Especially for Clergy
Church leaders, particularly ordained clergy, hold the dual role of being both prophetic and pastoral – they must help the congregation be better, while also supporting it as it is. The following resources address this sensitive dynamic and provide guidance about shaping worship and preaching for greater inclusion.
Like what you see here? Know of a resource we’re missing? We’d love to hear from you. Share your feedback and suggestions with us.
Why I Believe Out Loud
Christian leaders share their reasons for standing up for LGBT inclusion
Resource type(s): Tools and Activities 
Ancient Future Disciples - Meeting Jesus in Mission Shaped Ministries
Becky Garrison
Resource type(s): Books 
Where All Can Safely Live: A Guide to Understanding Bullying in Our Communities
Lutherans Concerned/North America
St. Paul, Minnesota, 2011
Resource type(s): St. Paul, Minnesota, 2011
Books
Tools and Activities
How Clergy Helped a Same-Sex Marriage Law Pass
Samuel G. Freedman
New York Times
July 15, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles New York Times
July 15, 2011
Living with Differences: Two Congregations, Two Viewpoints on Gay Clergy
The Rev. Dr. Randall K. Bush
Odyssey Networks, 2011
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia Odyssey Networks, 2011
Catholics Are Reaching Out to the LGBT Community
Joseph Sullivan
Buffalo News, June 2, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles Buffalo News, June 2, 2011
Gay or Straight, Allow Clergy to Reflect the Rest of Us
Mark Oakley
The Guardian, June 4, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles The Guardian, June 4, 2011
It Gets Beautiful: One Rabbi's Perspective on Being Jewish and LGBTQ
Andrea Myers
Huffington Post, May 23, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles Huffington Post, May 23, 2011
Melissa Harris-Perry: LGBT Advocates Need Public Progressive Faith
Peter Montgomery, Religion Dispatches, May 31, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles 
Open the Gates of Righteousness for Me: Toward a New Reading of the Torah in Light of the New Status of Gays and Lesbians in the Jewish Community
David Greenstein
The Journal of the Academy for Jewish Religion, Vol. 3, No. 1 (5767/2007)
Resource type(s): Articles The Journal of the Academy for Jewish Religion, Vol. 3, No. 1 (5767/2007)
Finding Our Voice: Speaking of Homosexuality and The Bible
Rev. Michael S. Piazza, Cathedral of Hope UCC, Dallas
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
Ordination of Hispanic UCC Pastors Lifts Up ONA, 'New Understanding'
Jeff Woodard, United Church News
United Church of Christ, May 24, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles United Church of Christ, May 24, 2011
I Preached Against Homosexuality, but I was Wrong
Murray Richmond
First appeared on Salon.com March 27th, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles First appeared on Salon.com March 27th, 2011
Struggling with Scripture
William C. Placher, Professor of Religion at Wabash College
Address to the 2000 Covenant Conference in Pittsburgh, PA
November 3, 2000
Resource type(s): Articles Address to the 2000 Covenant Conference in Pittsburgh, PA
November 3, 2000
Even to the Gentile
Andrew Foster Connors
Associate Pastor, Idlewild Presbyterian Church Memphis
Sermon to the 2002 Covenant Conference, November 8, 2002
Resource type(s): Articles Associate Pastor, Idlewild Presbyterian Church Memphis
Sermon to the 2002 Covenant Conference, November 8, 2002
The Last Word on Biblical Authority
Brian Blount
Address to the 2000 Covenant Conference,
November 3, 2000
Resource type(s): Articles Address to the 2000 Covenant Conference,
November 3, 2000
Radical Love: An Introduction to Queer Theology
Patrick S. Cheng
Seabury Books; March 4, 2011
Resource type(s): Books Seabury Books; March 4, 2011
Church's transgender pastor grateful for life "beyond my wildest dreams"
Electa Daper, The Denver Post, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles 
Behavioral Covenants in Congregations
Gilbert Rendle
Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 1999.
Resource type(s): Books Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 1999.
Leading Change in the Congregation
Gilbert Rendle
Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 1998.
Resource type(s): Books Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 1998.
Leadership in Congregations
Richard Bass, ed.
Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 2007.
Resource type(s): Books Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 2007.
Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America
Mel White
Penguin Group, New York 1994
Resource type(s): Books Penguin Group, New York 1994
Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians
Candace Chellew-Hodge
A Wiley Imprint, San Fransisco, CA, 2008
Resource type(s): Books A Wiley Imprint, San Fransisco, CA, 2008
What Does Romans I Teach About Homosexuality?
