and pastoral learning, debate and updates on faith and homosexuality, giving voice to theologians and pastoral agents who study these issues, listening together to the experiences of people throughout their journey.
Knowledge: We publish documents in Italian that promote thought on these issues. We plan to print a publication every year (on paper or ebook) and to distribute it for free to Christian groups with whom we are in contact (the first one can be downloaded). We also want to collect and make known theological and pastoral experiences and documents on the inclusion of LGBT Christians and their families in local Churches around the world.
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Things Change. I was Welcomed and Now I’m a Gay Christian Walking the PathThis is the story of Gino Scarpelli of Florence’s Kairos Group for the ‘Things Change’ special, as published in Riforma, weekly newspaper of Italy’s Waldensian, Methodist and Baptist Churches, November… | They Hate Me In Vain. LGBT Christians in Today’s Russia“They Hate Me In Vain. LGBT Christians in Today’s Russia” is the first docufilm to address the reality of LGBT Christians in Russia. It was made in 2013 by Yulia… | Nuova Proposta, LGBT Christian in Rome, answers to the questionnaire of the SynodNuova Proposta press release, LGBT Christian group in Rome, January 6th 2014The Association called Nuova Proposta (www.nuovapropostaroma.it) - a Christian group, born in Rome more than 20 years ago, and… | Things Change. Coming Out and Being Catholic Without HidingThis is the story of Emanuele Macca for the ‘Things Change’ special, as published in Riforma, weekly newspaper of Italy’s Waldensian, Methodist and Baptist Churches, November 26, 2013. Translated by… | Things Change. It’s Simple: “I Love You”This is the story of Ciro Scelsi and Guido Lanza for the ‘Things Change’ special, as published in Riforma, weekly newspaper of Italy’s Waldensian, Methodist and Baptist Churches, November 26,… | Things Change. Living for one another, a blessing of our unionThe story of Alessandra Brussato and Manuela Vinay for the ‘Things Change’ special, as published in Riforma, weekly newspaper of Italy’s Waldensian, Methodist and Baptist Churches, November 26, 2013. Translated… | Things Change. Kairos, a Gay Christian Group Walking Down a ‘Path’ with ChurchesThis is the story of Kairos, a group of gay Christian women and men in Florence, as published online by Riforma, weekly newspaper of Italy’s Waldensian, Methodist and Baptist Churches,… | Homophobia: It Gets Better. 15 Stories of Hope from ItalyArticle by Luca Maria Negro. Published in Riforma, weekly newspaper of Italy’s Waldensian, Methodist and Baptist Churches, Issue 45, November 29, 2013, p.11. Translated by Peter Luntz“One day you think… | Gay Catholics Write to Pope Francis Who Responds With BlessingArticle by Maria Cristina Carratù. Published in Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Florence Edition, on October 8, 2013. Translated by Peter Luntz Increasing numbers of letters and messages to Pope Francis… | Gay Believers No Longer Sinners, but PersonsArticle by Delia Vaccarello. Published in “l'Unità” Italian newspaper p.18 on September 25, 2013. Translated by Peter Luntz Hope is mounting. In June, gay believers wrote Pope Francis a letter… |