LGBTQ+ Ministries

All Means All.

Our church is committed to the full inclusion of all persons regardless of sexual orientation. The church overall is a beautiful mix of people where we seek to see and accept each person as they are. Our connections with the larger LGBTQ+ community include annual participation in Palm Springs Pride, sponsoring a film at Cinema Diverse (our local LGBTQ film festival), and a spiritual life retreat entitled Imago Dei, focusing on the intersection of sexuality and spirituality.

Rainbow Ministry

**Rainbow Ministry** is a vibrant, affirming ministry created by and for queer people of faith. It exists to nurture spiritual growth, build authentic community, and serve the world with compassion and purpose. Rooted in the core values of UMCPS, Rainbow Ministry is a living expression of our call to **bring God's Party**—where everyone is invited, celebrated, and empowered to live fully into their identity and faith.
We believe that faith and identity are not in conflict—they are intertwined.
Through three dynamic branches—**QWEST**, **QNECT**, and **QCARE**—Rainbow Ministry offers a sacred space for healing, joy, and transformation.
**🔮 QWEST**
**Queer Wisdom Empowering Spiritual Transformation**
**Tagline:** *A Sacred Journey of Identity and Faith*
QWEST is more than a small group or program—it’s a sacred adventure. It’s where Queer identity and spiritual growth meet, not in conflict, but in celebration. QWEST invites folks to step into a journey that honors every shade of who they are, embracing the beauty, complexity, and resilience of Queer experience.
This isn’t about fitting into someone else’s mold of faith. It’s about discovering a spiritual path that’s as unique as you are—one that welcomes your gender, your sexuality, your story. Through reflection, connection, and community, QWEST helps people reclaim their relationship with the divine, not in spite of who they are, but because of it.
It’s a space for healing, for joy, for transformation. A place where outcasts become leaders, and where spiritual wisdom flows from lived Queer truth. QWEST is a reminder that faith can be fabulous, fierce, and deeply freeing—and that the journey toward wholeness is one we take together.
**🤝 QNECT**
**Queer Network for Encouragement, Connection & Togetherness**
**Tagline:** *Building Joyful Bonds Beyond the Pew*
QNECT is more than a social group—it’s a celebration of queer community in motion. It’s where laughter echoes, friendships flourish, and joy becomes a spiritual practice. In a world where queer connection is often confined to nightlife or digital spaces, QNECT offers something different: real-life moments of fun, fellowship, and belonging.
Whether it’s bowling, movie nights, game days, or spontaneous adventures, QNECT creates spaces where queer folks can simply be—authentically, joyfully, and together. It’s about strengthening the relationships we build in church and carrying that love into the everyday. No pressure, no pretense—just people showing up for each other in ways that matter.
QNECT is a reminder that community is sacred. That laughter is healing. That queer joy is holy. It’s a place where bonds are formed, stories are shared, and love is lived out loud. In every gathering, QNECT affirms that we are not alone—and that together, we are stronger, brighter, and beautifully connected.
**💖 QCARE**
**Queer Community Action, Restoration & Empowerment**
**Tagline:** *Faith in Action, Love in Motion*
QCARE is where compassion meets courage. It’s the heartbeat of Rainbow Ministry’s outreach—where queer people of faith take their spiritual gifts into the world to serve, uplift, and transform. In a society that often overlooks or marginalizes queer voices, QCARE stands as a bold witness to Christ’s love, lived out by those who know what it means to be both faithful and fierce.
This isn’t just about charity—it’s about justice. It’s about partnering with organizations doing vital work in queer spaces, showing up with hands ready to help and hearts ready to heal. Whether it’s feeding the hungry, supporting LGBTQ+ youth, or advocating for equity and inclusion, QCARE is a movement of love in motion.
QCARE empowers queer Christians to be agents of restoration—bringing hope where there’s hurt, light where there’s shadow, and dignity where it’s been denied. It’s a space where service becomes sacred, and where outreach becomes an act of worship.
In QCARE, we don’t just talk about love—we live it. Loudly. Proudly. Faithfully.
**✨ Our Vision:**
To create a ministry where queer people of faith are seen, celebrated, and spiritually empowered.
To build a community that reflects the full spectrum of God’s love.
To live out our faith boldly, joyfully, and together.

How UMCPS Gets Involved

Palm Springs Pride

We are so excited to announce that UMC Palm Springs will have a booth at Palm Springs Pride 2025, located on Arenas Street in the beautiful Palm Springs. We'll be there sharing the message that’s at the heart of our church: God’s love is for everyone. All means All — no exceptions, no conditions. Everyone is welcome. New this year — we’re supporting Youth Pride for the very first time! We’re thrilled to be part of this important event for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies. We'll be working the Youth Pride event on November 8 & 9 — in addition to our main booth at Pride. Let’s come together to celebrate love, inclusion, and Pride.
Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival

Each year we sponsor a film at Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival. This festival is dedicated to advancing and further strengthening our diverse LGBTQ+ community through the establishment of a world-class forum that presents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cinema from around the world. They bring together film artists, film lovers and industry professionals in a celebration of motion pictures that reflect, inform, enrich and often transform lives.
Imago Dei

UMCPS is partnering with River of Hope (the new ELCA faith community in Palm Springs) to bring Peter to Palm Springs for a symposium on spirituality and sexuality we are calling "Imago Dei" (or "Image of God"). The sumposium is happening in the UMCPS sanctuary.

Our Celebration of the 2021 Palm Springs Pride Parade

We had a fantastic time enjoying walking alongside one another and letting everyone know UMCPS is committed to the full inclusion of all persons regardless of sexual orientation. Look below for some of the moments that were captured during the event!