Books
The books below are available for purchase at your favorite independent or faith-based bookstores.
We’ve also included links to other affirming organizations’ lists of books.
A list of books by recommended audience or topic is also included.
Books recommended by VMFANT and our Friends
Written by Gayle E. Pitman
Illustrated by Laure Fournier
On Sunday morning, we gather together. We are every color. Every age. Rich and poor. Our church is open, affirming, and accepting. We believe in love instead of hate. There's room for everyone! This book celebrates a spiritual community that embraces all people--no matter their age, race, class, gender identity, or sexual orientation--in love and faith.
Written by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman
In our classroom safe and sound. Fears are lost and hope is found. Discover a school where all young children have a place, have a space, and are loved and appreciated. Readers will follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions. A school that shows the world as we will make it to be.
Edited by Leon Brown
As conversations abound on social media platforms and in the news media, more people are beginning to wonder why ethnic and cultural diversity is increasing in our cities, yet it is not reflected in our churches. Has it ever been reflected? What caused such separation? Are there cultural and relational barriers that prove too difficult to climb for those different than ourselves? An honest assessment of ourselves could demonstrate that the reason most of our churches remain homogenous in diverse cities is because all are not welcome. Differences tend to separate. Therefore it is easiest to gather with those who are similar, but is that the call of the Great Commission, and is that the outworking of the gospel we observe in the books of Acts? All Are Welcome is an attempt to have (and continue) the conversation that looms in our communities. Each contributor in this edited volume is an ethnic minority. These are the voices that are often overlooked, yet they provide ideas and answers for how to create a much more welcoming environment for all people in our local congregations. If you've ever wondered about the discussions that occur between ethnic minorities as we pontificate how to create a more welcoming environment in our churches, All Are Welcome is a discussion you don't want to miss.
And God Loves Each One: A Resource for Dialogue About Sexual Orientation
Written by Ann Thompson Cook
And God Loves Each One is more than just a book; it's a catalyst for a new conversation about sexual orientation in churches and communities. This gentle, informative 20-page book offers a path for people who wonder about sexual orientation, who wonder about the religious view that it's wrong to be lesbian, gay or bisexual. Read it and start a dialogue. Share it, give it away, and tell your own story. Make And God Loves Each One the basis for creating new dialogue in your family, church, and community
Edited by Noach Dzmura
While the Jewish mainstream still argues about homosexuality, transgender and gender-variant people have emerged as a distinct Jewish population and as a new chorus of voices. Inspired and nurtured by the successes of the feminist and LGBT movements in the Jewish world, Jews who identify with the "T" now sit in the congregation, marry under the chuppah, and create Jewish families. Balancing on the Mechitza offers a multifaceted portrait of this increasingly visible community. The contributors--activists, theologians, scholars, and other transgender Jews--share for the first time in a printed volume their theoretical contemplations as well as rite-of-passage and other transformative stories. Balancing on the Mechitza introduces readers to a secular transwoman who interviews her Israeli and Palestinian peers and provides cutting-edge theory about the construction of Jewish personhood in Israel; a transman who serves as legal witness for a man (a role not typically open to persons designated female at birth) during a conversion ritual; a man deprived of testosterone by an illness who comes to identify himself with passion and pride as a Biblical eunuch; and a gender-variant person who explores how to adapt the masculine and feminine pronouns in Hebrew to reflect a non-binary gender reality.
Written by Jeff Chu
Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America is part memoir and part investigative analysis that explores the explosive and confusing intersection of faith, politics, and sexuality in Christian America. The quest to find an answer is at the heart of Does Jesus Really Love Me?--a personal journey of belief, an investigation, and a portrait of a faith and a nation at odds by award-winning reporter Jeff Chu. From Brooklyn to Nashville to California, from Westboro Baptist Church and their "God Hates Fags" protest signs, to the pioneering Episcopalian bishop Mary Glasspool--who proclaims a message of liberation and divine love, Chu captures spiritual snapshots of Christian America at a remarkable moment, when tensions between both sides in the culture wars have rarely been higher. Funny and heartbreaking, perplexing and wise, Does Jesus Really Love Me? is an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual pilgrimage that reveals a nation in crisis.
