IAM - Inclusive and Affirming Ministries

IAM is deeply committed to work towards opening the hearts and minds of people within faith communities to appreciate and celebrate the gift of sexuality, diversity and difference. The knowledge and commitment to dialogue is the way in which IAM engage with these challenges within faith communities.

Through dialogue IAM empowers:

• Diverse people to come together in a safe space and build trust when they share life stories and experiences
• Offers exposure to different life stories and experiences of people
• Deepens peoples’ understanding of diversity in sexuality
• Helps people grow in compassionate listening, and
• Helps find ways for people to journey forward with diversity

An Introduction to Dialogue Workshop was developed to guide people of diverse sexual orientations and backgrounds to engage in moving forward and deepening their understanding of each other within their faith contexts. 10 Successful Introduction to Dialogue Workshops have been facilitated in Namibia, Malawi, as well as in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Western Cape.

IAM is convinced that dialogue is the better way to challenge negative beliefs and discrimination within faith communities towards LGBTI members. IAM wants to build on empowering people all over Southern Africa to choose dialogue, rather than debate or arguing, in dealing with issues of sexuality, sexual orientation, different theological viewpoints and diversity; and to create dialogue opportunities within faith communities to open peoples’ hearts and minds to God’s gift of sexuality.