Reference page for GCN Conference 2015
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Powerpoint presentation (To be supplied by the time of my session at the conference) | ||
Interpretation tools ...
Biblegateway multiple bible version reference with concordance and some commentaries
Blueletterbible.org Bible based Greek and Hebrew word look up with definitions and Greek/Hebrew concordance
Robertsons Word Pictures A.T. Robertson, a renowned scholar of the Greek New Testament, takes through the New Testament, verse by verse, painting word pictures from the Greek to bring to light the words and actions of Jesus and the early Christians.
Biblegateway multiple bible version reference with concordance and some commentaries
Blueletterbible.org Bible based Greek and Hebrew word look up with definitions and Greek/Hebrew concordance
Robertsons Word Pictures A.T. Robertson, a renowned scholar of the Greek New Testament, takes through the New Testament, verse by verse, painting word pictures from the Greek to bring to light the words and actions of Jesus and the early Christians.
Books I am recommending...
Elements of Biblical Exegesis by Michael Gorman
Like the title says ... this is a guide for students and ministers. Although he tends to cover interpretation from a more conservative perspective he lists and describes a broad range of interpretive lenses. This book forms the basis for much of what I share in this session. It gives no conclusion on the issues of today. Its focus is purely biblical interpretation.
Making Sense of the Bible by Adam Hamilton
This is a well written book by Adam Hamilton ... a Methodist Minister. If you are looking for an easy to read comprehensive guide to the bible as a whole ... how it came to be ... and the challenges of interpreting it for today, this is the book for you. Rather than focus on just one issue or one challenging question Pastor Hamilton applies his understanding to multiple challenging questions of today with some very different answers (such as the creation story ... abortion ... who gets to heaven and so forth) ... His view appears to be Side A though he is willing to operate within the Discipline of the United Methodist Church.
Walking the Bridgeless Canyon by Kathy Baldock
This is a brilliant book with excellent documentation. Kathy avoids the negative pitfalls that some books such as these tend to fall into. She gives an excellant history of the changing views about lgbt folks in society and the church, carefully covers the problems of exgay ministries,and discusses the problems that can occur in mixed orientation marriages. She avoids the political discussions and ends on a positive note mentioning people she knows by name who are supportive of the lgbt community. See also, Kathy's blog. Only one negative about this book... If you are Side B she does not really explore what that looks like and how Side B folks find value in this direction /calling / vocation. If you want to explore that you will need to go to websites such as A Queer Calling by my friends Sarah and Lindsey and/or read Eve Tushet's book ... see this and other similar books and resources below.
Elements of Biblical Exegesis by Michael Gorman
Like the title says ... this is a guide for students and ministers. Although he tends to cover interpretation from a more conservative perspective he lists and describes a broad range of interpretive lenses. This book forms the basis for much of what I share in this session. It gives no conclusion on the issues of today. Its focus is purely biblical interpretation.
Making Sense of the Bible by Adam Hamilton
This is a well written book by Adam Hamilton ... a Methodist Minister. If you are looking for an easy to read comprehensive guide to the bible as a whole ... how it came to be ... and the challenges of interpreting it for today, this is the book for you. Rather than focus on just one issue or one challenging question Pastor Hamilton applies his understanding to multiple challenging questions of today with some very different answers (such as the creation story ... abortion ... who gets to heaven and so forth) ... His view appears to be Side A though he is willing to operate within the Discipline of the United Methodist Church.
Walking the Bridgeless Canyon by Kathy Baldock
This is a brilliant book with excellent documentation. Kathy avoids the negative pitfalls that some books such as these tend to fall into. She gives an excellant history of the changing views about lgbt folks in society and the church, carefully covers the problems of exgay ministries,and discusses the problems that can occur in mixed orientation marriages. She avoids the political discussions and ends on a positive note mentioning people she knows by name who are supportive of the lgbt community. See also, Kathy's blog. Only one negative about this book... If you are Side B she does not really explore what that looks like and how Side B folks find value in this direction /calling / vocation. If you want to explore that you will need to go to websites such as A Queer Calling by my friends Sarah and Lindsey and/or read Eve Tushet's book ... see this and other similar books and resources below.
For those who embrace Side B beliefs .... (these resources are more about living out your convictions)
Gay and Catholic: Accepting My Sexuality, Finding Community, Living My Faith by Eve Tushet I did not have time to review this book but it did get favorable reviews from people I trust. I should note that many resources for celibacy and singleness are from Catholic resources. It does not appear that those of us who are Protestant have really explored issues of celibacy and singleness from a deeply spiritual perspective.
Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill Review from Amazon follows: "Gay," "Christian," and “celibate” don't often appear in the same sentence. Yet many who sit next to us in the pew at church fit that description, says author Wesley Hill. As a celibate gay Christian, Hill gives us 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? Those who choose celibacy are often left to deal with loneliness and the hunger for relationships. How can gay Christians experience God's favor and blessing in the midst of a struggle that for many brings a crippling sense of shame and guilt? Weaving together reflections from his own life and the lives of other Christians, such as Henri Nouwen and Gerard Manley Hopkins, Hill offers a fresh perspective on these questions. He advocates neither unqualified "healing" for those who struggle, nor their accommodation to temptation, but rather faithfulness in the midst of brokenness. "I hope this book may encourage other homosexual Christians to take the risky step of opening up their lives to others in the body of Christ," Hill writes. "In so doing, they may find, as I have, by grace, that being known is spiritually healthier than remaining behind closed doors, that the light is better than the darkness."
Side B web resources..
Spiritual Friendship This blog was created by Ron Belgau and Wesley Hill out of frustration with the prevailing narratives about homosexuality in orthodox Christian circles. They believe that both the focus on political activism against same-sex marriage and the Freudian psychology behind reparative therapy distracted from providing an adequate, Christ-centered pastoral response to LGBT Christians. They believe in a traditionally Christian sexual ethic: that God created human beings male and female, and that any sexual intimacy outside of a faithful, lifelong marital union of a man and woman is contrary to His plan. But they also believe that marriage is not the only way of life God calls us to, and so they seek to explore different ways of serving God in celibacy. And Christ-centered friendship is, they believe, essential to that task.
Gay and Catholic: Accepting My Sexuality, Finding Community, Living My Faith by Eve Tushet I did not have time to review this book but it did get favorable reviews from people I trust. I should note that many resources for celibacy and singleness are from Catholic resources. It does not appear that those of us who are Protestant have really explored issues of celibacy and singleness from a deeply spiritual perspective.
Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill Review from Amazon follows: "Gay," "Christian," and “celibate” don't often appear in the same sentence. Yet many who sit next to us in the pew at church fit that description, says author Wesley Hill. As a celibate gay Christian, Hill gives us 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? Those who choose celibacy are often left to deal with loneliness and the hunger for relationships. How can gay Christians experience God's favor and blessing in the midst of a struggle that for many brings a crippling sense of shame and guilt? Weaving together reflections from his own life and the lives of other Christians, such as Henri Nouwen and Gerard Manley Hopkins, Hill offers a fresh perspective on these questions. He advocates neither unqualified "healing" for those who struggle, nor their accommodation to temptation, but rather faithfulness in the midst of brokenness. "I hope this book may encourage other homosexual Christians to take the risky step of opening up their lives to others in the body of Christ," Hill writes. "In so doing, they may find, as I have, by grace, that being known is spiritually healthier than remaining behind closed doors, that the light is better than the darkness."
Side B web resources..
Spiritual Friendship This blog was created by Ron Belgau and Wesley Hill out of frustration with the prevailing narratives about homosexuality in orthodox Christian circles. They believe that both the focus on political activism against same-sex marriage and the Freudian psychology behind reparative therapy distracted from providing an adequate, Christ-centered pastoral response to LGBT Christians. They believe in a traditionally Christian sexual ethic: that God created human beings male and female, and that any sexual intimacy outside of a faithful, lifelong marital union of a man and woman is contrary to His plan. But they also believe that marriage is not the only way of life God calls us to, and so they seek to explore different ways of serving God in celibacy. And Christ-centered friendship is, they believe, essential to that task.
Links to pages of interest on my website..
While I hope you will peruse the many pages of my website particularly the ones for straight parents and gay children ... here are some specific pages and files...
Anti -exgay (orientation change) therapy statements from professional organizations around the world.
Bible interpretation ... issues with inerrancy .... Review of the committee to General Superintendents regarding concept of "inerrancy" Shows the problems with this ideology and its origins. For entire original document see here.
Side A Side B theology primer Gives a quick non-decisive view of Side A/B theology. This is a neutral basic look at the differences in the two viewpoints with some biblical references. It is not designed to help either side win the argument. Its purpose is to foster a better understanding.
See also websites/resources of interests in the footer of every page.
While I hope you will peruse the many pages of my website particularly the ones for straight parents and gay children ... here are some specific pages and files...
Anti -exgay (orientation change) therapy statements from professional organizations around the world.
Bible interpretation ... issues with inerrancy .... Review of the committee to General Superintendents regarding concept of "inerrancy" Shows the problems with this ideology and its origins. For entire original document see here.
Side A Side B theology primer Gives a quick non-decisive view of Side A/B theology. This is a neutral basic look at the differences in the two viewpoints with some biblical references. It is not designed to help either side win the argument. Its purpose is to foster a better understanding.
See also websites/resources of interests in the footer of every page.
