New in Religion & Faith
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Marriage in California
It's marriage season in California and HRC's Religion Council members are busy! On June 17, two members of the Religion Council, Rabbi Denise Eger of Kol Ami Synagogue and Rev. Susan Russell of All Saints Church, were featured in a KNBC-Los Angeles broadcast. They spoke to reporters about the spiritual power of this victory for gay and lesbian couples who are now allowed to wed under California state law, as well as their own feelings.
Also, read Rabbi Denise Eger's blog, Parshat Shelach-Lecha; Numbers 13:1-15:41 about the meaning of marriage equality to people of faith in California. Eger calls on us to "give the deepest thanks of our heart for helping us see this [day] and be a part of this in our lifetime." To which we can all respond with a heartfelt "Amen." -
Seventh-day Adventists at the Equality Forum
On June 17, HRC was proud to host an exciting book forum for the release of the Seventh-day Adventist book, Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives, edited by the Seventh-day Adventist affinity and advocacy group, SDA Kinship. To open the morning discussion, we featured a short video by the renowned Evangelical leader, Dr. Tony Campolo. If you missed the event, you can view a video of the panel discussion through the SDA Kindship website.
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Transgender Americans and the Workplace: A Hearing in the House
On Thursday, June 26th, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions will hold a hearing, "An Examination of Discrimination against Transgender Americans in the Workplace." HRC has been working hard to encourage such a hearing as an important step in educating members of Congress on the struggles transgender people encounter in the workplace. HRC Religion Council member Rev. Dr. Erin Swenson has submitted testimony [pdf] that we wanted to share with you. Also, see HRC's Religion Council formal letter of solidarity [pdf] with our transgender brothers and sisters.
Spiritual Reflections
- Bishop Gene Robinson and His Partner Enter into Civil Union in New Hampshire
Harry Knox, director of HRC's Religion and Faith program, writes on June 19 about the spiritually moving experience of witnessing Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson's June 7 civil union with his partner, Mark Andrew, on the HRC Back Story blog. Also be sure to read Religion Council member Rev. Susan Russell's inspiring sermon, posted on that same day. - Preaching and PRIDE
Pride season is upon us and the quality of preaching has been outstanding. In honor of the tireless work by stalwart and faithful Presbyterian LGBT advocacy groups, Covenant Network of Presbyterians, More Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve at this year's Presbyterian Church U.S.A.'s General Assembly, we wanted to feature two extraordinary Presbyterian sermons.
Rev. Ashley Goff, of Church of the Pilgrims in Washington, D.C., left nearly half the attendants in tears with her sermon, "Named for a Purpose". Rev. Sid Batts' sermon, "The Power of Going," at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina was so inspiring that a father of a LGBT friend of our program sent it on as a birthday gift!If you hear a great sermon or have preached one, please pass it on to us at religion@hrc.org.
New Events In Our Communities
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A Religious Declaration
The Religious Institute has launched an online campaign to add hundreds of new endorsements to the Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing. More than 2,700 religious leaders from over 50 faith traditions have endorsed the Religious Declaration since its inception in 2001. Endorsements are accepted from ordained clergy, professional religious educators, theologians, presidents and deans of seminaries and divinity schools and staff of religious institutions. -
Developing Catholic Lesbian/Gay Ministry
On August 8-10 in Littleton, Colo., New Ways Ministry, a gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics, will host "Next Steps: Developing Catholic Lesbian/Gay Ministry," a workshop for ministers, Catholic leader and others interested in lesbian/gay ministry. Register now!
Resources
- Faith Positions: The Seventh-day Adventist Church
We continue to update our webpage on Faith Positions on GLBT issues and we have asked some of you to help us out. Many of these links are out of date and we need to add new religions and denominations as well. To help us in this work we have asked volunteers to serve as editors for these pages. They will let us know when new information comes out, help us write fresh material for the page and answer questions from readers.
This week we are excited to announce the addition of a new page for the Seventh-day Adventist Church written by the LGBT Seventh-day Adventists affinity and advocacy group, SDA Kinship. If you have questions about this information, please write us at religion@hrc.org and we will forward your message on to them.
- Religion and Politics
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation has released a campaign season guide for houses of worship. One Nation, Many Faiths provides useful guidelines and advice for houses of worship as they navigate the bustling intersection between faith and politics this election year. - Religious Teens and Sexuality
Acclaimed author and Christian Community President Steve Clapp has written a new empowering resource for religious teens: The Gift of Sexuality. Based on surveys of 5,819 teens, the book includes discussion of challenges facing teens dealing with homosexuality, their religious beliefs and The Bible. Developed to accompany the youth resource described above, The Adult Guide, provides helpful guidance for parents, clergy, youth workers and community leaders who are concerned about teens. - Two Exciting Blogs
Tirtzah: Community of Frum Queer Women is a community of queer Jewish women who gather to celebrate and study yiddishkeit. This group is committed to the value of shleimut (wholeness) and to supporting one another in observing a meaningful, integrated, honest and joyful Jewish life.Kirtzono is a forum for the Orthodox Jewish community where parents of LGBT children can have the opportunity for a frank and thoughtful discussion about LGBT concerns within an Orthodox Jewish context.
