Sexuality & Spirituality print Boisvert Donald L. Out on Holy Ground: Meditations on Gay Men's Spirituality outonholyground.jpg Cleveland The Pilgrim Press 2000 148 pp. 0829813691 http://thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=9&hallway_uid1=38&search_id=&catalog_uid1=4&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=8BCF461BCA3AC97B4356CB6C _blank print Boisvert Donald L. Sanctity and Male Desire: A Gay Reading of Saints sanctitymaledesire.jpg Cleveland The Pilgrim Press 2004 224 pp. 0829815236 "Human desire is a path to spiritual wholeness," says author Donald Boisvert, in this unusual look at how saints - and one's devotion to them - can be sites for the confirmation and celebration of homoerotic desire. Saints can inspire desire and, through eclectic readings of their lives and imagery, the author suggests meanings and strategies attached to the emergence of same-sex attraction. The saints explored include: Michael the Archangel; Sebastain and Tarcisius; John the Baptist; Joseph; Paul and Augustine; the Ugandan and North American martyrs; Francis of Assisi; Dominic Savio and other boy saints; Damien and the missionary saints; and Peter Julian Eymard. http://thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=9&hallway_uid1=38&search_id=&catalog_uid1=468&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=8BCF461BCA3AC97B4356CB6C _blank print Bouldrey Brian editor Wrestling With The Angel: Faith And Religion In The Lives of Gay Men New York Riverhead Press 1995 336 pp. 1573225452 Sadly and somewhat ironically, 25 years after the gay-empowering Stonewall Rebellion, the term "gay lifestyle" still connotes narcissism and superficiality in the popular mind. Of course, the diverse reality of the inner and outer lives of gay men defies such reductionism. And this collection of 21 autobiographical essays by gifted gay writers of varied social and racial backgrounds movingly documents the variety of gay spirituality. In total, the essays amply validate the introductory claims by Bouldrey (The Genius of Desire) that "now more than ever, the issues religion takes up are those most important to gay men" in "learning to embrace the whole of their lives." How the devastating ravages of AIDS have nurtured this quest for wholeness is eloquently distilled by Mark Doty, Felice Picano and Philip Gambone, while Michael Nava and Frank Browning intriguingly compare t the liberating gay experience of coming out to the Christian experience of being "born again." Others, including Andrew Holleran, David Plante, Lev Raphael, Brad Gooch and Michael Lowenthal, trace the lingering resonances of Roman Catholic childhoods, search for personal meaning in Jewish heritages or define the intersections of physical desire and spiritual longing. Although the essays lack uniform emotional intensity, there is surprisingly no bitterness (not even from an unfrocked Mormon bishop), but there is much thirst for reconciliation in this stellar gathering of revelations about the divine agape that unites all men of good will regardless of their sexual orientation. BOMC and QPB main selections. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1573225452/qid=1139346388/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9871044-1994548?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Boyd Malcolm Nancy L. Wilson editors Amazing Grace: Stories of Lesbian and Gay Faith Crossing Press 1995 292 pp. 0060693967 This moving collection consisting of ten first-person accounts of gay men and lesbians reveals their struggles in homophobic societies and churches, and shows how they came to affirm both their sexuality and their Christian faith. These testimonies illustrate the burden of hiding part of who one is (illustrated most poignantly by an Episcopal priest who came out to some people but not to his parish, and who writes under a pseudonym), the importance of community, and the power of belief in God's love. Not only does this collection provide important role models for homosexuals, but it can help all Christians who struggle with issues of human sexuality and spirituality. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895944790/102-5522310-2838527?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance _blank print de la Huerta Christian Coming Out Spiritually: The Next Step comingoutspiritually.jpg New York Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam 1999 236 pp. 0-87477-966-9 ...a fresh outlook on gay spirituality and how to assert it, and thereby gives queer readers a foundation from which to begin building a spiritual life. Christian de la Huerta, the founder of Q-Spirit, synthesizes the ten spiritual roles or archetypes queer people have often assumed and continue to enact today: creator of beauty, consciousness scout, mediator, shaman, and healer among others. Drawing on these models while acting as a guide to the queer community, de la Huerta shows how to look deeper inside; to reach higher than ever before; to step forth more fully into our rightful selves. He introduces readers to many of the world's religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Sufism, and Taoism, and investigates the teachings of these traditions and their attitudes toward homosexuality. http://www.penguinputnam.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0874779669,00.html _blank print Ellison Marvin M. Sylvia Thorson-Smith editors Body and Soul: Rethinking Sexuality as Justice-Love bodysoul.jpg Cleveland The Pilgrim Press 2003 393 pp. 0-8298-1561-9 Ellison and Thorson-Smith have co-edited a collection of essays-in collaboration with two dozen prominent theologians-that plays off the controversial 1991 Presbyterian study they co-authored entitled "Keeping Body and Soul Together: Sexuality, Spirituality, and Social Justice;" and takes stock of sexuality, religion, and ethics at the beginning of the new millennium. The cutting-edge analyses address the possibilities-and demands-of a justice-love ethic for individuals, church, and society. