There is a one-time, non-refundable fee of $175 for participants. 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 moving forward.

On average, participants should expect to spend 12-15 hours each week reading the course materials, writing responses, and engaging with other cohort members in online discussions. Weeks start on Wednesdays, with responses to course materials due on Tuesdays. There will be two weeks off during the three-month period: April 21-27 and May 26-June 1.

Participants must also be available for daylong online gatherings on four Saturdays throughout the program: March 27, April 24, May 22, and June 26. The gatherings will run from 10am-6pm Central.

TRP chapters work to help local Christians and churches shift from non-affirming to affirming on LGBTQ inclusion. Chapters pursue that goal through visibility and dialogue, education, and community support, and they always lead from a posture of relationship and respect.

To start a local chapter, prospective chapter leaders must first complete the Leadership Development Cohort. In the months after the cohort ends, we will work with cohort graduates to assess their readiness to start a chapter and help them lay the groundwork to do so.

No. Given limited resources, we will select only those who are personally committed to working toward greater LGBTQ inclusion in the non-affirming church.

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 TRP’s work and everything that our chapters do. 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 help lead a local chapter of The Reformation Project, and it’s important that TRP’s chapters 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 TRP's Statement of Faith and values as outlined above.
→ Be available to attend all four daylong virtual gatherings on March 27, April 24, May 22, and June 26.
→ 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.
→ Be an advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in the non-affirming church in your local community.

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