For The Bible Tells Me So: the biblical-theological necessity of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church
Written by Katie Hays
Over a quarter-century of ministry, Katie Hays has been learning and teaching that orthodox, biblical, Christian faith not only supports but demands the inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in the church. For Galileo Church, the community Hays founded in 2013 on the outskirts of Fort Worth, Texas, it has been important to help every believer articulate this essential piece of discipleship. A seminar, also called "For the Bible Tells Me So," evolved into this booklet, which is a succinct rendering of a complex theological mystery: God's consistent and surprising embrace of those whom Very Religious People have cast out. Part One is a rapid read of the (very small) set of scriptures that seem to prohibit LGBTQ+ identity. Part Two presents an alternative to fact-checking every individual verse. If we read the Bible as a whole, Hays contends, one unified, unfolding story of the church's discovery of God's generosity, we can track a trend toward the inclusion of all people in God's family of beloveds.
Written by Matthew Vines
As a young Christian man, Matthew Vines harbored the same basic hopes of most young people: to some-day share his life with someone, to build a family of his own, to give and receive love. But when he realized he was gay, those hopes were called into question. The Bible, he'd been taught, condemned gay relationships. Feeling the tension between his understanding of the Bible and the reality of his same-sex orientation, Vines devoted years of intensive research into what the Bible says about homosexuality. With care and precision, Vines asked questions such as: - Do biblical teachings on the marriage covenant preclude same-sex marriage or not? - How should we apply the teachings of Jesus to the gay debate? - Can celibacy be a calling when it is mandated, not chosen? - What did Paul have in mind when he warned against same-sex relations? Unique in its affirmation of both an orthodox faith and sexual diversity, God and the Gay Christian has sparked heated debate, sincere soul searching, and widespread cultural change on the issue of what it means to be a faithful gay Christian.
Written by Brandan Robertson
One of the most fiercely debated topics in modern Christianity centers on the inclusion of sexual and gender minorities into the full life of the church. Dozens of scholars have stepped forward, seeking to make a compelling case for LGBT+ inclusion based on their contextualized reading of the six traditional passages that refer to homosexuality in Scripture. But these arguments alone fall short of providing a comprehensive framework for radical inclusion of LGBT+ people. In The Gospel of Inclusion, pastor and public theologian Brandan Robertson offers a compelling assessment of the biblical texts, cultural context, and modern social movements to suggest that the entire thrust of the Christian gospel calls the church towards the deconstruction of all oppressive systems and structures and towards the creation of a world that celebrates the full spectrum of human diversity as a reflection of God's creative intention.
Written by Bridget Eileen Rivera
Religious faith reduces the risk of suicide for virtually every American demographic except one: LGBTQ people. Generations of LGBTQ people have been alienated or condemned by Christian communities. It's past time that Christians confronted the ongoing and devastating effects of this legacy. Many LGBTQ people face overwhelming challenges in navigating faith, gender, and sexuality. Christian communities that uphold the traditional sexual ethic often unwittingly make the path more difficult through unexamined attitudes and practices. Bridget Eileen Rivera speaks to the pain of LGBTQ Christians and helps churches develop a better pastoral approach. Rivera calls to mind Jesus's woe to religious leaders: "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them" (Matt. 23:4). Heavy Burdens provides an honest account of seven ways LGBTQ people experience discrimination in the church, helping Christians grapple with hard realities, and empowering churches across the theological spectrum to navigate better paths forward.
Written by R. Eric Thomas
R. Eric Thomas didn't know he was different until the world told him so. Everywhere he went--whether it was his rich, mostly white, suburban high school, his conservative black church, or his Ivy League college in a big city--he found himself on the outside looking in. In essays by turns hysterical and heartfelt, Thomas reexamines what it means to be an "other" through the lens of his own life experience. He explores the two worlds of his childhood: the barren urban landscape where his parents' house was an anomalous bright spot, and the Eden-like school they sent him to in white suburbia. He writes about struggling to reconcile his Christian identity with his sexuality, the exhaustion of code-switching in college, accidentally getting famous on the internet (for the wrong reason), and the surreal experience of covering the 2016 election for Elle online, and the seismic changes that came thereafter. Ultimately, Thomas seeks the answer to these ever more relevant questions: Is the future worth it? Why do we bother when everything seems to be getting worse? As the world continues to shift in unpredictable ways, Thomas finds the answers to these questions by reenvisioning what "normal" means and in the powerful alchemy that occurs when you at last place yourself at the center of your own story. Here for It will resonate deeply and joyfully with everyone who has ever felt pushed to the margins, struggled with self-acceptance, or wished to shine more brightly in a dark world. Stay here for it--the future may surprise you.