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0829815619/qid=1139346917/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9871044-1994548?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Empereur James L. Spiritual Direction and the Gay Person spiritualdirection.jpg New York Continuum Publishing Group 1998 180 pp. 082641107X The reclaiming of sexuality as an integral part of one's god-given personhood, and the futile attempts of church to compartmentalize sexual sins is discussed in a very articulate manner. Empereur is well spoken...and helps one to feel the "ah-ha" of knowing for the first time whet one has known intuitively about sexuality, but which is rarely spoken: that it is a gift from God. And Gay people are a gift from God. And whether gay people should or should not "engage" in sexual activity is almost a moot point. To try and define what is and what isn't is "sexual activity" is for the birds. What a beautiful way to talk about God, God's creation, our personhood and our belovedness!! As a gay man, I am indebted to Empereur for his courage to write so honestly. And as a Catholic I would love to tap his wisdom as a spiritual directee!! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/082641107X/qid=1133904147/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Haffner Reverend Debra W. A Time to Heal: Protecting Children & Ministering to Sex Offenders Fort Wayne, IN LifeQuest 2005 91 pp. 1893270319 This important book provides the tools that faith communities need to: Determine under what circumstances, if any, a convicted sex offender may be involved in the congregationThis is an important book for clergy, lay leadership in churches and synagogues, denominational executives, regional judicatory executives, correctional officials, judges, parole officers, probation officers, and treatment providers. It shows the unique way that faith communities can make a difference both by protecting and transforming lives. Time to Heal: Protecting Children and Ministering to Sex Offenders is available from the Christian Community & LifeQuest by calling 1-800-774-3360. _blank print Gebhardt Daniel I Am This One Walking Beside Me: Reflections and Prayers on Being a Gay HIV Positive Man iamthisone.jpg Cleveland Pilgrim Press 2005 96 pp. 0829816321 I Am This One Walking Beside Me is a moving collection of prayers written by Daniel Gebhardt, who has been living with HIV/AIDS for the past 20 years. What makes this book unique is that he writes from both a Christian and a gay perspective. Gebhardt provides readers with insight into such topics as everyday living, medical issues, relationships, self-exploration, and death. He also includes prayers that relate to compassion and a global understanding of the disease - a disease that continues to spread after it was discovered over 20 years ago. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0829816321/qid=1133568230/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-8017367-5735232?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Glaser Chris Coming Out As Sacrament comingoutsacrament.jpg Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 1998 153 pp. 0-664-25748-8 Gay Christian author and activist Chris Glaser believes that sexual minorities, often denied their churches' traditional sacraments, have found unique access to the sacred in their lives; coming out of the closet. Glaser persuasively argues that coming out - as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered - has biblical precedence and sacramental dimensions. Using personal and biblical illustrations, he discusses coming out as an act of vulnerability, much like a sacrificial offering of ancient times, that invokes God's presence and effects atonement, or reconciliation. In this engaging book he shows how coming out, like other sacraments, may serve as a means of grace-that is, an experience of God's unconditional love. In the final chapter, Glaser proposes seven new "rites for the soul," including a ritual for coming out. https://www.ppcbooks.com/Details.asp?BookID=0664257488 _blank print Glaser Chris Come Home: Reclaiming Spirituality and Community as Gay Men and Lesbians comehome.jpg Gaithersburg, MD Chi Rho Press 1998 204 pp. 1888493143 Come Home's five sections include: Welcoming God's Acceptance, Receiving Our Inheritance, Discerning Our Call, Making Our Witness, and Declaring Our Vision. Come Home! is one of Chris Glaser's best books. Now the addition of five new chapters has expanded and improved it. Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong called the first edition “powerful, sensitive, and provocative. . . . Christians, gay and straight, need this book if we are to be the body of Christ.” http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevComeHome.html _blank print Glaser Chris Coming Out to God: Prayers for Lesbians and Gay Men, Their Families and Friends comingouttogod.jpg Louisville Westminster John Knox 1991 168 pp. 0664251765 “It's a lovely, inspiring manuscript. The book bears its own prayerful witness to the truths of which it speaks.” - Carter Heyward, Professor of Theology, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA https://www.ppcbooks.com/Details.asp?BookID=0664251765 _blank print Glaser Chris Uncommon Calling: A Gay Christian's Struggle to Serve the Church Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 1996 227 pp. 0664256597 In this book, Chris Glaser describes his personal journey of coming out