Parents Reconciling Network (PRN)

Parents Reconciling Network (PRN) is a group of United Methodist parents blessed with LGBTQ children!

We believe that God calls us to support fellow parents and other family members of persons who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ). For this reason, PRN has written the resources below. Feel free to share them.

When Your Child is LGBTQ

Download this brochure

Supporting our Trans and Intersex Children

Download this brochure

Tips for Relating to LGBTQ Youth

Download this brochure

Nine Myths about our LGBTQ Children

Download this brochure

Helping Our Church Welcome LGBTQ Children

Download this brochure

Affiliate organizations

Strong Family Alliance: saving lives and preserving families by supporting parents and children coming out.

PFLAG: an organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies.

Join our active Facebook community

Join Here

PRN Board

Members of the PRN Board are available to offer help and support to parents of LGBTQ children. Feel free to contact them with your questions.

Blair Barbour — Oak Park, IL blairbarbour22@gmail.com
JoAnne Carlotto — j.carlotto@verizon.net
Janet Dune — Austin, TX jdukeaustin@gmail.com
Page Hines — Haslet, TX pagehines@att.net

Alanna Ireland — Norman, OK alanna.d.ireland@gmail.com

Joy Leet — Stanley, NY geojoy1@yahoo.com

Audrey Myers — Elizabethtown, KY avmyers01@gmail.com

Dave Nuckols — Minnetonka, MN dave.nuckols@gmail.com

Carolyn Scott — Kerman, CA cscott93630@gmail.com
Eric Swanson — San Diego, CA rrch040522@gmail.com
Rexanna Swanson — San Diego, CA rrch4413@hotmail.com

Kevin Thomas — Tuscaloosa, AL kthomas@forestlakeumc.org
Cheryl Vaughn — Austin, TX cheryl.vaughan@sbcglobal.net
James Waugh — Grove City, OH jwaugh4@mac.com

the History of PRN

PRN began in 1999 when Bruce and Virginia (Ginny) Hilton, both United Methodist pastors and parents of a gay child, brought parents together. They aimed to present a visible witness of parents in support of ending the denomination’s anti-LGBTQ stance and provide their LGBTQ children the same rights as cisgender, heterosexual United Methodists at The United Methodist Church’s 2000 General Conference.

Reconciling Stoles

Started in time for the 2004 General Conference, rainbow stoles have been a part of United Methodist Annual and General Conferences throughout the US, worn by those wishing to proclaim that they are committed to full inclusion of lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and queer person in the life and policy of The UMC. Signifying the diversity of God’s ordained kin-dom, PRN volunteers have faithfully made over 7000 stoles for General Conferences in 2004, 2008, and 2012 and at RMN convocations in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. More are planned for GC 2016.