Journal of Christian Religious Studies

The debate surrounding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) issues has become a significant ethical, theological, pastoral, and social concern for the Christian Church in contemporary Nigeria. This study examines Christian ethical considerations on LGBTQ+ issues and evaluates the role of the Church in responding to the social, moral, legal, and pastoral challenges associated with sexuality and gender diversity. The study adopts a qualitative documentary research approach, drawing on recent peer-reviewed journal articles, scholarly books, theological literature, legal materials, and relevant contemporary discussions. The study is guided by Norm-Centered Stigma Theory, which explains how culturally dominant norms, social power, and stigma interact to define certain identities as deviant and to generate exclusion or social sanctions. The theory provides an analytical lens for examining how religious, cultural, institutional, and legal norms shape attitudes toward LGBTQ+ persons in Nigeria. The study finds that Christian responses are strongly influenced by biblical understandings of creation, marriage, sexuality, discipleship, and human dignity, while the Nigerian context adds powerful cultural, religious, and legal pressures. Recent scholarship also indicates that religiosity, institutional practices, public discourse, and legal restrictions can shape negative attitudes and experiences of exclusion. The paper concludes that the Church can maintain its theological convictions concerning marriage and sexuality while rejecting violence, humiliation, hatred, and degrading treatment and while strengthening responsible pastoral care. The paper recommends that churches strengthen biblically grounded ethical education, train pastors and counsellors in responsible pastoral care, equip theological institutions to address contemporary sexuality debates critically, and promote respectful public engagement that protects human dignity and peaceful coexistence.

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