to his family, friends, church - and to himself. He tells the story of how the church reacted to his disclosure and his subsequent "uncommon" calling that led him to devote his professional life to reconciliation between the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community and the church. By openly and honestly telling his story, Glaser furthers his calling-demonstrating that lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals are not abstractions, but real people struggling to remain faithful. https://www.ppcbooks.com/Details.asp?BookID=0664256597 _blank print Graham Larry Kent Discovering Images of God: Narratives of Care Among Lesbians and Gays discoveringimages.jpg Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 1997 205 pp. 0664256260 In the middle of a prejudiced society, the experiences of lesbians and gays who give and receive care can provide powerful resources for all people to develop their images of God. Larry Graham has interviewed lesbians and gays across the country and has discovered a new sense of God at work through all people. These insights bring new images of God that are truer, more faithful, and more deeply connected to the pains and joys of everyone's life. https://www.ppcbooks.com/Details.asp?BookID=0664256260 _blank print Gudorf Christine E. Body, Sex, and Pleasure: Reconstructing Christian Sexual Ethics bodysexpleasure.jpg Cleveland The Pilgrim Press 1994 276 pp. 0829810145 Deftly drawing on Scripture, natural law, historical and contemporary Catholic and Protestant theology, the social sciences, and, significantly, the lived experiences of today's women and men, Gudorf presents a carefully crafted and systematic reconstruction of Christian sexual ethics. Her aim, above all, is to engender appreciation, not rejection and shame, of our bodies and our sexuality. ...a provocative and compelling call to all women and men to reject the damaging influence of body/soul dualism-and, ultimately, to do justice to the Incarnation, the central revelations of Scripture, and human dignity. http://thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=9&hallway_uid1=112&search_id=&catalog_uid1=364&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=8BCF461BCA3AC97B4356CB6C _blank print Guy David The Red Thread of Passion: Spirituality and the Paradox of Sex redthread.jpg Boston Shambhala 1999 260 pp. 1570623597 Is sex an enemy that must be subdued before spiritual practice can happen, or is it a powerful creative force and a vehicle of enlightenment? There may be no completely satisfying answer - though the question has engendered discussion for centuries. David Guy's contribution takes the form of a personal exploration of the place of sex in his own life and meditation practice, as well as in the lives and work of figures he has come to regard as pioneers on the boundaries of sex and spirituality: Walt Whitman, D. H. Lawrence, Alan Watts, and the erotic writer Marco Vassi among them. It also includes accounts of his pilgrimages to contemporary theorists, activists, and sex workers. http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/1-57062-359-7.cfm _blank print James G. Winston Lisa C. Moore Spirited: Affirming the Soul and Black Gay/Lesbian Identity spirited.jpg Washington D.C. RedBone Press 2006 391 pp. 0965665933 More than 40 writers address the question of how we, as same-gender-loving black people, affirm ourselves as sexual and spiritual people. These sacred narratives are a canon for our survival – holy texts proclaiming the divinity of our lives, the righteousness of our love, and the sanctity of our being. Spirited is a must-read for those on a journey toward spiritual and self-acceptance. http://www.redbonepress.com/books/spirited/ _blank print Lea Jeffrey For Another Flock: Daily Advent and Christmas Meditations for Gay and Lesbian Christians Cleveland Pilgrim Press 2005 108 pp. 0829816127 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807079375/qid=1139439816/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9871044-1994548?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print McNeill John J. Freedom, Glorious Freedom: The Spiritual Journey to the Fullness of Life for Gays, Lesbians and Everybody Else Boston Beacon Press 1995 232 pp. 0807079375 The final book in John McNeill's visionary trilogy on the saving power of God for gay men and lesbians. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807079375/qid=1139439816/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9871044-1994548?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Moore Thomas The Soul of Sex: Cultivating Life as an Act of Love soulofsex.jpg New York HarperCollins 1998 308 pp. 0060930950 In The Soul of Sex, Thomas Moore at last restores sex to its rightful place in the human psyche. Describing sex as an experience of the soul, Thomas Moore here brings out the fully human side of sex - the roles of fantasy, desire, meaning, and morality - and draws on religion, mythology art, literature, and film to show how sex is one of the most profound mysteries of life. While finding spirituality inherent in sex, Moore also explores how spiritual values can sometimes wound our sexuality. Blending rather than opposing spirituality and sexuality, The Soul of Sex offers a fresh, livable way of becoming more deeply sexual and loving in all areas of life. http://www.harpercollins.com/global_scripts/product_catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0060930950 _blank print Morrison Melanie The Grace of Coming Home: Spirituality, Sexuality, and the Struggle for Justice graceofcominghome.jpg Cleveland Pilgrim Press 1995 166 pp. 0829810714 In a time of rancorous debate over gender and the boundaries of religious community, certain