RESOURCESLinks (last updated in November 2001)
Church GLBT Organizations
Other sites related to GLBT/religion issues
(More categories to come)GLBT/Church Issues Bibliography
This list was developed for the April 1999 BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE CHURCH Conference. These are books of possible interest; those who put this list together were not able to read them all. Most of them were on one or more lists developed by Lutherans Concerned and More Light Presbyterians and as required reading for a United Theological Seminary course. Suggestions for books to add are welcome via e-mail (see bottom of page); please send author, title, publisher, year of publication and a brief description.
Alexander, Marilyn Bennett and Preston, James, We Were Baptized Too: Claiming God’s Grace for Lesbians and Gays, with a forward by Desmond Tutu. Challenges the church to take seriously its understanding of baptism and communion as a means of grace, justice and liberation.
Bawer, Bruce, A Place at the Table: The Gay Individual in American Society, Simon & Schuster, 1994.
Berzon, Betty, Setting Them Straight, You can do something about bigotry and homophobia in your life, Plume Penguin, 1996.
Bess, Howard H., Pastor, I Am Gay, Palmer Publishing Co., 1995
Brash, Alan A., Facing Our Differences: The Churches and Their Gay and Lesbian Members. Geneva, Switzerland: WCC Publications, 1995. Presbyterian minister from New Zealand, former deputy general of the World Council of Churches, points the way towards respectful understanding of divergent interpretations of the Bible, ethics and theology which has profound consequences for the lives of many and for the unity of the church.
Brawley, Robert L., editor, Biblical Ethics and Homosexuality: Listening to Scripture. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. Twenty-four Bible scholars, primarily Presbyterians from Presbyterian seminaries, gathered for Consultation on Biblical Ethics and Human Sexuality at McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago. Offers a challenge to the church to give heed to the multiplicity of voices that are engaged in biblically responsible and constructive debates about the volatile issues regarding sexuality.
Cherry, Kitteredge, and Zalmon Sherwood, editors, Equal Rites: Lesbian And Gay Worship, Ceremonies, And Celebrations, Louisville, Westminster/John Knox Press, 1995. Much-needed collection of worship services that address significant aspects of lesbian and gay spirituality, including spiritual beginnings, healing, blessings, communion, and pride and empowerment.
Cleaver, Richard, Know My Name: A Gay Liberation Theology. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995. Examines the struggles of gay men and lesbians in the church through the lens of liberation theology. Offers a "gay reading" of scripture that is spiritually challenging to all.
Cohen, Susan and Daniel, When Someone You Know is Gay, New York, M. Evans & Company, 1989. Short, readable chapters. Covers questions that kids often ask. Explores scripture and theology.
Comstock, Gary David, Gay Theology Without Apology, Cleveland, Pilgrim Press, 1993. Assesses scripture, tradition, and church practice as fragile but valued resources for nurturing a more inclusive human community.
Comstock, Gary David, Unrepentant, Self-Affirming, Practicing: Lesbian/Bisexual/Gay People within Organized Religion, New York, Continuum 1996. Privileges the experience of our people in their churches, mosques and synagogues. Explores not so much the church's view of gay people, but gay people's view of the church.
Edwards, George R., Gay/Lesbian Liberation: A Biblical Perspective, New York, Pilgrim Press, 1984. Biblical rationale for acceptance of homosexuality as legitimate expression of human sexuality in context of liberation theology. Edwards is retired from faculty of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and was member of General Assembly Task Force on the Church and Homosexuality.
Fortunato, John E., Embracing the Exile: Healing Journeys of Gay Christians, New York: Harper Collins, 1982. Stories of the spiritual struggle and growth of gay Christians told by a gay psychotherapist.
Glaser, Chris, Come Home! Reclaiming Spirituality and Community as Gay Men and Lesbians, San Francisco, Harper & Row, 1990.
Glaser, Chris, The Word Is Out – The Bible Reclaimed for Lesbians and Gay Men, Harper-San Francisco, 1994. In this 365-day meditation book, the Bible's good news "comes out" to meet all of us with love, justice, meaning, and hope.
Glaser, Chris, Uncommon Calling. A Gay Christian's Struggle to Serve the Church, Harper & Row, 1988. A gay candidate for ministry in the United Presbyterian Church (USA) describes the events surrounding his rejection by the church and his journey thereafter to serve the church.
Gomes, Peter J., The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart, William Morrow & Co., 1996.
Goss, Robert, Jesus Acted Up: A Gay And Lesbian Manifesto, New York, HarperCollins, 1993. What does it mean to speak and practice Christianity from a gay and/or lesbian perspective? Jesus' message is that the kingdom of God is an achievable state in which love, rather than power, is the principle governing human relations.
Hannon, Howard, Agony in the Garden: The Story of a Gay Minister, Portland, Oregon, OutWrite Publishing, 1996. Story of a gay Presbyterian clergyman, who, coming to terms with his homosexuality, engages the faith, and is brought to an acceptance of his own sexuality as a gift from God.
