Starting the Conversation
Stories can be powerful entry points into the conversation about LGBT inclusion. Stories deepen understanding, and teach to treat others with compassion and respect. This collection of resources will help your church community begin a dialogue about 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.
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Resource type(s): Tools and Activities 
UNFAIR: Why the "Christian" View of Gays Doesn't Work
John Shore
184 Pages
CreateSpace Press, 2011
Resource type(s): Books 184 Pages
CreateSpace Press, 2011
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
On the Male Side of Middle
Paul Neudorf: Writer, Director, Editor
The Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests, 2011
Length: 12 minutes
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
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
Mosques and Welcoming LGBT People
Hussein Rashid
Religion Dispatches, May 16, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles Religion Dispatches, May 16, 2011
Melissa Harris-Perry: LGBT Advocates Need Public Progressive Faith
Peter Montgomery, Religion Dispatches, May 31, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles 
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
Let's Talk About Sex
Let's Talk About Sex (2010), 62 mins.
Directed by James Houston, Not Rated
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia Directed by James Houston, Not Rated
Taking a New Look: Why Congregations Need LGBT Members
Ft. Wayne, IN: LifeQuest, 2008
Resource type(s): Articles 
Church's transgender pastor grateful for life "beyond my wildest dreams"
Electa Daper, The Denver Post, 2011
Resource type(s): Articles Leadership in Congregations
Richard Bass, ed.
Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 2007.
Resource type(s): Books Bethesda, Maryland: The Alban Institute, 2007.
Family Acceptance Project
Family Acceptance Project, SFSU, Video Campaign
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
IMPACT, The LGBT Health and Development Program
IMPACT, Video Campaign
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia
Tools and Activities
Bob and Jack's 52-year Adventure
Stu Maddox and Joseph Applebaum, 2006, Running Length: 41 minutes
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
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
Sacred Covenants, Faithful Conversations
United Church of Christ
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
Trembling Before G-D
Simcha Leib Productions, 2001, Running Length: 80 minutes
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
Thy Will Be Done
Mineral King Productions, 2010, Running Length: 57 minutes
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
Fish Out of Water
Yellow Wing Productions, 2008, Running Length: 60 minutes
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
Sailing on Faith: See Who God Has Sent
United Church of Christ
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
Bi-sex-u-al
Produced by the United Church of Christ and Filmworks
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
For the Bible Tells Me So
Atticus Group and VisionQuest Productions, Released By Fiirst Run Features, 2007, running length: 95 min.
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
We're All Angels
Telekinetic Entertainment, 2007, Running Length: 90 minutes
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
Call Me Malcolm
United Church of Christ and Filmworks, Inc., 2005, Running Length: 90 minutes
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
Turning Points
Covenant Network of Presbyterians and Greenhouse Pictures, 2005, Running Length: 60 minutes
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia 
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
Prayers for Bobby: A Mother's Coming to Terms with the Suicide of Her Gay Son
Leroy Aarons
San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995.
Resource type(s): Books San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995.
The Shared Heart: Portraits and Stories Celebrating Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young People
Adam Mastoon
New York: HarperCollins, 2001.
Resource type(s): Books New York: HarperCollins, 2001.
Braving the Streets Her Way
By Anne Hull
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 3, 2004; Page A01
Resource type(s): Articles Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 3, 2004; Page A01
In the Bible Belt, Acceptance Is Hard-Won
By Anne Hull
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 26, 2004; Page A01
Resource type(s): Articles Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 26, 2004; Page A01
A Time to Speak: Faith Communities and Sexuality Education
Debra W. Haffner and Kate M. Ott,
Norwalk, CT: Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, 2005.
Resource type(s): Norwalk, CT: Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, 2005.
Articles
Tools and Activities
Silent and Undecided Friends: Motivating Greater LGBT Rights Advocacy Among Clergy and Congregations
Steve Clapp
Ft. Wayne, IN: LifeQuest, 2008.
Resource type(s): Books Ft. Wayne, IN: LifeQuest, 2008.
Congregations Talking about Homosexuality: A Dialogue on a Difficult Issue
Beth Ann Gaede, ed.,
Alban Institute, 1999.
Resource type(s): Alban Institute, 1999.
Books
Tools and Activities
Called Out With: Stories of Solidarity in Support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Persons
Sylvia Thorson-Smith, Johanna W. H. van Wijk-Bos, Norm Pott, and William P. Thompson
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Resource type(s): Books Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Called Out: The Voices and Gifts of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Presbyterians
Jane Adams Spahr, Kathryn Poething, Selisse Berry, and Melinda V. McLain
Gaithersburg, MD: Chi Rho Press, 1995.
Resource type(s): Books Gaithersburg, MD: Chi Rho Press, 1995.
And Grace Shall Lead Me Home: Inclusion and Evangelical Conscience
Dr. Mark Achtemeier, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Dubuque Seminary
Address delivered to the Covenant Network of Presbyterians
November 5, 2009
Resource type(s): Articles Address delivered to the Covenant Network of Presbyterians
November 5, 2009
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sexuality, the Bible, & the Church
Ted A. Smith, ed.,
San Francisco: Covenant Network of Presbyterians, 2006.
Resource type(s): Books San Francisco: Covenant Network of Presbyterians, 2006.
In God’s House: Asian American Lesbian and Gay Families in the Church
Institute for Leadership Development and Study of Pacific and Asian North American Religion, Pacific School of Religion, 2006, Running Length: 23 min; subtitles in multiple languages
Resource type(s): Movies and Multimedia Frequently Asked Questions
What if I feel uncomfortable talking about LGBT issues?
That's okay. It's not an easy subject to talk about. Many subjects in life are difficult to share, but silence implies assent and makes change even more difficult to achieve. The resources on this page are designed to help ease your discomfort and give you some practical strategies for beginning the conversation.
What about interpretations of the Bible that say homosexuality is a sin? How do I begin the conversation if people in my church think being gay is a sin?
Bible study is a valuable tool for discerning God's will in our lives, and any conversation about homosexuality in the church should include an element of prayerful biblical study. To help guide you in this study, it may help to read about how others’ interpret the bible. Check out our Theological Resources for some suggestions.
Jesus Christ called each of us to love one another—not some of the people, not some of the time, but all the people, all the time. At its core, this is what Believe Out Loud is all about.