voices speak plainly and prophetically about the necessary relationship among human foibles, grace, and resurrection. Celebrating her lesbian and Christian identities, Morrison calls on the church-and all people of goodwill-to welcome those wounded by alienation, shame, homophobia, disempowering images of humanity, and fear-based images of God. "How did Jesus observe the purity codes? He approached them as he approached everything, carrying with him the conviction that God's love is radically inclusive and that sin is the exclusions of some from the rest. He carried with him the guiding interpretive principles which he believed formed the heart of the scriptures: namely, to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus redefined purity and impurity, claiming that physical purity is not the truest measure of holiness. Holiness has, instead, to do with purity of heart and purity of law: justice and mercy and faith." http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0829810714/qid=1139442356/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9871044-1994548?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Nelson James B. Between Two Gardens: Reflections on Sexuality and Religious Experience between2gardens.jpg New York Pilgrim Press 1983 193 pp. 0829806814 Traditionally, the relationship between religion and sexuality has been framed by a one-sided question: What does faith say about human sexuality? Nelson, however, takes a different tack and asks more pertinently: What does sexuality say about faith - theology, scripture, tradition, and the meaning of the gospel? Between Two Gardens discusses men's liberation; sexuality in Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant interpretations; religious and moral questions of professionals working with gay or lesbian counselees; singleness and the church; the family; and attitudes toward abortion. Nelson writes out of a healthy conviction that the process of integrating human sexuality and the life of faith is an important journey. That this book has become a classic on the subject gives testament to Nelson's far-looking vision and keen insight. http://thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=9&hallway_uid1=112&search_id=&catalog_uid1=359&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=8BCF461BCA3AC97B4356CB6C _blank print Nelson James B. The Intimate Connection: Male Sexuality and Masculine Spirituality NelsonTIC.jpg Philadelphia Westminster John Knox Press 1988 140 pp. 0664240658 In recent years men have begun to question seriously their traditionally held roles and values. The women's movement, popular books, and male images on television and in films have all contributed to men's uncertainty about themselves. Now there is a major shift taking place in the perception of sexuality. James Nelson asserts that men and women seek something the sexual revolution did not provide: an understanding of the true meaning of love. This, he claims, is the unfinished business of that revolution. https://www.ppcbooks.com/Details.asp?BookID=0664240658 _blank print Nelson James B. Sandra P. Longfellow editors Sexuality and the Sacred: Sources for Theological Reflection sexualitysacred.jpg Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 1994 406 pp. 0664255299 This volume is rooted in two convictions: (1) sexuality is far more comprehensive and more fundamental to our existence than simply genital sex and (2) sexuality is intended by God to be neither incidental nor detrimental to our spirituality but a fully integrated and basic dimension of that spirituality. The articles address what our sexual experience reveals about God, the way we understand the gospel, and the ways we read scripture and tradition and attempt to live faithfully. https://www.ppcbooks.com/SearchResults.asp?Title=sexuality+and+the+sacred&Subtitle=&Author=Nelson&ISBN=&search.x=34&search.y=5 _blank print O'Neill Craig Kathleen Ritter Coming Out Within: Stages of Spiritual Awakening for Lesbians & Gay Men comingoutwithin.jpg San Francisco HarperSanFrancisco 1992 256 pp. 0062507060 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062507060/qid=1134071330/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Paulsell William editor Listening to the Spirit: A Handbook for Discernment pausellcov.jpg St. Louis Chalice Press 2001 79 pp. 0827221312 Listening to the Spirit presents a process of discernment that helps to listen to the Holy Spirit for guidance as we consider the questions, "What is the gospel message to our church as we relate to gay and lesbian Christians?" This question is addressed through a process that will help Christians approach the issues thoughtfully, theologically, and prayerfully. There are no set answers or preconceived outcomes. A companion video is also available. http://www.cbp21.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=2218 _blank print Pepper Michal Anne Reconciling Journey: A Devotional Workbook for Lesbian and Gay Christians reconcilingjourney.jpg Cleveland Pilgrim Press 2003 127 pp. 0829815694 Does your sexual orientation separate you from your faith in Jesus? Does your faith in Jesus prevent you from accepting yourself as your creator made you? Are you a lesbian or gay Christian with lingering questions about your sexuality and spirituality? Do you hunger for a deepened spirituality? "Seldom does an author engage readers in true dialogue, as Michal Anne Pepper does in Reconciling Journey. Pepper trusts her readers to find their own spiritual solutions even as she insightfully guides them in discerning their spiritual paths. She has provided a unique and invaluable workbook for lesbian and gay Christians to find themselves as well as God." - Chris Glaser, author of Coming