Written by Steve Harper
Do conservatives or progressives “own” the teachings about what the Bible says about human sexuality and marriage? For some—perhaps a vocal minority—the question is no longer up for debate or discussion: conservatives win. For others, the issues are not that simple. A fresh, rigorous, yet concise, theological examination of the Bible’s teachings is required. There are other ways to interpret scripture faithfully with respect to sexuality other than the conservative interpretation. In Holy Love, Steve Harper strives to articulate the truth about the teachings of the Bible and Wesleyan tradition on human sexuality. This very accessible book is intended for church leaders, small groups, and those interested in understanding the Bible’s teaching on this fundamental component of human life, experience and relationships. The book will help church leaders and small groups make the constructive case that biblical, Christian teaching is compatible with faithful, covenantal love and intimacy amidst all sexual orientations.
Written by Dr. John H. Tyson and Dr. Gregory Prince
Most of us grew up with only part of the story concerning our gay and lesbian neighbors. We thought people chose to be homosexual, and that with God's help they could choose to be straight. New scientific research shows that sexual orientation is determined in the waters of the womb, not in the waters of baptism. Being straight or gay is not an act of will, it is a gift of God. This book traces a growing understanding of the interplay between God's love, scripture, the Church, and homosexuality. The central message of this book is that God wants every LGBTQI person to know of God's tender and seeking care for you. The Lord Jesus sees you and loves you. You are precious in the sight of the Lord.
With discussion questions at the end of each chapter, this is an excellent resource for Bible study, group discussion, and General Conference developments.
Written by Cheryl B. Evans
Cheryl and her husband Jim raised their children telling them: "You can be anything and do anything you want in life." They just never expected to learn that what their youngest daughter desired most in the world was to be a boy. Experience this powerful, raw and, deeply personal story as one family invites you to bear witness as they support their transgender child's transition from female to male. While I Promised Not to Tell will help enlighten anyone interested in this topic it is especially valuable for a parent, relative or friend of a gender questioning or transgender person. Truly it is a book that should be read by every human being. It is a genuine, heartfelt and unforgettable LGBT parenting) memoir. A wonderfully written and thought provoking true story that transitions beautifully between the family's personal journey and some of the larger societal issues that face the transgender community today. While I Promised Not to Tell may not be as heavy on the science as some other books, (the author covers that in her 2nd book: What Does God Think?), this transgender book delves deeply into the social, emotional and surgical side of the transgender journey.
Written by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi
IntersectionAllies is a mirror in which kids of all genders, races, sexualities, abilities, cultures, and origins can see their whole selves reflected, respected, and celebrated. In a world increasingly fractured by xenophobia, racism, ableism, homophobia and transphobia, and other forms of injustice, IntersectionAllies teaches the meaning of “community” to kids and parents alike, along with rhyming strategies to support and celebrate each other’s differences.
In poetic stanzas, IntersectionAllies introduces the stories of nine kids from diverse backgrounds. Authors Carolyn Choi, LaToya Council, and Chelsea Johnson use each character’s story to explain how children’s safety concerns are shaped by their intersecting identities, such as class, sexuality, dis/ability, race, religion, and citizenship—what is known in academic and activist circles as “intersectionality.”
IntersectionAllies features introductions by law professor Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term intersectionality, and Dr. Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, author of Intersectionality: An Intellectual History, and artwork by illustrator Ashley Seil Smith.
Written by Sarah Hoffman and Ian Hoffman
Jacob loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be. Some kids at school say he can't wear girl clothes, but Jacob wants to wear a dress to school. Can he convince his parents to let him wear what he wants? This heartwarming story speaks to the unique challenges faced by children who don't identify with traditional gender roles.
