Christian Family and Community: Resources with a significant focus on the shape of Christian family and community.
A Time to Build: Creating Sexually Healthy Faith Communities
Debra Haffner, 2012 (format: Book)
Outlines the building blocks of a sexually healthy faith community. Sections rigorously examine sexually healthy religious professionals, worship on sexuality issues, pastoral care on sexuality, youth and adult sexuality education, safe congregations policies, welcoming and affirming programs, and how congregations can advocate for sexual and spiritual wholeness in their communities.
(categories: All, Christian Family and Community, Going Deeper, Pastoral Care)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)Homosexuality and Christian Community
Choon-Leong Seow (ed.), 1996 (format: Book)
Written by faculty from the Princeton Theological Seminary, and thus a bit more academic, but an excellent set of essays on scripture, theology, and faithful Christian practice. Includes an excellent chapter entitled “How to Discuss Moral Issues Surrounding Homosexuality When You Know You Are Right.”
(categories: All, Christian Family and Community, Discernment and Discussion, The Curious)Jesus’ Family Values
Deidre Good, 2006 (format: Book)
Professor of New Testament at the General Theological Seminary in New York, Good asks: What are Christian family values? Why are there so many interpretations of what Jesus actually taught and said? and Which biblical values should guide our lives?
(categories: All, Bible Study, Christian Family and Community, Christian Marriage and Equal Marriage, Theology)Our Selves, Our Souls & Bodies
Charles Hefling (ed.), 1996 (format: Book)
A collection of essays and reflections from many perspectives, including family, scripture, and theology, but always with a personal, thoughtful touch. Written from the Episcopalian perspective but an excellent book for all Christians.
(categories: All, Christian Family and Community, Reflections and Musings, The Curious)Prayers for Bobby: A Mother’s Coming to Terms with the Suicide of Her Gay Son
Leroy Aarons, 1996 (format: Book)
The story of a mother’s struggle to reconcile the tension between her deeply held religious beliefs and the suicide of her gay son. Mary Griffith came from a religious family and raised her four children to believe in God and live a Christian life. Their church was the center of family life. When Bobby confided that he was gay, Mary convinced Bobby to pray that God would cure him and to seek solace in church activities. Bobby did it all, but the church’s hatred of homosexuality and the obvious pain his gayness was causing his family led to his suicide.
Prayers for Bobby is also available on DVD and as an Amazon Instant Video.
(categories: All, Bullying and Suicide, Christian Family and Community, Personal Stories, The Curious)To Do Justice: A Study of Welcoming Congregations
Rebecca Voelkel, 2009 (format: Free Download)
A study of welcoming congregations showing that the process of becoming a welcoming congregation creates a healthier congregation.
(categories: All, Beginning the Journey, Christian Family and Community)