Pastoral Care print Bess Howard H. Pastor, I Am Gay pastorimgay.jpg Palmer, Alaska Palmer Publishing Company 1995 221 pp. 0964412306 Pastor, I Am Gay is written from the perspective of an every day working pastor. Bible scholars, theologians, sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists and politicians have filled our book shelves with books about gay persons and their place in society and church. Pastor, I am Gay is unique and stands alone. Pastor Howard Bess remembers very well that he has been given the ministry of reconciliation and has been denied the option of condemnation or rejection. The story-telling style of the book makes for good reading. The reader meets a great array of real life people with whom Pastor Bess worked, once the first parishioner came to him and simply said “Pastor, I am gay.” The book becomes a guide for church folk, who are looking for answers that are Biblical, thoughtful and compassionate. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0964412306/qid=1132164289/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-5522310-2838527?v=glance&s=books _blank print Boesser Sara L. Silent Lives: How High a Price? silentlivessm.jpg Lanham, MA Hamilton Books 2004 193 pp. 0761829687 This work combines autobiographical sources, personal interviews, and questions for reflection to explore issues relevant to everyone's sexual orientation and gender status, be they heterosexual, or gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or intersexual. Boesser examines the consequences a sexual minority person suffers when attempting to pass as heterosexual and/or as of a traditional gender expression. Boesser also looks at how society as a whole is affected when an individual is pressured to hide his/her sexual identity. Silent Lives is helpful for personal journaling and sharing with relatives and friends, and is also very useful as a college text, therapy supplement, or a catalyst for group discussions. Ten percent of the net proceeds from Silent Lives are donated by the author to Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). More about Silent Lives