Written by Yunuen Trujillo
Yunuen Trujillo addresses the need for ministry for LGBTQ Catholics and the need for support ministry for parents of LGBTQ Catholics. The book gives a full-picture template to serve as a model that can be replicated in any parish community around the world. It is as well for LGBTQ people and their families, not only for those who feel marginalized, but also for the parishioners themselves who are called to live out the social doctrine of the Church
Written by Brett Ray
My Name is Brett: Truths from a Trans Christian is a story of a transgender Christian finding his name, strength and voice amid a tumultuous public conversation that attempts to force a choice between queerness and Christianity. Brett Ray boldly tells his story of choosing to be true to both. His journey is not a blueprint for how to be queer and Christian; it is his narrative truth of how he has chosen to live authentically. His is a story of addiction and recovery, rebirth and discovery, and of acceptance and love-a love story about a man finally falling in love with himself.
Written by Cheryl B. Evans
From the award-winning author of I Promised Not to Tell: Raising a transgender child comes a one-of-a-kind interactive journal created for parents of a transgender child. This is an opportunity for you to discover, process, and explore what your unique and personal parenting journey means to you. You'll experience how powerful journaling can be as My Parenting Journey with a Transgender Child guides you through over 100 thought-provoking writing prompts and exercises. It's the perfect way to express your thoughts and feelings, while you benefit from some private time to unwind, reflect, and document what matters most to you. With opportunities to express yourself through writing, art, and photographs, these pages will quickly become your own. Tailored specifically for parents with transgender children - of any age, My Parenting Journey with a Transgender Child by Cheryl B. Evans gives you the chance to share who you really are, all in one motivational journal.
Written by Cheryl Kilodavis
A heartwarming book about unconditional love and one remarkable family. Dyson loves pink, sparkly things. Sometimes he wears dresses. Sometimes he wears jeans. He likes to wear his princess tiara, even when climbing trees. He's a Princess Boy. Inspired by the author's son, and by her own initial struggles to understand, this heartwarming book is a call for tolerance and an end to bullying and judgments. The world is a brighter place when we accept everyone for who they are.
Written by Airlie Anderson
In this colorful and touching story that celebrates what makes each of us unique, a little creature that's not quite a bird and not quite a bunny--it's neither--searches for a place to fit in. In the Land of This and That, there are only two kinds: blue bunnies and yellow birds. But one day a funny green egg hatches, and a little creature that's not quite a bird and not quite a bunny pops out. It's neither! Neither tries hard to fit in, but its bird legs aren't good for jumping like the other bunnies, and its fluffy tail isn't good for flapping like the other birds. It sets out to find a new home and discovers a very different place, one with endless colors and shapes and creatures of all kinds. But when a blue bunny and a yellow bird with some hidden differences of their own arrive, it's up to Neither to decide if they are welcome in the Land of All. This colorful, simple, and touching story promotes diversity and offers a valuable lesson to the youngest of audiences: it is our differences that unite us.
Written by Laurin Moyeno
Tomorrow is the school parade, and Danny knows exactly what he will be: a princess. Mommy supports him 100%, and they race to the thrift store to find his costume. It's almost closing time - will Danny find the costume of his dreams in time? One of A Kind, Like Me / Único como yo is a sweet story about unconditional love and the beauty of individuality. It's a unique book that lifts up children who don't fit gender stereotypes, and reflects the power of a loving and supportive community.
Written by Pamela R. Lightsey
Our Lives Matter uses the tenor of the 2014 national protests that emerged as a response to excessive police force against Black people to frame the book as following the discursive tradition of liberation theologies broadly speaking and womanist theology specifically. Using a womanist methodological approach, Pamela R. Lightsey helps readers explore the impact of oppression against Black LBTQ women while introducing them to the emergent intellectual movement known as queer theology. The author privileges their narratives and experiences as she reviews several doctrines and dogma of the Christian church. Theological reflection on contemporary debates such as same-sex marriage and ordination rights make this book a valuable resource to clergy, students of theology, LGBTQ persons and allies.
Pamela Lightsey is a self-identified queer lesbian ordained elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church.
Written by Bishop Karen P. Oliveto
As John Wesley discovered his true spiritual identity, he experienced a strangely warmed heart. Through poignant stories and well-reasoned principles, Karen Oliveto discloses why and how spiritual renewal and a personal call to ministry emerge in the strangely warmed hearts of lesbian and gay Christians.
