Resource List As Saint John’s prepares to vote on May 31st regarding affiliation with the Reconciling Ministries Network (http://www.rmnetwork.org), you may wish to learn more about issues related to sexuality, the Bible, and The United Methodist Church. Below is a list of resources reflecting emerging views in contemporary theological discussion. For questions, contact Hilary Marchbanks, Associate Pastor, at [email protected] or 512-452-573; Kate Harrington, Intentional Faith Development Chair at [email protected] or 512-565-2511; or Brad Howe, Reconciling Ministries Team Chair at 512-633-5866 or [email protected].

Books on Sexual Orientation

Book: The Bible's Yes to Same-Sex Marriage: An Evangelical's Change of Heart by Mark Achtemeier, 2014 http://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664239900/thebiblesyestosamesexmarriage.aspx Achtemeier shows how a careful reading of the whole Scripture reveals God's good news about love, marriage,and sexuality for and straight people alike.

Book: God and the Gay Christian, Matthew Vines, 2014 http://www.convergentbooks.com/book/godandthegaychristian/ This book provides intensive research into understanding what scripture has to say about being gay and Christian.

Book: We Shall Not Be Moved: Methodists Debate Race, Gender, and Homosexuality, by Jane Ellen Nickell, 2014 http://wipfandstock.com/weshallnotbemoved.html Analysis of United Methodism's historic contests over the leadership of African Americans, women, and gay people, using transcripts of floor debates during keys years of General Conference, where UMC denominational policy is set.

Book: Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church's Debate on Same-Sex Relationships, by James Brownson, 2013 http://www.eerdmans.com/Products/6863/biblegendersexuality.aspx This book explores why the Bible speaks the way it does about same-sex relationships, presenting both "traditional" and "revisionist" views, and identifies "stuck points" in the ongoing debate.

Book: God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage, by Gene Robinson, 2013 http://www.randomhouse.com/book/215718/godbelievesinlovebygenerobinson From the first openly gay person elected to be an Episcopal , this book that lays out a case for same-sex marriage from a biblical, religious perspective.

Book: Torn, by Justin Lee, 2012 http://jerichobooks.com/portfolio/tornjustinlee/ This book contains personal stories and practical guidance for all committed Christians in the homosexuality/church debate on how to respect, learn from, and love one another.

Book: Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community, by Andrew Marin, 2009 http://www.ivpress.com/cgiivpress/book.pl/code=3626 Marin works to understand the conversation about sexuality and spirituality and how to build bridges from the LGBT community to the Christian community.

Book: Voices from the Kingdom: All God's Children Have the Keys, by Beverly Cole, 2007 http://www.kimimipub.com/voices.html A collection of interviews with gay/lesbian Christians, advocate parents, pastors, and focused on topic of homosexuality and the Church.

Book: We Were Baptized Too: Claiming God's Grace for Lesbians and Gays, by Marilyn Bennett Alexander and James Preston, 1996 http://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664256287/wewerebaptizedtoo.aspx This book challenges the church to take seriously its understanding of baptism and communion as a means of grace, justice, and liberation for all.

Book: Transgendering Faith: Identity, Sexuality & Spirituality, Leann McCall Tigert and Maren C. Tirabassi, eds. This book is a resource to help Christians respond with love and care to transgender persons, as well as for transgender Christians, their families, and friends.

Saint John’s Resources on Sexual Orientation

Saint John’s Resource: The Season of Listening Scripture Event transcript, 2014 http://www.stjohnsaustin.org/files/the_bible_and_homosexuality_event.pdf?r=80186500 Through the Season of Listening, Saint John’s encouraged church members to discern their fears and hopes through a season of conversation and discernment around the subject of sexual orientation, the Bible, and The United Methodist Church. This transcript shares three views on homosexuality and the Bible, including a more traditional view.

Saint John’s Resource: Wedding Dialogue Event transcript, 2013 http://www.stjohnsaustin.org/files/wedding_dialogue_july_2013.pdf?r=88704868 This discussion centers largely around one question: Given our biblical tradition, how are we to understand, interpret and respond to cultural shifts regarding homosexuality; specifically, the widening acceptance in American society, both legally and culturally, of homosexuality and marriage.

Saint John’s Resource: An Our Life Together Column by John Anderson, 2012 http://www.stjohnsaustin.org/content.cfm?id=373 The late beloved lay minister of Saint John’s, John Anderson writes a letter of encouragement after the 2012 General Conference in which limiting Book of Discipline language limiting to gay and lesbian persons was upheld.

DVD and Video Resources on Sexual Orientation

DVD: God Loves , Roger Ross Williams, 2014 http://www.godlovesuganda.com/ This DVD gives a look at the role of American evangelical missionaries in the treatment of gay Africans.

Online Short Film: A Church Divided, Peter Coyote, 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVWTKJ3fXCM&feature=youtu.be PBS documentary follows California delegates to the United Methodist Church's 2012 global convention at which United Methodists from around the world gather to vote on matters such as their denomination’s official policy on gays and lesbians.

DVD: Sex, Gender and the Bible, lectures from Michael D. Coogan, April D. DeConick and Harold Ellens, 2013 http://store.bib-arch.org/Sex-Gender-and-the-Bible/productinfo/9H3N2/ These lectures share new interpretations of sex and gender in the Bible which confront traditional Judeo-Christian understandings of and identity, including the Bible’s views on homosexuality and the appropriate role of women in society.

DVD: , Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali Worrall, 2012 http://callmekuchu.com/ , Uganda's first openly gay man, and retired Anglican Bishop Christopher Senyonjo work to defeat state sanctioned homophobia while combatting persecution in their daily lives.

DVD: Through My Eyes, Justin Lee, 2009 https://www.gaychristian.net/store/throughmyeyesdvd Interviews with young, gay Christians are chronicled in this book: what they really think, how they perceive the church, and what they wish other Christians knew.

DVD: Fish out of Water, 2008 http://www.fishoutofwaterfilm.com/ This documentary uses animation and academic interviews to dissect the seven Bible verses often used to condemn homosexuality.

DVD: For the Bible Tells Me So, 2007 http://www.forthebibletellsmeso.org/indexe.htm Through the experiences of five very Christian, very American families including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson we discover how people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child.

DVD and Video Resources on Gender Identity

DVD: Trans, Chris Arnold, 2014 http://transthemovie.com/ Documentary about the transgender community, perhaps the most misunderstood and mistreated minority in America and around the world.

DVD: Intersexion: A Documentary About Being Intersex, Grant LaHood, 2014 http://www.intersexionfilm.com/ 1 in 2,000 babies is born with genitalia so ambiguous that biological sex cannot be determined— intersex individuals share their attempts to fit into a male/female world.

Online Short Film: Transgender People and Theology, 2014 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2014/10/17/october172014transgenderstheology/ 24400/ PBS report on how one United Methodist Church reaches out to include transgender individuals.