Silent Lives has been republished as a LARGE PRINT edition book. It's in 20 PT Arial Font for optimal readability. Silent Lives is also an audio book available through Learning Ally, go to the site and search in their Book Catalog with "Boesser." http://www.univpress.com/Catalog/SingleBook.shtml?command=Search&db=^DB/CATALOG.db&eqSKUdata=0761829687 _blank print Clark J. Michael James B. Nelson Doing the Work of Love: Men & Commitment in Same-Sex Couples Harriman, TN Men's Studies Press 1999 172 pp. 0967179408 Doing the Work of Love creates a bridge between academic work on men and sexuality and popular work on gay male relationships. Clark celebrates the goodness of men's sexual relationships, while adamantly rejecting an "anything goes" approach to gay male sexuality. Clark proposes an ethics of sexual accountability in-relation as a middle ground between those who espouse anonymous multi-partnered sex as the crux of gay identity and those whose current sex panic resounds with sex-negativity. http://mensstudies.com/newlook/online/page3/page3.php?cover=DWL.jpg&cat=pur&vart=b _blank print Dinovo Cheri Que(e)rying Evangelism: Growing a Community from the Outside In queeryingevangelism.jpg Cleveland Pilgrim Press 2005 207 pp. 0829816879 Qu(e)erying Evangelism chronicles DiNovo's own attempts as a minister to expand the membership of a rapidly shrinking congregation in a poor, inner city Toronto neighborhood. When members decided to evangelize among the marginalized and "queer" at their gate, church members are radically changed. The book answers the following questions: How do we understand evangelism biblically and in a completely new way? How does one be a queer theologian in a traditional pastorate? How does one grow a congregation with real differences of opinion? How does the presence of the transgendered/transsexual challenge both theology and praxis of a mainline denomination? http://thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=61&hallway_uid1=62&search_id=&catalog_uid1=580&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=8BCF461BCA3AC97B4356CB6C _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 Marshall Joretta L. Counseling Lesbian Partners: Counseling and Pastoral Theology Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 1997 161 pp. 0664255329 This first resource available for counselors who work with lesbian couples gives a clear assessment of the issues faced in working through their relationship within the context of their sexuality and society's oppression of lesbians. https://www.ppcbooks.com/Details.asp?BookID=0664255329 _blank print Oliveto Karen P., Traci W. West Kelly Turney Talking About Homosexuality: A Congregational Resource talkinghomosexuality.jpg Cleveland Pilgrim Press 2005 160 pp. 0829816135 Part of the Holy Conversations series. http://thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=9&hallway_uid1=38&search_id=&catalog_uid1=847&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=8BCF461BCA3AC97B4356CB6C _blank print Russell Letty M. editor The Church with AIDS: Renewal in the Midst of Crisis churchwithaids.jpg Louisville Westminster/John Knox Press 1990 223 pp. 0-664-2511-0 Drawing on years of discussion among members of the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and from the expertise of a wide variety of professionals, this book “helps reflect the poignant realities [of AIDS in the church] and points the way.” - Larry Rasmussen https://www.ppcbooks.com/SearchResults.asp?Title=The%20Church%20with%20AIDS _blank print Siler Mahan Exile or Embrace?: Congregations Discerning Their Response to Lesbian and Gay Christians Cleveland Pilgrim Press 2005 192 pp. 0829806305 Mahan is the retired pastor of Pullen Memorial Baptist in Raleigh, N.C., which went through a very public controversy when two of its members asked Mahan to do their union service. That began a congregation-wide discernment process, more than a little bad publicity, the departure of a number of long-term members and expulsion of the congregation from one of its denominational affiliations. The book has two particular strengths. The first is the very human and personal tone of a pastor experiencing the pathos and the joy of this tumultuous journey. (Two-thirds of the book are excerpted from the journal Mahan kept during the period.) Instead of simply issuing an edict, he worked diligently to involve the entire congregation in the decision-making process. The second strength: In the latter part of the book Mahan offers hard-won pastoral wisdom for congregations considering such matters. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0829816305/qid=1133904587/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Waun Maurine C. More Than Welcome: Learning to Embrace Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Persons in the Church more.jpg Atlanta Chalice Press 1999 153 pp. 0827223250 As an outspoken advocate, [Waun] articulates the tremendous opportunity for the church to fill the spiritual needs of those who have been marginalized or even condemned. Her story is a compelling witness both to those in the lesbitransgay community and all who stand with them. - The Other Side http://www.cbp21.