- Study of Clergy Attitudes
Steve Clapp’s new book, Silent and Undecided Friends: Motivating Greater LGBT Rights Advocacy Among Clergy and Congregations offers a ground-breaking report on the attitudes of clergy toward GLBT people, the work of advocacy groups within denominations and the obstacles that block full acceptance of GLBT people in congregations. - Queer Spiritual Spaces Project
The Religion and Society Programme at the University of Sussex, is conducting a research project to investigate Queer Spiritual Space(s) in contemporary Britain and the United States as part of their broader LGBTQIQ scholarship. If you are interested in participating, please contact Amna Khalid at A.Khalid@sussex.ac. - New Election Guide from Unitarian Universalists
The Unitarian Universalists Association released an important resource to help religious groups participate effectively in nonpartisan electoral activities in this election year and beyond. The new edition of The Real Rules: Congregations and IRS Guidelines on Advocacy, Lobbying, and Elections provides helpful, up-to-date information on what congregations can and cannot do. The Real Rules is available free of charge on the UUA website. - African American Oral History Project
LGBT-Religious Archives Network (LGBT-RAN)has received a grant from the Riverside Church Sharing Fund for a pilot project to record the oral histories of five African American LGBT religious leaders. Organized by HRC’s Religion Council member, Bishop John Selders, the project will preserve valuable stories that would otherwise be lost. Read more about the Oral History Project. - Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace
HRC's Workplace project has released an industry standard guide, "Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace," that provides best practices for transgender workplace inclusion—from discrimination and benefits policies to internal practices that reflect how gender is expressed and integrated in the workplace—as well as the state of legal issues encompassing gender identity in employment situations. This resource covers topics such as appropriate terminology with which to discuss gender identity and expression, the creation of policies that protect transgender workers from discrimination, and the expansion of diversity programs to include gender identity and expression. Although not a religious resource, this guide will be vital for all people of faith engaged in transgender equality. - By the Grace of God
Lee Frances Heller spent the last 15 years of her life sharing God’s love with other transgender Christians who had, like her, been rejected and scorned by the church. By the Grace of God is a spiritually rich collection of essays that includes personal journeys, biblical analysis, Hellers’ personal correspondence and stories of other transgender Christians. - Kulanu: All of Us
Jewish scholars Ricard F. Address, Joel L. Kushner and Geoffrey Mitelman have edited a revised and expanded edition of Kulanu: All of Us. This book provides a thorough program and resource guide for GLBT inclusion in the synagogue including individual testimonies from GLBT individuals, prayers, ceremonial guides and a history of the reform movement’s position on these issues. This is a marvelous collection that is particularly valuable on issues affecting the transgender community.
- First Freedom First
Religious freedom is in big problem says Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance and co-author of First Freedom First: A Citizen’s Guide to Protecting Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State. Gaddy and co-author Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of American United for the Separation of Church and State, address the areas of overlap between religion and politics, including topics such as hate crime legislation and marriage equality.
- A New Book by a New Kind of Evangelical Christian
Tony Campolo’s new book, Red Letter Christians: A Citizen’s Guide to Faith and Politics, sets out another way to be an Evangelical Christian that does not take its talking points from the Radical Right. Red Letter Christians offers a thoughtful and compassionate look at the issues that face us as a culture. His chapter on gay rights emboldens a new generation of Evangelicals to see LGBT rights as social justice issues. As he tells us: "Justice for gays and lesbians should be on the political front burner for Red Letter Christian . . . because it is impossible to tell people we love them if we deny them the basic rights we enjoy." - Rev. Dr. Cindi Love Speaks Out on Religion, Jesus, and LGBT Equality
Would Jesus Discriminate? The 21st Century Question is the title of the provocative new book by Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, HRC Religion Council member and executive director of Metropolitan Community Churches. Harry Knox, Director of HRC’s Religion & Faith Program writes about her book, "Dr. Love’s pastoral nature and keen sense of what moves people…have already made her a powerful spokesperson. Through her eyes, you will see a Jesus who does not exclude and a hope for Christian community worldwide." Listen to Dr. Love on HRC’s radio show The Agenda with Joe Solmonese. - New Book for Parents
Check out Rev. Debra W. Haffner's new book, What Every 21-st Century Parent Needs to Know: Facing Today's Challenges with Wisdom and Heart. Haffner is the executive director for the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, a longtime advocate for GLBT people, and a good friend to HRC's Religion and Faith program. Her book offers parents sound advice on how to keep children safe and healthy in a world so different from the one in which they grew up. It is written for all parents, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Read reviews and buy Haffner’s book here. - Catholic-LGBT Website Now Offers More Resources
Fortunate Families, a national network that ministers to Catholic parents of GLBT daughters and sons, has added useful new features to their website, including: a list of GLBT-friendly organizations and churches, two new DVDs and "Answers to Your Questions For a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation," a recently published article from the American Psychological Association. - New Resources from Reconciling Ministries Network
