This book provides a wide range of strategies for working on greater LGBT acceptance in congregations and in other settings. Topics include: why congregations need to involve LGBT persons; where caring clergy and other religious leaders are on the issues; making a decision to act; a factual primer on human sexuality; the Biblical basis for action; how to work with teens and their parents; worship suggestions; and how to advocate within denominations and the broader society.

Clergy and other congregational leaders around North America are painfully aware of the risks that are involved in a congregation becoming fully welcoming and affirming of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Much less attention has been focused on what congregations lose by not being welcoming and affirming. The reality is that a loving and accepting attitude toward LGBT people brings many blessings to a church. A congregation that chooses to be welcoming and affirming of LGBT people:

1. Contributes to a positive image of inclusive Christianity.
2. Creates an atmosphere fostering church growth.
3. Gains the considerable gifts of LGBT clergy, professional staff and lay members
4. Offers safe places for LGBT youth.
5. Provides opportunity for LGBT members to participate more fully in the life of the church.
6. Provides support to families and friends of LGBT persons.
7. Positions itself better to offer sexuality education for children, teens and adults.
8. Demonstrates the kind of expansive hospitality God expects of us.
9. Demonstrates solidarity with persons pursuing human rights and justice for all people, including LGBT persons.
10. Frees silent friends of LGBT people from damage to the soul caused by the disconnect between their personal convictions and their public vocalization.

Click here for a free pdf of this booklet.

This ground-breaking report is based on surveys of 1,511 clergy from 32 different denominations; telephone interviews with 268 clergy; many focus group meetings; and work with 61 pilot congregations. The report looks at the attitudes of clergy toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people; the work of advocacy groups within denominations; and the issues that block full acceptance of LGBT people in congregations. Readers of this report will gain:

• better understanding of effective practices to motivate clergy who feel positive toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to take proactive actions on their behalf.
• better understanding of effective practices to move those who are undecided toward affirmation of LGBT people.
• better understanding of effective practices to use in congregations to gain greater acceptance of LGBT people and greater willingness to work for the rights of LGBT people.

Clergy and other congregational leaders around North America are painfully aware of the risks that are involved in a congregation becoming fully welcoming and affirming of LGBT people. Much less attention has been focused on what congregations lose by not being welcoming and affirming. The reality is that a loving and accepting attitude toward LGBT people brings many blessings to a church. This report helps readers identify and articulate those blessings.

Steve Clapp is the president of Christian Community, Inc. and the author or coauthor of over thirty books on congregational life including Faith Matters: Teenagers, Religion, and Sexuality; Widening the Welcome of Your Church; and Deep and Wide: Hospitality and the Faithful Congregation.

Click here for a free pdf of this book.

As people of faith, we envision a world where all of God’s children are loved for who they are. Many people believe that God’s love and acceptance extend to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and have set out to build families, congregations, and communities that demonstrate this love, acceptance, and welcome.

But there are many concerns about how to make this a reality. When are children old enough to learn about sexual orientation and gender diversity? Will openness about these topics influence children’s developing gender identity and sexual orienation? This practical publication faces these concerns directly.

This book explains how to talk with children about sexual orientation from a faith perspective. The practical guidance will be of great value to parents, to clergy, to teachers, and to others who care about children. This is a gentle, non-threatening approach that reinforces how precious all of God’s children are.

Melany Burrill, the author of this publication, has been teaching sexuality education for young people and their parents in churches for over 25 years. She has a master’s degree in Religious Education from Wesley Seminary and worked for 16 years as a local church education director. Her love for young people and her passion for open, honest communication led her to write this book.

This is an attractive, easy-to-read booklet that gives an introduction to issues of sexual orientation and is designed to initiate dialogue in the church. Made in God’s Image (Described below) is a companion booklet that helps people understand gender differences.

In our work in Christian Community, we have found this publication to be the single best introduction to understanding gay and lesbian persons in congregations. It’s attractively illustrated, easy to understand, and answers the basic questions that people have.

This booklet grew out of experiences in a local congregation that wanted to become more welcoming. During that period of time, the congregation has thrived and grown. They’ve also been able to raise a generation of children in the context of a wider welcome.

Ann Thompson Cook has been educating people about sexuality, reproductive health, and gender for 25 years. She has written extensively and is considered one of the most knowledgeable people in North America on strategies to improve hospitality for LGBT people. Christian Community is very pleased to be offering her resources.

Dios Nos Ama Por Igual is the new Spanish language companion to And God Loves Each One, both written by Ann Thompson Cook. Dios Nos Ama Por Igual is not just a book, it is an invitation to learn and talk together about sexual orientation, in the context of our churches and families.

It’s time to bring to light that which has been shared only in darkness and secrecy. We must light a spark of understanding to help families and communities to grow together – reclaiming our profound faith that God loves each one of us equally.

Read it and begin a conversation. Share it with your church. Use the resource, Dios Nos Ama Por Igual to strengthen your family and your Christian community and to gain a better understanding of sexual orientation.

Like the tremendously helpful resource And God Loves Each One, this booklet grew out of the experiences in a local congregation that wanted to become more welcoming of all people. Made in God’s Image helps people better understand those whose experience of gender doesn’t fit conventional understanding.

In Christian Community’s study of pastors and lay persons, we have found that many people who have a reasonable understanding of gay and lesbian persons are unsure how to understand those who may describe themselves as transgender. Most of us are accustomed to thinking of gender in terms of male and female. Yet there are people who are not able to describe themselves in that way. Gender is determined by many factors including genes, hormones, prenatal environment, and the brain.

Like the publication And God Loves Each One, this resource is attractively illustrated and presents warm, positive images of diverse people. This publication is thoroughly grounded in the Christian faith and will be helpful to individual Christians as well as to congregations.

During the past two decades, religious institutions have struggled with issues related to sexual orientation and identity. Several of the largest mainstream denominations in the United States are currently engaged in fierce debates about how to include LGBT persons. On a local level, congregations find themselves mirroring these struggles about how to truly welcome people of diverse orientations and identities.

This multi-faith Study Guide can help you and your congregations seek answers to questions about sexual orientation and gender identity. The Guide brings you the most up-to-date scientific and religious information available. Each section includes resources for additional information and suggested questions for use in group discussion or individual reflection. The contents include:

• Definitions
• Prevalence Information
• What Science Says on Sexual and Gender Diversity
• Marriage, Family, and Youth Information
• What Scripture and Denominations Say

Rev. Debra Haffner and Tim Palmer work with the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, which is a part of Christian Community. Debra is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and was for many years the chief executive officer of SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. She is the author of several books including From Diapers to Dating: A Parent's Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children. Tim is the Research Director for the Religious Institute.