Beverly Roberts Gavanta
From Frequently Asked Questions About Sexuality, the Bible, & the Church
Resource type(s): Articles From Frequently Asked Questions About Sexuality, the Bible, & the Church
Biblical Authority: A Personal Reflection
Walter Brueggemann
Address to the 2000 Covenant Conference
Pittsburgh, PA. November 3, 2000
Resource type(s): Articles Address to the 2000 Covenant Conference
Pittsburgh, PA. November 3, 2000
Room For All Resources
Room For All (Reformed Church in America), Resources
Resource type(s): Tools and Activities Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests Resources
Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests (Mennonite Church USA)
Resource type(s): Tools and Activities 
Become a More Light Church
More Light Presbyterians (Presbyterian Church [USA])
Resource type(s): Tools and Activities 
Integrity USA (Episcopal Church), Process for Becoming Welcoming & Affirming
Integrity USA (Episcopal Church)
Resource type(s): Tools and Activities 
Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciple Alliance (Disciples of Christ), Downloads and Resources
Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciple Alliance (Disciples of Christ)
Resource type(s): Tools and Activities 
The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (American Baptist, Alliance of Baptists and other Baptist churches), Resources
The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists
Resource type(s): Tools and Activities 
Reconciling Ministries Network (UMC) Study Guides and Worship Resources
Reconciling Ministries Network (United Methodist Church)
Resource type(s): Tools and Activities 
Coalition for LGBT Concerns (United church of Christ) O&A Study Packet and Resources
The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns
Resource type(s): Tools and Activities 
The Practice of Adaptive Leadershhip: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World
Ronald Heifetz, Alexander Grashow, Marty Linsli
Cambridge, Mass., Harvard Business School Press, 2009.
Resource type(s): Books Cambridge, Mass., Harvard Business School Press, 2009.
Difficult Conversations: Taking Risks, Acting with Integrity
Katie Day
Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 2001.
Resource type(s): Books Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 2001.
Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies, and Celebrations
Kittredge Cherry and Zalmon Sherwood, eds.
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995.
Resource type(s): Books Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995.
Coming Out to God: Prayers for Lesbians and Gay Men, Their Families and Friends
Chris Glaser
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1991.
Resource type(s): Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1991.
Books
Tools and Activities
Theological reflections on Yogi Berra's "the Future Ain't What It Used to Be"
Patrick Henry, Executive Director, Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research
COVENANT NETWORK CONFERENCE 2003
November 8, 2003
Resource type(s): Articles COVENANT NETWORK CONFERENCE 2003
November 8, 2003
One Gospel Many Ears
Joseph R. Jeter Jr. and Ronald J. Allen (eds.)
St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2002.
Resource type(s): Books St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2002.
Gay Affirmative Therapy for the Straight Clinician: The Essential Guide
Joe Kort
New York: W. W. Norton, 2008
Resource type(s): Books New York: W. W. Norton, 2008
Discovering Images of God: Narratives of Care Among Lesbians and Gays
Larry Kent Graham
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Resource type(s): Books Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Counseling Lesbian Partners (Counseling and Pastoral Theology)
Joretta L. Marshall
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Resource type(s): Books Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Pastoral Care of Gays, Lesbians, and Their Families (Creative Pastoral Care and Counseling)
David K. Switzer
Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999.
Resource type(s): Books Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999.
Lesbian and Gay Youth
Caitlin Ryan and Donna Futterman
New York: Columbia University Press, 1998.
Resource type(s): Books New York: Columbia University Press, 1998.
Bishop Lee’s Choice
Michael Massing
Published New York Times: January 4, 2004
We Will, With God’s Help: Perspectives on Baptism, Sexuality, and the Anglican Communion
Resource type(s): Articles
Sex and the Single Savior: Gender and Sexuality in Biblical Interpretation
Dale B. Martin
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006.
Resource type(s): Books Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006.
How I Changed My Mind on Homosexuality
Jack B. Rogers, former moderator of the highest governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Address to Covenant Network Northwest Regional Conference
October 11, 2003
Resource type(s): Articles Address to Covenant Network Northwest Regional Conference
October 11, 2003
Jesus, The Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church
Jack Rogers
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
Resource type(s): Books Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
Struggling with Scripture
Walter Brueggemann, William C. Placher, & Brian K. Blount
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
Resource type(s): Books Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
Frequently Asked Questions
My church is not officially a welcoming and affirming church to LGBT persons. How do we begin that process?
The Institute for Welcoming Resources has developed a non-denominational resource – Building a Welcoming Church: An Inclusive Toolkit – that can help guide your church in this process.
Another non-denominational resource is Acting Out Loud, developed by the Religious Institute.
If your church is denominationally affiliated, browse our list of partners to find the LGBT advocacy group working in your denomination.
Will talking about gays and lesbians alienate my congregation?
Starting the conversation is more likely to bring the community together than drive it apart. Many people are touched by LGBT issues, whether they identify as LGBT themselves, or have friends or loved ones who do. Discussing these issues makes the church community safer and more supportive for these individuals. When clergy and congregants maintain open lines of communication about sensitive issues like this one, they build a more cohesive church community. Elephants in the room tend to trample everyone.
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