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=2025 _blank online editors Out In Scripture - An Honest Enounter Between Our Lives and the Bible Whether you're a minister who has felt called to preach sermons faithful to the Bible and the authentic lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, or you’re looking for a devotional resource that will deepen your spiritual practice and honor GLBT lives, you'll want to get this resource. Guided by the Revised Common Lectionary, a listing of Bible passages for the church year, Out In Scripture features thoughtful commentaries written and reviewed by some of the most respected scholars from around the country and across the variety of Christian denominations. http://www.hrc.org/scripture _blank online editors Counseling for Clients Dealing with Gender Identity Issues By Erin K. Swenson (pdf) pastoralcare.pdf _self online editors Pastoral Care in Transgender Experience by Erin K. Swenson (pdf) swenson02.pdf _self print Osterman Mary Jo editor Claiming the Promise: An Ecumenical Welcoming Bible Study Resource on Homosexuality claiming.gif UMC Reconciling Congregation Program 1998 A 7-session Bible study curriculum on homosexuality; discusses biblical authority, interpretation, "gracious hospitality", "Gift-ed sexuality", spirituality, right relationships, ethics and discipleship. https://s.p3.hostingprod.com/@www.rmnetwork.org/ssl/order/order.html _blank print Lutherans Concerned/North America RIC Shared Congregational Conversation Around Homosexuality shconcon.gif Saint Paul Lutherans Concerned/North America 2000 40 pp. This 6 session adult education course for discussing a difficult topic was developed by the Lutherans Concerned Reconciling In Christ program. http://infox.lcna.org _blank online editors Bridges Across the Divide http://www.bridges-across.org/ _blank online editors Justice and Respect http://www.justice-respect.org/ _blank online editors Staying in Christian Conversation http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=3749 _blank online editors Loving your way through Conflict http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=1746 _blank online editors Just Peace http://www.justpeaceumc.org/ _blank online editors Leaders respond to difficult issues http://www.gbod.org/fqnews/sept01/page2.html _blank online editors Guidelines for Establishing and Maintaining Respect and "Fair Play" http://www.bmclgbt.org/fairplay.html _blank online editors An Open Letter to Religious Leaders about Sex Education From the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing (pdf) http://www.religiousinstitute.org/Open_Letter.pdf _blank online editors A Time to Build: Creating Sexually Healthy Faith Communities From the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing (pdf) http://www.religiousinstitute.org/pubs/build/ATimeBuild.pdf _blank multimedia editors Coming Out, Coming Home Minneapolis Spirit of the Lakes UCC 1996 61 minutes 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 Lutherans Concerned/North America editors RIC: It's About Being Church itsabout.gif Saint Paul Lutherans Concerned/North America 2005 30 min. A forum-length video which features the stories of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied Lutherans and their experiences with the Reconciling in Christ Program. Participants include pastors, lay persons, and two ELCA Bishops. The film also documents the RIC process. This video provides an excellent resource for individuals, congregations, and organizations considering coming out of the closet about welcoming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. It also is a great refresher for churches wishing to renew their interest in RIC. VHS http://infox.lcna.org/ _blank online Gibb Sarah Ivy editors Pastoral Care with Transgender People By Sarah Ivy Gibb. An educational guide for pastors on transgender people, transgender communities and pastoral care. http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/g1aY9h517Rhd/ _blank print Coleman Gerald D. Homosexuality: Catholic Teaching and Pastoral Practice homosexualitycatholic.jpg New York Paulist Press 1995 224 pp. 0809136058 An in-depth, thorough and respectful presentation of the Catholic position on homosexuality from a theological and pastoral perspective. http://www.amazon.com/Homosexuality-Catholic-Teaching-Pastoral-Practice/dp/0809136058/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197499728&sr=8-1 _blank print Kundtz David J. Bernard S. Schlager Ministry Among God?s Queer Folk: LGBT Pastoral Care godsqueerfolk.jpg Cleveland The Pilgrim Press 2007 242 pp. 0829817069 This practical handbook, written by two self-described “queer people of faith,” covers the basic skills religious caregivers and ministry students need in order to be effective, enlightened, and supportive pastoral care providers to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, transgender, questioning) persons within as well as outside their congregations and communities. http://www.thepilgrimpress.com/product_detail.taf?site_uid1=61&hallway_uid1=62&search_id=&catalog_uid1=680&link_type_uid1=&person_id=&u_currency_id=190&_UserReference=0F6DE25DC2865C4F476831BB _blank print Bayly Michael J. editor Creating Safe Environments for LGBT Students: A Catholic Schools Perspective creatingsafe.jpg Binghamton, NY Harrington Park Press 2007 172 pp. 156023606X A comprehensive training guidebook for educators who are committed to diversity and the full inclusion of LGBT students in every aspect of the Catholic high school experience. Based on five years of pilot testing in Catholic schools, this unique book emphasizes safe-staff training in integrating the Church's pastoral, social, and moral dimensions with the special needs of LGBT students. The book presents strategies and resources for building safer schools, helpful materials for communicating with parents, and general guidelines for developing and maintaining professional helping relationships with LGBT students. http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Safe-Environments-Lgbt-Students/dp/156023606X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211216081&sr=8-1 _blank print Gold Mitchell Mindy Drucker Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social, and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay in America crisis.jpg Austin, TX Greenleaf Book Group 2008 416 pp. 1929774109

