The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how exposure to fundamentalist teachings of Scripture in Black churches influenced the faith formation of Black American Christians. I interviewed nine participants aged 40 and over who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer (LGBTQ). My findings were the following six themes: (1) Exposure to traditional teachings and negative rhetoric about LGBTQ persons and acts as early as childhood; (2) Eventual rejection of fundamentalist interpretations; (3) Not feeling welcomed or safe within the church; (4) A shared experience of internalized homonegativity; (5) A belief that exposure to these teachings had adverse consequences on various aspects of their faith development; and (6) A belief that additional growth is needed with many Black churches in order to be more welcoming. I offer the following five recommendations to Black church leaders: (1) Exploration of Scripture from a historical and cultural perspective; (2) Examination of the potential influence of patriarchy and sexism to heterosexism and homophobia; (3) Learning from scholars who have studied queer theology; (4) Exploring biological and psychological studies about persons who identify as LGBTQ; and (5) Engaging in dialogue or listening to the stories of persons who identify as LGBTQ. I offer the following three additional recommendations to persons who identify as LGBTQ: (1) Empowering and equipping themselves through the exploration of historical and critical interpretations of biblical passages; (2) Seeking opportunities to share their experiences; and (3) Seeking out places of worship that are welcoming and affirming. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]