Out to God: Prayers for Lesbians and Gay Men, Their Families and Friends and Coming Out as Sacrament. Reconciling Journey is a nine-week workbook for lesbian and gay Christians who have come to a crossroad in their journey, those who have renounced Christianity, but would like to go home; those who have disavowed their sexual orientation, but would like to come out; and those who are both out and at home, but have lingering questions. http://thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=9&hallway_uid1=38&search_id=&catalog_uid1=414&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=8BCF461BCA3AC97B4356CB6C _blank print Piazza Michael S. Holy Homosexuals: The Truth About Being Gay or Lesbian and Christian Dallas Sources of Hope Publishing 1994 199 pp. 1-885591-02-0 Yes, you can be gay or lesbian and Christian! You can be the happy, healthy, and holy person God created you to be. "I am not such an idealist that I believe we can live with pride without paying a price. I, too, have lost jobs and friends and even my church. I have had my tires slashed, the paint scratched off my car, my office ransacked, my churches firebombed. Hardly a week goes by without some death-threat or hate filled letter. There is one thing I have learned the hard way, however, the price tag for living with pride as an openly gay or lesbian person isn't nearly as high as the price of living with shame." Piazza is the former senior pastor at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, the world's largest predominately LGBT church. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1887129049/102-5522310-2838527?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance _blank print Roscoe Will editor Jesus and the Shamanic Tradition of Same-Sex Love San Francisco Suspect Thoughts Press 2004 232 pp. 0974638838 Jesus and the Shamanic Tradition of Same-Sex Love is a passionate exploration of the history of Western religion as seen through the queer eye of one of the most widely acclaimed authors in gay spirituality. Drawing on recently discovered ancient sources, Will Roscoe offers a striking new view of Jesus as a charismatic mystic, whose teachings on love and the kingdom of heaven were complemented by a secret rite that served to impart the experience of entering heaven. After meticulously reconstructing this rite, Roscoe seeks its ultimate origins - an odyssey that eventually leads him to the margins of the inhabited world, where the ancient practices of shamanism survive to today. Whether discussing early Christianity, Plato's Symposium, the rites of shamans, or the myths of ancient Mesopotamia, Roscoe uncovers fresh insights at every turn. He builds a persuasive argument that mysticism and gay love are powerfully connected, and that this connection forms a hidden tradition in the history of Western religion. http://www.suspectthoughts.com/store.html _blank print Roscoe Will editor Queer Spirits: A Gay Men's Myth Book Boston Beacon Press 1996 372 pp. 0807079391 In an inspiring, often loving testimony to gay spirit, Will Roscoe offers gay men a way to discover the myths and heroes within themselves. http://www.beacon.org/catalogs/sp96/roscoe.html _blank print Smith Ted A. editor Frequently Asked Questions about Sexuality, the Bible, and the Church: Plain Talk about Tough Issues faqs.jpg San Francisco Covenant Network of Presbyterians 2006 Twenty-six scholars from nineteen seminaries and colleges offer short, accessible essays to inform discussion about the appropriate participation of gay and lesbian Presbyterians in church life and leadership. Intended for lay readers, the essays address core biblical and theological questions with clear thinking, lively faith, and deep concern for the church. http://covenantnetwork.org/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CNOP&Product_Code=pfaq-single&Category_Code=P _blank print Stone Kenneth Practicing Safer Texts: Food, Sex and Bible in Queer Perspective practicingsafer.gif New York Sheffield 2005 176 pp. 0567081729 This book uses the ubiquitous comparison between food and sex as a framework for examining a number of texts from the Hebrew Bible, as well as later readings of those texts and interpretive issues raised by the texts. A range of biblical texts in which both food and sex appear are analyzed in an interdisciplinary fashion with the help of both traditional tools of biblical scholarship and less traditional tools such as Queer studies and cultural anthropology. By utilizing a reading lens that relates food and sex to one another intentionally, rather than treating them separately, the book will among other things question the tendency of readers of the Bible to overstress the gravity of sexual matters in relation to other matters of potential ethical, theological, exegetical and cultural concern, such as food. At the same time, as the title Practicing Safer Texts indicates, the book also proposes a pragmatic approach to biblical interpretation that uses strategies of "safer sex" as a sort of loose model. Such an approach assesses texts and readings of the Bible not in a universalizing fashion but rather in terms of their likely effects, for good or ill, on particular readers in particular contexts and situations (just as notions of "safer sex" ask us to assess sexual acts not in a moralizing fashion but, rather, in terms of their likely effects on particular persons). http://www.continuumbooks.com/Books/detail.aspx?ReturnURL=/Search/default.aspx&CountryID=2&ImprintID=2&BookID=119246 _blank print Storey William G. A Book of Prayer for Gay and Lesbian Christians bookofprayer.jpg New York Crossroad 2002 218 pp. 082451937X God, my protector and helper,
when my family and friends desert me,
you stand by me always.