With a unique blend of up-close and personal stories from some very public individuals, and middle America teens, philanthropist and longtime human rights advocate Mitchell Gold exposes this silent epidemic in Crisis.

"The reality is that Crisis needs to be read by absolutely everyone, not only to recognize what gay people go through in this culture, but to break through the denial of how cruel and insensitive people can be when they are controlled by a belief system that they allow to substitute for the loving human response they would otherwise find automatic." - Dr. Herb Hamsher

 http://www.crisisbook.org/ _blank online editors Gender Identity & Our Faith Communities A Congregational Guide for Transgender Advocacy http://www.hrc.org/documents/Gender-Identity-and-our-Faith-Communities_2008-12.pdf _blank online editors Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Sexual and Gender Diversity From the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing http://www.religiousinstitute.org/publications.html _blank online editors Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Adolescent Sexuality From the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing http://www.religiousinstitute.org/publications.html _blank online editors An Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Sex Education A theological framework for comprehensive sexuality education from the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing http://www.religiousinstitute.org/publications.html _blank online editors Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Marriage Equality A theological framework for marriage equality from the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing http://www.religiousinstitute.org/publications.html _blank print Haffner Rev. Debra W. A Time to Every Purpose: The Language of Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing timeforeverypurpose.jpg Norwalk, CT Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing 2009 72 pp. A compendium of progressive theological statements on a range of sexuality issues that enable religious leaders and faith communities to preach, teach and advocate for sexual justice. It includes historical information and statistical data to establish the social and economic contexts for each of the sexuality issues addressed. It also provides responsive readings for use in congregational worship, as well as study group questions and lists of resources. http://www.religiousinstitute.org/publications.html _blank print Palmer Timothy Rev. Debra W. Haffner A Time to Seek: Study Guide on Sexual and Gender Diversity timetoseek2.jpg Norwalk, CT Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing 2007 47 pp. 1-893270-44-0 http://www.religiousinstitute.org/publications.html _blank print Haffner Rev. Debra W. A Time to Build: Creating Sexually Healthy Faith Communities timetobuild.jpg Norwalk, CT Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing 2002 40 pp. http://www.religiousinstitute.org/publications.html _blank print Haffner Rev. Debra W. Kate M. Ott A Time to Speak: Faith Communities and Sexuality Education timetospeak.jpg Norwalk, CT Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing 2005 56 pp. 1-893270-36-X http://www.religiousinstitute.org/publications.html _blank print Burr Kenneth Coming Out, Coming Home: Making Room for Gay Spirituality in Therapy comingoutcominghome.jpg New York Routledge 2009 291 pp. 978-0-7890-3843-2

Coming Out, Coming Home increases the potential for spiritual growth and development in our society. Many books have been written and many opinions aired about gay rights and pro-gay theology, but not many have focused upon providing people with an opportunity to enlarge their own belief systems to embrace gay spirituality while still being true advocates of Scripture. Currently many people have felt the need to split the personal from their professional lives in order to intensify their job performance and maintain proper boundaries. But in doing so, many have also split off their soul life from their work life, forcing spirituality to go underground which often results in tension and disharmony. Because spirituality is all about connection, we know that when people lack the opportunities and richness of deeper connections, soul healing is often inhibited. Here you will find a deeper connection with yourself and others as you experience formerly rigid boundaries between God and sexual minorities begin to relax.

 http://www.routledgementalhealth.com/9780789038432 _blank print Palmer Gerald The Church Has AIDS: Essays on Sexuality, Sexual Orientation, Taboos, Religiosity and the Black Church thechurchhasAIDS.jpg Raleigh, NC Lulu 2010 84 pp. 978-0-557-12464-0 The Church Has AIDS explores the social issues and stigmas that fuel the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the African American community. Minister Palmer looks at religious based heterosexism and religiosity and it's impact over such issues as sexuality and sexual orientation in an upfront and in your face manner. Available as a downloadable E-book. E-book (pdf) http://www.lulu.com/product/e-book/the-church-has-aids/6468453?productTrackingContext=center_search_results _blank online editors Where All Can Safely Live WhereAllCanSafelyLive.jpg Where All May Safely Live

A guide to understanding bullying in our communities, how to talk about it, and how to prevent it.

This anti-bullying curriculum is an introduction to what bullying is, how it functions, and why we as Christians are called to prevent it from happening in our communities. It was developed by Lutherans Concerned/North America with the help of the staff at the Pacific Violence Prevention Institute, from the pioneering research on bullying by Dan Olweus, and materials created by the United States government.

This curriculum is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to stopping bullying. However, this guide provides a basic understanding of how bullying works and offers suggestions for steps in creating a congregational bullying prevention plan.