As the Reconciling Ministries Network gears up for the United Mehodist General Convention in April, they are providing resources for you to prepare your congregations for the General Convention and for personal devotional use. You can also visit the Reconciling Ministries Network blog to learn about current issues and initiatives. -
Popular Transgender Christian Website gets a Makeover
TransFaith On-line is dedicated to supporting Transgender people in their faith journeys while providing useful resources to better educate religious community and transgender allies. Their new website features valuable news stories, study guides, exclusive magazine articles, and hundreds of new and updated links to online resources. -
Catholicism and Homosexuality
Fortunate Families, a national network that ministers to Catholic parents of GLBT daughters and sons, is sponsoring an eight-week educational lecture series called "Let’s Talk about Homosexuality." Originally developed as an online resource for parents, this exciting series is now accessible to all who are interested in learning about homosexuality and the pastoral challenges of Catholic ministry to GLBT people and their families. -
New Progressive Religion Blog
Religion Dispatches is an exciting new progressive online magazine and blog that will be an important resource for the GLBT community. Religion Dispatches creates a much needed venue for discussions on the relationship between religion and the pivotal issues of our day, including among others: HIV/AIDS and sexuality. -
New Transgender Resource
Jewish Mosaic is doing incredible work on transgender issues and Judaism that you won’t want to miss. Check out their new web resource TransTexts: Exploring Gender in Jewish Sacred Texts, created by Rabbi Elliot Rose Kukla and Reuben Zellman. This is just the beginning of a groundbreaking set of resources they are creating. -
New Seventh-Day Adventist Book
We are thrilled to be able to announce that the long awaited landmark mainstream Evangelical book Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives! is now available for pre-publication orders. Harry Knox, Director of the Religion and Faith Program, writes about this book: "I learned so much from Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives! It is wonderful to have a resource to recommend to my Seventh-day Adventist friends that is so closely tied to Adventism’s rich heritage, traditions, and unique witness. It has challenged and deepened my own understandings of the Gospel and homosexuality and will do so for Christians from other traditions." Stay tuned for upcoming news on the release of this important book. -
Israeli Novel on Faith, Family and Sexuality
by Evan Fallenberg
Israeli writer, Evan Fallenberg, has written a compelling new novel, Light Fell. This novel weaves together the complexities of faith, family and sexuality as two men—one a Rabbi and the other a professor--try to make a life together in a religious farming community outside of Jerusalem. -
All God’s Children DVD Available
The musical documentary "All God’s Children" is now available on DVD. This innovative film weaves narrative, visuals and music to tell the stories of GLBT people and their communities of faith. This powerful concert is narrated by the Rev. Dr. Mel White, founder of Soulforce, and features the Heartland Men’s Chorus. -
Nebraska’s "Stories of Sacred Worth"
Nebraska’s statewide reconciling network (NSRN) has pulled together a beautiful resource, Stories of Sacred Worth, in loving memory of Betty and Bob Dorr’s son Michael who died last year. This booklet is a collection of stories from people of faith in Nebraska who have struggled to be honest about their same-gender attraction or who are family members or close friends of GLBT people. If you live in Nebraska and have a story to share, we hope you’ll e-mail us and we’ll pass it on to good folks at Nebraska’s reconciling network. -
Open Arms Theologies: Reflections on Becoming the Church that is Needed
edited by David McCleskey, Donna Campton, Bruce Saunkeah and Kathy McCallie
Despite rumors to the contrary, truly inclusive, welcoming congregations are growing. These congregations fill a spiritual longing and desire for justice that are desperately needed in the world. This anthology honors the ten-year anniversary of the Church of the Open Arms in Oklahoma. Even as the volume pays tribute to one church, the articles reflect rich and diverse theological explorations. You will definitely want to check out the concluding essay by Kathy McCallie who came to Washington, D.C. for our Clergy Call for Justice and Equality in April 2007.
- Ministry Among God’s Queer Folk: LGBT Pastoral Care
by David Kundtz and Bernard Schlager
This fourth book in the in the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry series adds considerably to this excellent series by offering a much needed study on pastoral care. In this book, Kundtz and Schlager contribute to the ongoing development of a pastoral theology and practice for, to, with, and among LGBTQ people.
- Tritiya-Prakriti: People of the Third Sex
by Amara Das Wilhelm
GALVA-108 has just republished this groundbreaking study on homosexuality, transgender identity and intersex connections through Hinduism. In this important book Wilhelm shows how ancient India addressed and engaged with LGBT people many thousands of years ago in the course of its own civilization’s development. It is an important study of "the third sex," that has much to teach all people of faith.
- Gay Spirituality: Gay Identity and the Transformation of Human Consciousness
by Toby Johnson
This important study serves as both an introduction to the Gay Spirituality Movement and a guide for gay people reclaiming their spirituality. Johnson’s book is part of the White Crane Spirituality series which explores aspects of individual sexual life in the service of spiritual growth. Righteous Indignation: A Jewish Call for Justice
Rabbi Denise Eger, Religion Council member and founding rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood, Cal, offers a thoughtful review of the new anthology Righteous Indignation: A Jewish Call for Justice from Jewish Lights Publishing. Read her review of the book.