Be my rock and my haven,
as I trust in your desire to free me
form depression and despair,
so that I may rejoice in praising you
through Jesus, my loving Savior. Amen. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/082451937X/qid=1139459794/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9871044-1994548?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Stowe John R. Gay Spirit Warrior: An Empowerment Journey for Men who Love Men gayspiritwarrior.jpg Scotland Findhorn Press 1999 280 pp. 1899171827 Gay and bisexual men embody tremendous passion, vitality, healing, and creativity-qualities that have the potential to make life incredibly rich and meaningful. Unfortunately, most men-loving men learn very early to distrust their greatest gifts and to hide or deny their deepest dreams and desires. The wounding goes deep - even men who are positive and open about their sexuality can still find themselves troubled by nagging doubts that keep them from reaching their full potential. Gay Spirit Warrior invites you on a unique, personalized journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Whether you're just coming out or have been out for years, it will give you tools to reclaim the wisdom, strength, and vision at your core. An easy blend of stories, discussion, and practical exercises guides you to find your own answers about what it means to live and love fully, create satisfying relationships, and celebrate your whole being. In the end, no area of your life will be the same. http://www.findhornpress.com/HostedStore.LassoApp?-ResponseLassoApp=detail.lasso&ID=48f72686be91ea5c63d79600d104db73&s1op=cn&s1=Gay%20Spirit%20Warrior&s2op=cn&s2=Gay%20Spirit%20Warrior&s3op=cn&s3=Gay%20Spirit%20Warrior&s7op=cn&s7=Gay%20Spirit%20Warrior&s8op=cn&s8=Gay%20Spirit%20Warrior&sop=OR _blank print Stuart Elizabeth, Andy Braunston, Malcolm Edwards, John McMahon Religion Is a Queer Thing: A Guide to the Christian Faith for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Persons religionqueerthing.jpg Cleveland Pilgrim Press 1998 160 pp. 0829812695 Award-winning author (The Zuni Man-Woman) and spearhead of the gay men's spirituality movement in the U.S., Roscoe has assembled and annotated a diverse, sometimes irritating, sometimes involving collection of poems, stories and myths that either explicitly or implicitly engage archetypal gay experience. http://thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=9&hallway_uid1=38&search_id=&catalog_uid1=749&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=8BCF461BCA3AC97B4356CB6C _blank print Sundby E. T. Calling the Rainbow Nation Home: A Story of Acceptance and Affirmation rainbownation.jpg Lincoln, Nebraska iUniverse, Inc 2005 216 pp. 0595336299 Calling the Rainbow Nation Home profiles one woman's spiritual journey to acceptance and affirmation and helps gay Christians around the world find strength and assurance in their own spiritual pilgrimages. The book is a mixture of personal journey and Biblical study, dealing of the key issues gay and lesbian Christians face when coming to terms with their sexual orientation. Issues such as; am I saved (salvation), is homosexuality a sin, and should I be celibate, are explored. The book includes a simple to read, but in-depth review of the "clobber" passages some use against homosexuals. In addition, the role the Holy Spirit played in this journey of truth and discovery are discussed thoroughly. The book finishes by looking at the similarity between what the Gentiles faced 2,000 years ago and what gays and lesbians are going through today. The book is easy to read using stories and personal experiences to illustrate important ideas. Every point is solidly backed and supported by Scripture. http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0-595-33629-9 _blank print Thompson Mark Gay Soul: Finding the Heart of Gay Spirit and Nature With Sixteen Writers, Healers, Teachers and Visionaries San Francisco HarperSanFrancisco 1995 266 pp. 0062510401 A compilation of photos and searching, provocative interviews with 16 renowned Gay elders whose vision and leadership illuminate the spiritual dimension of Gay lives. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062510401/qid=1139457909/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-9871044-1994548?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Timmerman Joan The Mardi Gras Syndrome: Rethinking Christian Sexuality mardigrassyndrome.jpg New York Crossroad 1984 128 pp. 0-8245-0645-6 In the Middle Ages, Christians were required to limit sex to Tuesdays. Thus the "Mardi Gras Syndrome," which in different but still debilitating ways lingers on today. With frankness and courage, the author shatters the narrow focus and evokes the true nature of sex as not only a ritual action but a source of social justice which bonds partners to each other and changes their relationships to the powers of nature and the divine. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0824506413/102-5522310-2838527?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&sv=glance _blank print Wilson Nancy L. Our Tribe: Queer Folks, God, Jesus, and the Bible New York HarperCollins 1995 292 pp. 0060693967 Wilson, moderator of the GLBT-oriented Metropolitan Community Church, exudes pithy humor and hard-nosed boldness. With this wide-ranging mixture of anecdotal autobiography and piercing deconstruction of passages in the Old and New Testaments that buttress homophobia (she calls them "texts of terror"), she charges into the next millennium filled with sharp criticism for the determined insistence of Catholics, mainline Protestants and evangelical fundamentalists that "queer" believers be kept at arm's length (or even farther) from the reconciling embrace Jesus taught. Herself a savvy survivor of the MCC's struggle to gain admission to the National Council of Churches, Wilson recalls an NCC official's 1992 statement about homosexuality as "the most divisive issue in the church since slavery," and finds that it remains true in 1995. Still, she finds hope in the fact that the church's almost monolithic resistance may be beginning to crack from the critical mass of books by such pro-gay religious apostles as John Shelby Spong, Virginia Ramey Mollenkott and John Boswell, and in the burgeoning Christian commitment of many gays and lesbians themselves. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060693967/102-5522310-2838527?