Available for free download

 PDF http://www.lcna.org/images/stories/downloads/resources/048_whereallcansafelylive_aug2011.pdf _blank print Cheng Patrick S. From Sin to Amazing Grace: Discovering the Queer Christ fromsin.jpg Nashville Seabury Books 2012 160 pages 1596272384 This book seeks to reclaim the doctrines of sin and grace for LGBT people and others who have been wounded by such doctrines. In the first part of the book, I challenge the traditional crime-based model of sin and grace in favor of a christological, or Christ-based, model. In the second part of the book, I propose seven new deadly sins and seven new amazing graces based upon seven models of the Queer Christ. The book addresses cutting-edge theological, ethical, and pastoral issues, and it is suitable for classroom as well as congregational use. http://www.amazon.com/Sin-Amazing-Grace-Discovering-Christ/dp/1596272384/ _blank print Address Richard F Joel L. Kushner, and Geoffrey Mitelman editors Kulanu: All of Us: A Program and Resource Guide for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Inclusion Revised and Expanded kulanu.jpg New York URJ Press 2007 388 pages 978-0-8074-0612-0 In the years since the original Kulanu was published, there has been great progress in the way the Jewish community in general and the synagogue community in particular have welcomed gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Jews. It is to the credit of the Reform Movement, its congregations, clergy, and leaders that this not always quiet revolution has emerged. The revised and expanded edition of Kulanu reflects much of the change that has taken place. It includes personal reflections, insightful essays, blessings and texts, Reform resolutions and responsa, three classroom lessons, an extensive bibliography and glossary, and much more, much like the original Kulanu did ten years ago, this edition will help pave the way for GLBT inclusion in our synagogue community for years to come. http://urjbooksandmusic.com/product.php?productid=971&cat=0&page=1 _blank online Rainbow Bridges: A Community Guide to Rebuilding the Lives of LGBTI Refugees and Asylees rainbowbridges.jpg San Francisco ORAM - Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration 2012 48 pages Rainbow Bridges, a 48-page guide developed in a pilot project to resettle LGBT refugees in San Francisco, offers practical step-by-step guidance on welcoming new refugees, ensuring their mental and physical wellbeing, and helping them find support in their new communities. It includes sample forms, a suggested code of conduct, and outlines the avenues for refugees to receive housing, employment, and federal assistance. http://www.oraminternational.org/images/stories/Publications/oram-rainbow-bridges-2012.pdf _blank online editors Be not Afraid - Help is on the Way! PFLAG National 2012 46 pages In a world where people look for definitive answers, finding resolution between what our religion teaches us and our support (and even love) for GLBT people often leaves people frustrated, hurt, and unwilling to even talk about the topic. And with the ever-growing numbers of people who say that they personally know GLBT people, this challenge becomes more widespread each day.Be not afraid - help is on the way! Straight for Equality in faith communities aims to move the way we understand our religious beliefs and our relationships with GLBT people - and support for equality - away from the either/or, "love the sinner, hate the sin" framework and to a place where people can try to understand that you can be a person of faith, loyal to your religion's teachings, and someone who supports their GLBT friends and family. (pdf) PDF http://community.pflag.org/sfe-test/document.doc?id=649 _blank print Alston Macky Ashley Harness, Susan Reed My Mind Was Changed: A New Way to Talk with Conflicted Christians about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Church and Society - A Communications Toolkit MyMind.jpg New York Auburn Seminary 2012 43 pages A new way to talk about the dignity and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people that helps move conflicted Christians through their religious and emotional conflicts to stand for, not against, LBGT equality. Based on original research conducted by Auburn Media in partnership with Fenton and Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, the "My Mind Was Changed" toolkit offers the most powerful approaches to moving conflicted Christians from a place of standing against LGBT equality to standing for it, in church and state. https://auburnseminary.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/mindchanged _blank print Johnston Mark C. What Do I Do Now? When a Child Comes Out as Lesbian or Gay WhatDoIDoNow.jpg Atlanta Chalice Press 2012 e-book 9780827261297 Few parents are prepared for the moment when a child comes out as lesbian or gay. What Do I Do Now? gives loving reassurance and theological guidance towards maintaining a loving relationship with your son or daughter. Rev. Dr. Johnston, a Pastoral Psychologist with 25 years of experience working with gay men and women and their families, encourages parents towards understanding, open communication, and self-care in this practical guide. e-book http://www.chalicepress.com/What-Do-I-Do-Now-When-a-Child-Comes-Out-as-Lesbian-or-Gay-EPDF-P1197.aspx _blank