Helminiak, Daniel A., What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality: Recent Findings by Top Scholars Offer a Radical New View, Alamo Square Press, San Francisco, 1994. A thoughtful, lucid and accessible summary of current biblical scholarship. From the acknowledgement: "to lesbian women and gay men who believe in a good God and reverence the Bible and who also want to be able to believe in themselves."
Hilton, Bruce, Can Homophobia Be Cured?, Nashville, Tennessee, Abingdon Press, 1992. Only 128 pages, each chapter a question -- "What do we know about gay people? What does the Bible say? What does the Church say?" etc. Strong advocacy for total inclusion of gay and lesbian persons in the life of the church. Hilton is a Methodist, director of the National Center for Bioethics.
Hoffman, Patricia L., AIDS and the Sleeping Church, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids MI, 1995. Personal journal of the author's ministry with people living with AIDS. Exposes readers to the justice issues raised by AIDS. She calls the church to stand in the face of this epidemic, as "a voice for sanity, acceptance and compassion." Foreword by Chris Glaser.
Jung, Patricia B. & Smith, Ralph F., Heterosexism, An Ethical Challenge, State University of New York Press, 1993.
McNeill, John J., Freedom, Glorious Freedom: The Spiritual Journey to the Fullness of Life for Gays, Lesbians, and Everybody Else, Boston, Beacon Press, 1995. Deals with the presence of the Spirit of God, of love in our daily experience and the freedom we can find by connecting with the spirit of God in our hearts.
McNeill, John J., Taking A Chance on God, Liberating Theology for Gays, Lesbians and their Lovers, Families and Friends, Boston, Beacon Press, 1988. How tradition and scripture support love between people of the same sex. Shows that a positive gay identity is compatible with Christian faith.
Mollenkott, Virginia Ramey, Sensuous Spirituality: Out From Fundamentalism, New York, Crossroad, 1992. Uses Biblical, literature and faith experiences to argue for integration of spirituality, eros and justice.
Mollenkott, Virginia Ramey, and Letha Scanzoni, Is The Homosexual My Neighbor? Another Christian View, San Francisco, Harper & Row, 1978. Two respected evangelical Christians consider scripture, origins of homosexuality to form viable, positive Christian view of homosexual persons.
Nelson, James B., The Intimate Connection: Male Sexuality, Masculine Spirituality, Philadelphia, Westminster Press, 1988; and Embodiment: An Approach to Sexuality and Christian Theology, Minneapolis, Augsburg, 1978. Two highly-recommended works for those seeking integrity of Christian faith and sexuality.
O'Neill, Craig and Ritter, Kathleen, Coming Out Within: Stages of Spiritual Awakening for Lesbians and Gay Men, San Francisco, Harper, 1992. Eight-stage process by which poignant loss such as losing loved ones to AIDS, being despised by segments of society can facilitate personal and spiritual transformation. "A treasure trove of gay and lesbian affirmation."
Pott, Norm, Called Out With: Stories of Presbyterian Supporters of Gays & Lesbians, Westminster John Knox Press, 1997. An edited work of stories written by heterosexuals in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons who desire opportunities for leadership within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
S., Vanessa, Cross Purposes, On Being Christian and Crossgendered, Decatur, GA, Sullivan Press, 1996.
Savin-Williams, Ritch C., “--and then I became gay”: young men's stories, New York, Routledge, 1998.
Scroggs, Robin, The New Testament and Homosexuality: Contextual Background for Contemporary Debate, Philadelphia, Fortress Press, 1983. Easy-to-read review of Greek, Palestinian Jewish and Hellenistic Jewish cultures and related study of Pauline usage of the Greek language.
Spahr, Jane Adams, Kathryn Poethig, Selisse Berry, Melinda McLain, editors, Called Out: The Voices and Gifts of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Presbyterians, Chi Rho Press, P.O. Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898, (301) 670-1859. 1995. 39 sexual minority Presbyterians write about their calling, their ministries, their struggles, and their faithfulness to the God who has called them out and to the church which has sought to block and hinder their ministries.
Spong, John Shelby, Living in Sin? A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality, San Francisco, Harper & Row, 1988. Well-written argument for a more inclusive teaching by the church about equal, loving, non-exploitative human relationships. Discusses homosexuality, divorce, marriage practices in a highly industrialized society, relationships among widowed.
Spong, John Shelby, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, A bishop rethinks the meaning of scripture, New York, HarperCollins, 1991.
Stuart, Elizabeth, editor, Daring To Speak Love's Name: A Gay and Lesbian Prayer Book. London: Hamish Hamilton/Penguin Books, 1992. Inspirational psalms and prayers that celebrate relationships, housewarmings, coming out, provide healing liturgies for people living with HIV/AIDS, and acknowledge partings and death of friends.
Tigert, Leanne McCall, Coming Out While Staying In: Struggles and Celebrations of Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals in the Church, Pilgrim, 1996
White, Mel, Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America, Plume Penguin, 1994.
Williams, Robert, Just As I Am: A Practical Guide to Being Out, Proud and Christian, New York, HarperCollins, 1992. For gay men and lesbians who want to reclaim Christianity as part of a proud gay identity and join with Jesus Christ in a passionate spiritual journey.
