9633477 Erikson This Dissertation Improvement project examines the emergence, growth and activities of a gay/lesbian community church in San Francisco and its relationship to the larger San Francisco gay/lesbian movement and community. This case study will advance sociological analysis and understanding of the interconnections among social movements, religion, and collective identity. The research employs a variety of qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and archival/document analysis. It seeks to fill an empirical gap in the sociological literature on gay and lesbian religious communities and will test the general hypothesis that gay and lesbian religious participation and organizations, in interaction with the larger gay and lesbian community, facilitate the creation of new personal and collective identities, and thereby increase participants' sense of personal and collective efficacy and empowerment.