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&sv=glance _blank print Wood James Rutland Where the Spirit Leads: The Evolving Views of United Methodists on Homosexuality Nashville Abingdon Press 2000 144 pp. 068708217X Drawing on impressive research he has conducted among both the clergy and lay leaders of the denomination, Wood draws a picture of gradual yet distinct change in United Methodists' attitudes toward homosexuality. Compared with ten and even five years ago, levels of acceptance or openness to the full inclusion of homosexual persons in the life and ministry of the church have increased noticeably. Beneath the sometimes vociferous debate that accompanies this issue, a quiet shift in the opinions and convictions of United Methodists is taking place - one that needs to be taken into account if a full understanding of who United Methodists are as a people of God, and what they should do, is to be possible. http://www.abingdonpress.com/search.aspx?scope=all&query=Where%20the%20Spirit%20Leads&pid=08217X _blank print Zanotti Barbara editor A Faith of One's Own: Explorations by Catholic Lesbians Trumansburg & New York Crossings Press 1986 202 pp. 0895942100 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895942100/qid=1139461926/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9871044-1994548?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank online Gustav-Wrathall John editors A Gay Mormon's Testimony John Gustav-Wrathall discusses his exile from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), his Spirit-led return to the church, and his understanding of the possible role gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered folks have in the plan of salvation. He makes a plea to fellow Latter-day Saints to "undertake the journey to try to understand.... Hear us. Hear our testimonies. If we are your brothers and sisters, why would you leave us to walk this road alone." http://www.sunstoneonline.com _blank online editors Catholic Pride... and Prejudice: The Story Behind the Hierarchy’s Obsession with Sexuality By Mary E. Hunt in Conscience - The Newsjournal of Catholic Opinion http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/conscience/archives/c2006spring_catholicpride.asp _blank online Campolo Peggy editors Is the Homosexual My Neighbor? A conversation with Tony & Peggy Campolo (pdf) campolo.pdf _self online Voelkel Rev. Rebecca editors Planned Parenthood Regional Prayer Breakfast Given by Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, November 18, 2006 voelkel111806.htm _self online editors Queer 102 From the Unitarian Universalist Office for Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns http://www.uua.org/obgltc/resource/queer102.html _blank online editors Sexuality and Religion: What's the Connection? Blog by Rev. Debra Haffner http://debrahaffner.blogspot.com/ _blank online editors Straight, Not Narrow Blog by Jim Johnson http://straightnotnarrow.blogspot.com/ _blank multimedia editors Coming Out, Coming Home Minneapolis Spirit of the Lakes UCC 1996 1:01 Spirit of the Lakes United Church of Christ in Minneapolis, MN made history in 1991 when it became the first predominantly GLBT congregation to be welcomed into a mainline Christian denomination. Coming Out, Coming Home is a one-hour video drama comprised of personal stories of people who attend Spirit of the Lakes. A combination of humor, heart, and spirit, the video is an outreach vehicle intended to help churches, colleges and other organizations learn more about the experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. A series of letters between a mother and her gay son provides the framework and underscores a universal and very human struggle for belonging and family. Available from: Spirit of the Lakes UCC, 2930 13th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407. VHS _blank multimedia Kelly Michael B. editors The Erotic Contemplative - Reflections on the Spiritual Journey of the Gay/Lesbian Christian Oakland EROSpirit Research Institute 1998 4:30 “the most powerful and insightful study of gay spirituality that I know of.” - John McNeil. Titles of the six audio cassettes are: 1) The Truth of Our Experience 2) Revisioning Sexuality 3) Exodus and Awakening 4) The Desert and the Dark 5) Liberation 6) The Road from Emmaus. This series may be purchased from EROSpirit Research Institute, PO Box 8340, New Orleans, LA 70182 510-428-9063. 6 audio cassettes _blank multimedia Beck Luane editors God & Gays: Bridging the Gap godandgays.jpg Zernus Productions 2006 1:30 This film explores the struggle that Christians have reconciling sexuality and spirituality. We get into the head, heart and lives of the people who have found this issue in this culture at this time as their self-defining work. An interview with Rev. Mel White, co-founder of SoulForce, speaks on Bible interpretation and its use. Rev. Deborah L. Johnson of Santa Cruz, CA discusses the rationale that this is a very basic diversity issue and asks the question: do you love me for who I am or for what I do? Jason Stuart, an out Jewish comic and actor in Los Angeles describes in detail the loss of his relationship to his sister and her kids due solely to his orientation. Some are still “in the closet,” some have previously attempted suicide and Mary Lou Wallner, a fundamentalist mother who got her once wish when her daughter killed herself. Author Darlene Bogle echoes this as she describes her 15 years in Exodus International before recognizing she was ultimately numbing her humanity. God & Gays is a content-driven open and honest reflection of what it’s like to be gay and Christian in America. DVD http://www.godandgaysthemovie.com _blank multimedia editors Listening to the Spirit Video listeningvideo.jpg St. Louis Chalice Press 2003 Companion video to Listening to the Spirit: A Handbook for Discernment (see above), designed for use by small groups using the handbook as a curriculum for their small group studies. VHS http://www.cbp21.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=2218 _blank online Palmer Timothy Rev. Debra W. Haffner Time to Seek: Study Guide on Sexual and Gender Diversity Norwalk, CT The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing 2007 48 A concise review of current sociological, public health and scientific data regarding sexual orientation and gender. It also considers key Scriptural passages in light of contemporary understandings of sexual and gender diversity.