Wilson, Nancy, Out Tribe: Queer Folks, God, Jesus, and the Bible, Harper-San Francisco, 1995. An anecdotal, scripture-citing, and very funny account of the author's mission to radicalize the mainstream Church by passionately proclaiming a "queer theology" that can lead all Christian folk into the next millennium.
Wink, Walter, Homosexuality and the Bible, 16-page booklet, available from Fellowship Bookstore, Box 271, Nyack, NY 10960. 914-358-4601. Individual copies, $1.50 including postage and handling; volume discounts. Text is on the Web at http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/wink.htm
Church GLBT Organizations
Witness Our Welcome (WOW!) 2000: God’s Promise Is For You -- An Ecumenical Welcoming Church Movement conference in August 2000 in Illinois.
Rainbow Baptists (American & Southern)
Honesty (Southern Baptists)
The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (American Baptist Churches USA)
American Baptists ConcernedBrethren/Mennonite Council for Lesbian and Gay Concerns
Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciples Alliance (Disciples of Christ)
AXIOS (Eastern and Orthodox)
Integrity (Episcopal Church)
Beyond Inclusion
Alliance of Lesbian and Gay AnglicansLutherans Concerned North America
Reconciling In ChristMore Light Presbyterians (PC USA)
(includes former "Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns"/PLGC)Shower of Stoles -- A collection of hundreds of liturgical stoles from GLBT people of faith from all over North America, from Canada to Cuba, Alaska to Hawaii. They are active leaders in their faith communities -- ordained ministers, elders, deacons, seminarians, church musicians, missionaries and other gifted people -- who have been barred from serving their faith community because of their sexual orientation. This collection was created as a witness to give a voice to these faithful people, many of whom have been forced to choose between serving in silence or losing their livelihood.
Friends for Lesbian & Gay Concerns (Religious Society of Friends/Quakers)
Q-Light (LGBT Quakers)
Quakers and Same Sex IssuesDignity/USA (Roman Catholic)
Interweave (Unitarian Universalists)
Open & Affirming Program (United Church of Christ)
Affirmation (United Methodist Church)
Affirming Congregation Programme (United Church of Canada) [e-mail link only]
(Please write about any dead links -- see E-mail below. Suggested additions welcome.)
Other sites related
to GLBT/religion issuesCenter for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at Pacific School of Religion.
Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance -- Link is to their very extensive data on "Policies of religious groups towards homosexuals and homosexuality." Don't miss this site -- excellent resource!
Whosoever -- An Online Magazine for GLBT Christians
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Catholic Handbook
Welcoming Ministries -- An ecumenical effort (UMC, UCC, ELCA, PCUSA, ABC, Disciples) which publishes Open Hands, Recources for Ministries Affirming the Diversity of Human
Sexuality.Interfaith Working Group Online Links -- Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Religion Documents; Periodicals Addressing Religion and Sexual Orientation; Online BGLT Ministries; Organizations Advocating Equal Treatment for Sexual Minorities; Gay-Oriented Religious Indices; and more.
Gaychristians -- An Internet network of affirmative and supportive chat channels and resources.
Bridges-Across the Divide -- "A cyberspace initiative providing models and resources for building respectful relationships among those who disagree about moral issues surrounding homosexuality, bisexuality and gender variance."
Gay Dad -- Section on "What is the religious point of view?" -- Can a homosexual remain a Christian? What does the Bible say? What about some of the major religions? Can religion change your sexuality?
Christian Lesbians Out (CLOUT) -- A solidarity movement nationally and internationally celebrating the miracle of being Lesbian, OUT and Christian.
ChristianLesbians.com ... "Not a contradiction. Neither are you."
Gay and lesbian related WWW links -- From The Other Side ecumenical magazine.
Lavender Magazine -- Religious resources (Minneapolis/St. Paul).
Youth Resource: Our Faith -- Sections on Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Unitarianism, traditional religions and Vedanta.
Gay and Christian? -- Books, discussion lists, web sites and information.
Christian Gay Network -- Chat rooms, links, e-mail groups.
TransFaith (Transgender Christians)
Evangelical Network -- "Bible believing churches, ministries, Christian workers and individuals... established as a positive resource and support for Christian gays and lesbians."
Evangelicals Concerned with Reconciliation -- "Nationwide ministry of Christ-centered, Bible-believing, evangelical gay and lesbian Christians." Eastern Region Western Region
Gay Spirit Ring -- This web ring is open to new thought and ideas in what it means to be gay and spiritual.
Erratic Impact/Queer Religion -- "Hundreds of annotated links to Queer Theory and LGBT resources, designed to assist LGBT people involved in academic study and philosophy research. Erratic Impact also features hundreds of LGBT books, music and films."
Soulforce (The Rev. Dr. Mel White) -- "A Network of friends learning nonviolence from Gandhi and King seeking justice for God's GLBT children."
Q-Spirit -- "An organization for gay/lesbian/queer people who wish to connect with others sharing an interest in personal growth, spirituality and the many expressions of each. Honoring all paths and traditions, it's a forum in which individuals can come together to explore, investigate and share spiritual expressions, journeys and practices."
(Please write about any dead links -- see E-mail below. Suggested additions welcome.)
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