There is a one-time, non-refundable fee of $225 for participants. This fee covers the cost of participation in the cohort as well as one license for our video curriculum, The Biblical Case for LGBTQ Inclusion. Additionally, while most course materials will be provided at no charge, participants will be expected to purchase four books. The total cost of these books ranges from about $45 (e-book versions) to $65 (paperback versions).

The cohort’s 12-week study program is focused on the theological debate about the Bible and LGBTQ inclusion. It is designed similarly to a college course, and participants will read and respond to both affirming and non-affirming writings in order to develop a well-rounded understanding of this theological conversation.

But more than simply gaining theological knowledge, participants will also grow in their understanding of many foundational beliefs and concerns of non-affirming Christians, allowing them to become more effective and persuasive communicators. The cohort curriculum will also foster deeper learning around our organizational values of monogamy and covenant and diversity and inclusion, and it will equip participants for effective and sustainable leadership as local ambassadors moving forward.

After completing the Leadership Development Cohort, cohort members are eligible to serve as local ambassadors of The Reformation Project. The primary role of ambassadors is to be a resource and guide for Christians who are working through their beliefs about LGBTQ inclusion in the church.

There is no set time commitment for ambassadors; the time investment will vary based on your capacity and how many people reach out for support in your area or interest area. All active ambassadors must affirm that they are passionately aligned with The Reformation Project's Statement of Faith, mission, vision, and values (love for God, love for the Bible, love for the church, monogamy and covenant, and diversity and inclusion).

Ambassador terms last one year, after which ambassadors can recommit for additional one-year terms based on continued alignment, capacity, and interest.

No. Given limited resources, we will select only those who are personally committed to working toward greater LGBTQ inclusion in the non-affirming church by serving as a local ambassador of The Reformation Project.

Yes. That said, depending on where you live, it’s worth considering time zone differences for the four daylong virtual gatherings, which will take place from 10am-6pm Central (U.S.) time. For those farthest away from the United States (like Asia or Australia), we can make certain accommodations like recording portions of the gatherings for them to watch later, but it will still be important for them to attend the majority of each of the gatherings.

We are ecumenical in nature and mission, inclusive of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians alike. Our Statement of Faith reflects our beliefs in:

- The inspiration of the Bible, the Word of God.
- The Triune God, eternally existent as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- The supremacy of God, who created all things seen and unseen through Christ our Lord.
- The deity of Jesus Christ, only begotten Son of the invisible God, firstborn over all creation, fully God and fully man, head of the church, author and finisher of our faith; His death for our sins; and His resurrection and eventual return.
- The regenerative power of the Holy Spirit, whose fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

As a Bible-based, Christian organization, The Reformation Project is grounded in three core values: love for God, love for the Bible, and love for the church.

1. Love for God: We love God, and it’s because of our love for God that so many of us have wrestled so prayerfully and deeply with our sexuality, our gender identity, and our faith.  We seek to honor God with everything we do, with our lives, and with our relationships. We seek to follow Jesus, worshiping him as God and emulating his life, teachings, and ministry, especially in his treatment of those who were downtrodden and outcast.

2. Love for the Bible: We love the Bible and revere it as the Word of God, inspired by God and authoritative for Christian life and practice. It is because of our love for Scripture that we have studied it so carefully, seeking to discern the heart of God and the most faithful understanding of the text for the church today. Our love for Scripture is also what drives us to help the church interpret and apply it as faithfully as possible when it comes to gender and sexuality.

3. Love for the Church: We love the church, and we are compelled by our love for the church to help the body of Christ truly be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world, especially to those who only have heard messages of condemnation from the church.  Our love for the church includes a love for fellow Christians who disagree with us theologically or are still seeking to discern their views about LGBTQ inclusion.

Those three values are at the heart of all of The Reformation Project's work. They also shape two other important values for us:

Monogamy and Covenant: As a Christian organization with a deep love for the Bible, we believe that our values about sexuality must be shaped by Scripture, the communion of saints, and the Christian tradition. We honor the link that Scripture and the Christian tradition make between sex and lifelong commitment, and therefore, we embrace the principle that we should seek to say with our bodies what we are able and willing to say with the rest of our lives. That is why we are specifically asking churches to bless monogamous, covenantal same-sex relationships. (See Bible, Gender, Sexuality by Dr. Jim Brownson to learn more about our understanding of Scripture and sexual ethics.)

Diversity and Inclusion: Jesus’s life and ministry were marked by his love and concern for people on the margins of society, and as a Christian organization, we believe we are called to follow Jesus’s example by prioritizing diversity and inclusion in our work. LGBTQ Christians have too often experienced the pain of exclusion from the church, and that reality compels us to care about and address the ways in which the church has also fallen short of honoring other marginalized people as equal image-bearers of God.  We strive to foster belonging and inclusion for everyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, age, class, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

The cohort is designed for those who want to serve as a local ambassador for The Reformation Project, and it’s important that our ambassadors are aligned with our Statement of Faith and our values. Consequently, we are looking for cohort members who are aligned with—and passionate about—both our Statement of Faith and our values.

By submitting this application, you are committing to:

→ Be aligned with and honor The Reformation Project's Statement of Faith and values as outlined above.
→ Be available to attend all four daylong virtual gatherings on March 25, April 29, June 3, and June 24.
→ Dedicate 12-15 hours every week of the 12-week study period to reading assigned materials, writing timely responses, and engaging with other cohort members about the content.
→ Serve as a local ambassador for The Reformation Project for at least one year after completing the cohort.

If you have any questions about the application process, please e-mail us at apply@reformationproject.org.