Put Out into the Deep
July 21 2025
In this edition, we’re sharing five things we’ve learned about building confidence in LGBT+ evangelization and catechesis.
The BCF Confidence Index
One of the tools Building Catholic Futures shares when we consult is our Confidence Index. This index helps people assess their own (and their diocese’s, department’s, or ministry’s) ability to work with gay people from a wide range of starting points and backgrounds. Whether you are at Level 0, Overconfident, or Level 5, Missionary, we help you discern next steps to grow in confidence and share your gifts.
As we developed the Index, we realized some things that challenge our common assumptions about LGBT+ ministry.
1 You don’t need to be at Level 5 to do good work.
Most dioceses have only a few people who are already at the highest level of confidence. But once you know who’s at Level 2 or 3, you know who can begin to take on early leadership roles in building what one chancery leader called “an intentional strategy for accompaniment.”
2 In fact, good work is being done at Level 0
- and that can be a problem!
Sometimes, people stay at lower levels of confidence because of experience. At Level 0, for example, people have one message. Maybe the message is chastity, maybe the message is self-acceptance, but you’re gonna hear that message no matter what! And the thing is… sometimes it works. Sometimes that one message is what someone needs at that moment. The problem is that when the message doesn’t fit the moment, it can do real harm.
3 Confidence requires knowing the inroads to faith
- and the obstacles.
Some people listen well, but don’t know how to push people to take a step deeper into faith. Others are comfortable challenging LGBT+ people to grow in faith but underestimate the obstacles they face. BCF has identified many common inroads and obstacles for gay Catholics and seekers. Every story is unique but even knowing that there are common inroads and obstacles can help you discern what might help or hinder someone in deepening their faith.
4 Deeper knowledge of doctrine leads to pastoral adaptability.
When people aren’t sure what the Church really teaches, they fall back on what feels safe. Whether that’s, “We just need to welcome people!” or, “We just need to teach chastity!”, it limits their ability to witness confidently to people in a wide variety of situations. When people truly inhabit Catholic doctrine, they navigate complex situations with grace and joy.
5 Wider knowledge of LGBTQ stories leads to confidence in doctrine.
By the same token, as people learn about the diverse starting points from which gay people grow in love of Christ in the Catholic Church, these stories illuminate the teachings of our Faith. The more we know of queer people’s witness, the more we understand our own Church’s teachings.
Prayer Requests
The Dominicans are meeting in Krakow for their General Chapter. We’ve written before about BCF’s love of the Dominican way. Please pray for St. Dominic's and Thomas Aquinas’s intercession for Eve, Keith, and all the retreatants preparing for Confident Witness in Boston!
Eve & Keith