Being an Ally: Resources which educate and empower allies of LGBTQ+ people.
A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth
Cody J. Sanders, 2017 (format: book)
This book challenges pastors and church leaders to reflect on the various trials that adolescence brings for LGBTQIA youth. Designed for congregations that currently have a theologically and biblically affirming stance toward the LGBTQIA community, A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth provides insight and practical advice for tough questions like:
- How does an affirming stance toward LGBTQIA people affect the day-to-day experience of teenagers in a church setting?
- In what ways can a churchs youth ministry have a positive impact on the lives of LGBTQIA youth who want to fully live out their Christian faith and their gender identity?
- How can a pastor, youth minister, or youth ministry volunteer embrace, nurture, and provide skillful care for LGBTQIA youth in a congregation or community?
(categories: About Youth, All, Being an Ally)All in God’s Family: Creating Allies for Our LGBT Families
(format: book)
A curriculum available for the Institute for Welcoming Resources which includes the All in God’s Family curriculum guide, the book Families Like Mine, the video In My Shoes: Stories of Youth with LGBT Parents, and the CD-ROM That’s So Gay: Portraits of Youth with LGBT Parents. This curriculum gives you opportunities to gather with other members of your congregation to pray, to learn, to share, and to work together to transform your lives, your congregation, and your world into a loving place in which God’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families can thrive.
(categories: About Youth, All, Being an Ally, Christian Family and Community, Christian Marriage and Equal Marriage, Going Deeper, Personal Stories)Be Not Afraid: Straight for Equality in Faith Communities
Straight for Equality, PFLAG National, 2012 (format: free-download)
Be Not Afraid, delves deeply into how to be an ally to LGBTQ people in faith communities. Straight for Equality, which developed this resource, is a program of PFLAG.
(categories: All, Being an Ally)Being In Relationship: A New Way to Talk with Black and White Theologically Conservative Christians about the Place of Lesbian and Gay People in Our Families, Our Churches and Society.
(format: book)
Being in Relationship from Auburn Seminary is a guide for conducting discussions around LGBTQ issues across racial and theological divides. As can always be expected from Auburn Seminary, this resource is well researched and well presented.
(categories: All, Being an Ally, Discernment and Discussion, Going Deeper, Justice Work, Preparing for the Journey)Equality Literacy 101
Straight for Equality, PFLAG National (format: free-download)
A quick, two page list of terms and definitions that helps us develop the language to talk about the lives and issues of LGBTQ+ people, developed by Straight for Equality, a program of PFLAG.
(categories: Being an Ally, The Curious)Gender Spectrum
(format: website)
Gender Spectrum’s mission is to create a gender-inclusive world for all children and youth. To accomplish this, we help families, organizations, and institutions increase understandings of gender and consider the implications that evolving views have for each of us.
(categories: About Youth, Additional Resources, All, Being an Ally, Transgender)Guide to Being a Straight Ally
Straight for Equality, PFLAG National, 2015 (format: free-download)
This publication from Straight for Equality (a program of PFLAG) understands that allies come in many shapes and sizes. Some are working to learn more, some are confronting their own beliefs and prejudices, and all are supportive in their own way, in their own place and time.
(categories: All, Being an Ally)Guide to Being a Trans Ally
Straight for Equality, PFLAG National, 2016 (format: free-download)
This booklet from Straight for Equality (a program of PFLAG) provides guidance and education on how to be allies to our trans neighbors and siblings.
(categories: All, Being an Ally, Transgender)Justice Calls: Sermons of Welcome and Affirmation
Phil Snider, 2016 (format: book)
In Justice Calls, Disciples Pastor Phil Snider collects sermons that add compelling clarity to the growing chorus of Christian voices that are passionate about LGBTQ justice and equality–not in spite of their faith but precisely because of it.
With a combination of pastoral sensitivity, scholarly insight, and courageous vision, these sermons are a must-read not only for LGBTQ people longing to know they don’t have to deny their religious convictions in order to embrace their sexuality and/or gender identity, but also for people of faith who wonder if they have to disregard the Bible in order to fully accept their LGBTQ neighbors, friends, and family members.
Justice Calls includes sermons and essays from many well known Disciples pastors and scholars: Rita Nakashima Brock, Derek Penwell, Sandhya Rani Jha, Christian Piatt, Glen Miles, and a host of other excellent writers.
This volume is an ideal resource for small groups, Sunday school classes, preachers, church leaders, and all people everywhere who are interested in recognizing how the rich resources in the Bible can be cultivated in order to celebrate–rather than condemn–LGBTQ friends and neighbors.
Starting with the call for equality and ending with a call for the transformation of the church, this volume walks the journey of God’s affirming love for all with both care and courage.
(categories: All, Being an Ally, Going Deeper, Inclusion and Welcome, Personal Stories, Preaching Resources, Reflections and Musings, The Curious, Theology)Lutheran Introduction To Our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, And Queer Neighbors
ReconcilingWokrs: Lutherans for Full Participation, 2016 (format: website)
A quick but thorough introduction to concepts and terms used when talking with and about LGTBQ people from our Lutheran friends at ReconcilingWorks.
(categories: All, Beginning the Journey, Being an Ally, Bisexual, Gay Men, General Introduction, Intersex, Lesbian Women, Transgender)My Mind Was Changed: A New Way to Talk with Conflicted Christians about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Church and Society
Auburn Seminary (format: book)
Shares a new way to talk about LGBT dignity that helps conflicted Christians move through religious and emotional conflicts to become more supportive of equality. Meant for those who are working to craft a message about LGBT issues.
(categories: All, Being an Ally, Discernment and Discussion, Going Deeper, Justice Work)Our Trans Loved Ones: Questions and Answers for Parents, Families, and Friends of People who are Transgender and Gender Expansive
(format: free-download)
A booklet from PFLAG full of information and support for families and friends of transgender people.
(categories: All, Being an Ally, Transgender)Trans 101: A Brief Guide
Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests (format: free-download)
Despite its name, “A Brief Guide” this Trans 101 introduction to understanding transgender people contains almost 40 pages of clear and insightful information about trans people and the needs and issues facing the trans community.
(categories: All, Being an Ally, Transgender)transACTION: A Transgender Curriculum For Churches and Religious Institutions
(format: book)
transACTION is designed to help churches address this issue of understanding and welcoming transgender persons by providing step-by-step training about the needs, apprehensions and fears of transgender people – as well as the wealth of gifts and graces they bring – while responding to the concerns of the church or religious institution.
(categories: All, Being an Ally, Discernment and Discussion, Transgender)Transgender Basics
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, NYC, 2009 (format: book)
Transgender Basics is a 20 minute video that gives a quick overview of what you need to know to understand transgender people and their issues.
(categories: All, Being an Ally, Transgender)