LOVE boldly. RISK offense.

Today I had the privilege of speaking to a class of seminary students preparing for ordination.  I'm not really sure how to put into words what this experience was like except to say that it was an honor.  I am thrilled that there are professors who feel that this particular issue is important enough that they would set aside an hour of their class for me to share.  I planned about 20 minutes worth of material and then fielded questions for about 45 minutes.  I loved every minute of it.  The conversation that happened today was precisely the kind that I've been envisioning for months.  The students were interested.  They asked difficult questions.  We wrestled with complicated scenarios together.  And, most of all, a lot of interest was expressed in learning how to deal faithfully and compassionately with the LGBT community.  More conversations like this need to happen.  I hope the students gained as much from our time together as I did.

Not surprisingly, especially given the content of the class (required for United Methodist ordination), several questions were asked about ordination of LGBT clergy.  Some of these questions were harder to field than others and I want to re-iterate something I stated during the presentation.

There are faithful Christians who believe that monogamous same-sex relationships are not sinful.  There are also faithful Christians who believe that any same-sex relationship is sinful.  I won't weigh in on this.  But one thing I will weigh in on - No church should ever deny a celibate Christian from seeking ordination, even if he/she happens to be attracted to members of the same sex.  Denying someone ordination, or any level of full involvement in the church merely because of which sex he/she is attracted to is completely, utterly wrong because it has no basis in Scriptural truth.  Attraction is not a sin, and it has never been described as such in Scripture.

What does your church denomination believe?  Do you know?  What do you think about ordination of our LGBT brothers and sisters?  LGBT friends, weigh in as well.  I want this audience to hear your thoughts, feelings, frustrations, and hurts regarding this particular topic.  Let's talk!

• If I Told You - Vol 1 (2007) and Vol. 2 (2010) - real and honest stories from those experiencing same-sex attraction in a conservative Christian college environment (2007)
• Through My Eyes DVD - stories from LGBT Christians describing their relationship with God and the process of struggle in reconciling their faith and sexual orientation
• Love is an Orientation: Andrew Marin - After three of his best friends (all Christians) came out to him within three months, Marin had to wrestle with difficult questions regarding sexual identity and Christianity.  In this book, he shares about his bridge-building ministry between the LGBT community and the Church, his incarnational presence in the largest gay neighborhood in the country, and he addresses tension-filled questions with grace and new insight
• Washed and Waiting: Wesley Hill - As a celibate gay Christian, Hill provides a glimpse of what it looks like to wrestle firsthand with God's 'No' to same-sex relationships. What does it mean for gay Christians to live faithful to God while struggling with the challenge of their homosexuality? What is God's will for believers who experience same-sex desires?  This book gives good perspective on the struggles that celibate gay Christians have, and pushes the audience to consider how the Church ought to respond.
• GCN - The Great Debate - two articles that present differing perspectives.  Side A - God blesses monogamous same-sex relationships and Side B - God does not bless same-sex sexual relationships.  Both articles present the popular arguments and respond to the Scriptures that mention homosexuality.  Read both articles.

• Blogs
• Love Is An Orientation - blog for the Marin Foundation, an organization dedicated to building bridges between the LGBT and evangelical Christian communities
• Bridging The Gap - blog for New Direction Ministries, a Canada based organization whose mission is to nurture safe and spacious places for those outside the heterosexual main-stream to explore and grow in faith in Jesus Christ.
• This Blog - Specifically, see these pivotal posts, if you haven't already:
• Brokenness - are LGBT people “broken”?  
• Did They Choose It? - examines whether sexual orientation is chosen
• Meet Jared - a personal story of a Christian gay man
• Gay Lingo 101 (Part 1 and Part 2) - language that relates to the LGBT Community; what to say and what NOT to say
• Why Gays Deserve an Apology from Christians - explaining how the church has misrepresented itself, and ultimately Christ, to the LGBT community

• The Marin Foundation - Bridge-building organization (works between the church and the LGBT community); website contains a fantastic list of resources and articles
• Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity - Research based institute at Regent University that addresses the challenges and difficulties for those facing the hard work of reconciling their faith and sexual orientation from a psychological perspective
• Exodus International - Umbrella organization that provides a list of organizations and resources for those experiencing unwanted same-sex attraction; includes support groups, reparitive/conversion therapy, etc.  (Note - some, myself included, believe this type of approach can, at least at times, be harmful - see Gay Lingo 101 - Part 2: First item on the list)
• New Direction - Canada based organization whose mission is to nurture safe and spacious places for those outside the heterosexual main-stream to explore and grow in faith in Jesus Christ.
• Gay Christian Network - a nonprofit ministry supporting Christians worldwide who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT); provides an online chat/support community, podcasts on LGBT/Christian topics, annual conference, and open, safe discussions on how to honor God with homosexual orientation (monogomous relationships vs. celibacy)
• Evangelicals Concerned - works to provide safe and comfortable places for men and women to reconcile their Christian faith with their sexuality; offers a mentorship program for Christians in the LGBT community

• Give A Damn Campaign - Advocacy and support for LGBT community
• GLSEN (pronounced Glisten) - Advocacy and support for LGBT; initiatives include the very popular Day of Silence and GSA's (Gay/Straight Alliances) in schools to provide support for youth combating bullying
• GLAAD - Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
• The Trevor Project - Works towards prevention of LGBT teenage suicides; originators of the "It Gets Better Campaign"
• PFLAG - Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; support and advocacy group
• The Advocate - national gay and lesbian newsmagazine
• Human Rights Campaign - organization working for LGBT Equal Rights