PeacePrints
Retreats for Parents
A safe place for parents to express their feelings with fellow believers in Christ.
PeacePrints is for parents looking for hope and healing. Find support, education, encouragement and a safe community in a weekend away from the stress and noise of daily life.
This retreat is for parents of LGBTQ+ children of any age. Whether your child came out yesterday or ten years ago, you are welcome to join us!
2023 Retreats
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June 9-11 Franklin, TN
The "Second Closet"
It's been said that when a child comes out of the closet, their parents go in. This "second closet" keeps parents isolated, feeling that they can't share this significant news with anyone. For Christian parents especially, the revelation that their child is LGBTQ+ unleashes a flood of questions - how did this happen? Is it my fault? What will my church think? What does the Bible really say about this? Can my child still have a relationship with God? Can I?
So many parents feel that they cannot safely give voice to these questions in their church, even with their small groups or Bible classes that have been like family for years. Parents can experience significant anxiety over these and many other questions, struggling alone with fear and doubts about their faith. They grieve over what this might mean for their child's future, fearing a life of loneliness, discrimination and separation from God.
At PeacePrints, parents get a chance to breathe, to openly ask their questions, and express their doubts with a safe community of other moms and dads who have walked this path.
Reconnect with God
Parents whose moral beliefs are in conflict with an LGBTQ+ child's sexuality are particularly vulnerable to feeling isolated, not only from their church community but also in their own relationship with God. They can be overwhelmed by shame and guilt, finding it difficult to pray, worship or read the Bible.
PeacePrints offers hope that parents don't need to choose between their faith and their child. They can bring all their doubts, fears, and questions to God at this retreat.
Find Support
Feelings associated with the discovery of a child’s sexuality can be debilitating for some parents. Having those feelings validated and providing a safe place to express them is key to moving past the pain. A significant part of the retreat is sharing our stories and finding solidarity with one another.
The weekend will provide an atmosphere of safety and introduce parents to a network of other moms and dads who are similarly situated, offering understanding and support, and eliminating feelings of isolation.
Looking for answers
Christian parents frequently expect that they can open their Bible and find answers about their child's sexuality, and feel frustration when deeper study leads to even more ambiguity. PeacePrints doesn't offer easy answers to complex questions. While we spend time talking about the Bible, the purpose of this retreat is not to change parents' minds about Scripture. Here are some of the questions the retreat will explore:
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What do we know and not know about sexuality?
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What should I say and not say to maintain a loving relationship with my child?
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How can I help support my child?
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How do I love my child unconditionally when our beliefs about sexuality differ?
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How do I talk to my own parents and my church friends about this?
"Our first parent retreat was the beginning of reconciliation with our child and healing of our hearts. Being able to share with other parents further down the road gave us a sense of hope and peace."
"When our child came out we had no resources, no tools, and no reference of where to begin. We didn’t even have the vocabulary to know how to express the questions rolling around in our hearts and heads. The PeacePrints retreat helped us break a pathway to healing and learn to do life in a new way with our child."
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Testimonials from PeacePrints Parents
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"I was amazed and heartbroken that of the couples attending, over half had never shared this secret with anyone at church or in their family. Many times parents hold this as a secret deep in their heart, feeling this is not their story to share. Retreats like these give parents who were terrified to walk across the threshold a truly safe place to let that secret go."