A Time to Seek summarizes the scientific research into the origins of sexual orientation and gender identity, and provides a glossary of relevant terminology. The study guide also provides data on the prevalence of sexual and gender diversity, demographics on same-sex couples and their families, and the status of marriage equality in the U.S. It also explores the psychological and social challenges faced by LGBT persons, particularly youth, and their families. pdf http://www.religiousinstitute.org/documents/TimetoSeekFinal.pdf _blank print Mollenkott Virginia Ramey Sensuous Spirituality: Out From Fundamentalism Revised & Expanded sensuous.jpg Cleveland The Pilgrim Press 2008 256 pp. 978-0-8298-1805-5 Mollenkott's story is part autobiography of her journey away from fundamentalism and toward self-acceptance as a lesbian feminist, part proclamation of the importance of liberation and diversity within the human family, part a discussion of "interpretive communities" with focus on the les-bi-gay community, and part theological reflection on the role of the erotic in spirituality. – Library Journal http://www.amazon.com/Sensuous-Spirituality-Virginia-Ramey-Mollenkott/dp/0829818057/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1213038546&sr=11-1 _blank print Ellison Marvin Mahan Judith Plaskow editors Heterosexism in Contemporary World Religion: Problem and Prospect heterosexism.jpg Cleveland The Pilgrim Press 2007 232 pp. 0829817700

Homosexuality is not a problem; heterosexism is, and this problem is often supported by religious statements and practices against sexual minorities. This book seeks to draw out strands in each major religion that are antidotal to such practices and attitudes.

Contributors to this volume, all of whom are authorities in their religious traditions, include:

Ghazala Anwar (Islam), Kelly Brown Douglas (African American Christianity), Marvin M. Ellison (Protestant Christianity), Ann-Marie Hsiung (Taoism and Confucianism), Mary Hunt (Roman Catholicism), Yu-Chen Li (Buddhism), Daniel C. Maguire (Roman Catholicism), Judith Plaskow (Judaism), Anantanand Rambachan (Hinduism)

 http://thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=61&hallway_uid1=62&search_id=&catalog_uid1=747&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=E17B5A8363B9CB20486558A5 _blank print Weiss David To the Tune of a Welcoming God: Lyrical Reflections on Sexuality, Spirituality, and the Wideness of God's Welcome tothetune.jpg Minneapolis Mill City Publishing 2008

To the Tune of a Welcoming God, by poet, theologian, essayist, and activist David Weiss, explores the divisive questions of whether and how the church might welcome the GLBT Christians at its doorstep—and already in its pews. Writing with academic training, prophetic passion, and poetic insight, Weiss invites readers to revisit these questions through poems, essays, and hymns that are at once engaging and provocative. While rooted deeply in his own Lutheran context, Weiss’s words reach far beyond, challenging, encouraging, and empowering persons regardless of their particular tradition. With a forward by Pastor Anita Hill.

 https://www.millcitypublishing.com/order/default.aspx?siteid=136 _blank print Chellew-Hodge Candace Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians bulletproof.jpg San Francisco Jossey-Bass 2008 192 pp. 0470279281 This thoughtful, practical guide shows a way through the minefield of condemnation and persecution faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians and helps foster a faith this is bulletproof - impervious to attacks, yet loving and savvy in its approach. Bulletproof Faith is filled with useful insights and proven spiritual practices that deflect attacks and enhance and strengthen faith by turning attacks into opportunities for spiritual growth. "Gay and lesbian Christians are constantly demoralized and told they are not children of God. In Bulletproof Faith, Chellew-Hodge reassures gays and lesbians that God loves them just as they were created and teaches them how to stand strong, with compassion and gentleness, against those who condemn them." - Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu http://www.amazon.com/Bulletproof-Faith-Spiritual-Survival-Christians/dp/0470279281?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208285497&sr=1-1 _blank