This book traces the history of the UMC’s struggle with homosexuality, highlighting critical incidents in the culture and church polity which shape the church’s response. The issues are deeply rooted in the way God’s people understand scriptures, which are interpreted as a means of grace for some and as a rule-book for others. This book includes first-person narratives of LGBTQ persons faithfully serving in a denomination that denies their calls and—in some cases—their presence. These stories will show how the coming out process is deeply spiritual as one grows into an authentic, God-created and graced self.
Written by Darryl W. Stephens
The story of the Exodus is told in parallel with testimonies, sermons, and personal reflections from a congregation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, challenging the reader to a journey of faith. Along the way, it becomes clear that open and affirming ministry transcends LGBTQIA+ inclusion. It is also about race relations, poverty, generational change, divorce, immigration, and any other human-created barrier to loving God and neighbor.
The stories in this book include experiences of and with persons in many denominational settings: Roman Catholic, Unitarian-Universalist, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, Metropolitan Community Church, United Church of Christ, United Brethren, Church of the Brethren, Society of Friends (Quakers), and United Methodist.
Written by Mihee Kim-Kort
Mihee Kim-Kort is a wife, a mom, and a Presbyterian minister. And she's queer. As she became aware of her queer sexuality, Mihee wondered what that meant for her spirituality. But instead of pushing her away from God, it brought her closer to Jesus and taught her how to love better. In Outside the Lines, Mihee shows us how God, in Jesus, is oriented toward us in a radical way. Through the life, work, and witness of Jesus, we see a God who loves us with a queer love, and our faith in that God becomes a queer spirituality--a spirituality that crashes through definitions and moves us outside of the categories of our making. Whenever we love ourselves and our neighbors with the boundary-breaking love of God, we live out this spirituality in the world. With a captivating mix of personal story and biblical analysis, Outside the Lines shows us how each of our bodies fits into the body of Christ. Outside the lines and without exceptions.
Queering Christianity: Finding a Place at the Table for LGBTQI Christians
Written by Robert Everett Shore-Goss, Thomas Bohache, Rev Patrick S. Cheng, Ramona Faye West
Through essays by noted lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex religion scholars, this important compilation summarizes the history and current status of LGBTQI theology, exploring its relationship to the policies, practices, and theology of traditional Christianity. Contributors contrast the "radically inclusive" thinking of LGBTQI theology with the "exclusivity" practiced by many Christian churches, explaining the reasoning of each and clarifying contentious issues. At the same time, the book highlights ways in which "queer" theology and practice benefit Christian congregations.
Writing from the perspective of grassroots Christian LGBTQI movements, many of the contributors draw upon their own experiences. They provide graphic examples of the effects exclusion has on individuals, congregations, and denominations, and also share examples of inclusion and its effects. Equally important, the work creates the basis for dialogue between traditional churches and followers of LGBTQI theology, offering practical suggestions for Christian congregations that wish to put aside exclusionary policies and practices.
Written by Keegan Osinski
Fifty years after Stonewall, the experiences of LGBTQ+ Christians are--rightfully--beginning to be received with interest by their churches. Queering Wesley, Queering the Church presents a prototype for thinking about Wesleyan holiness as an expansive openness to the love and grace of God in queer Christian lives rather than the limiting and restrictive legalism that is sometimes found in Wesleyan theology and praxis. This inventive project consists of queer readings of ten John Wesley sermons. Reading these sermons from a queer perspective offers the church a fresh paradigm for theological innovation, while remaining in line with the tradition and legacy of Wesley that is so central and generative to Wesleyan churches. Arguing that a coherent line of thought can be drawn from Wesley's conception of holiness to the queer, holy lives of LGBTQ+ Christians, Queering Wesley, Queering the Church playfully utilizes queer theory in a way that is fully compatible with Wesleyan teaching. This book aims to be a first step in seriously considering the theological voices of LGBTQ+ Christians in the Wesleyan tradition as a valuable asset to a vital church.
Written by Rev. Patrick S. Cheng
In this lucid and compelling introduction, Cheng provides a historical survey of how queer theology has developed from the 1950s to today and then explicates the themes of queer theology using the ecumenical creeds as a general framework. Topics include revelation, God, Trinity, creation, Jesus Christ, atonement, sin, grace, Holy Spirit, church, sacraments, and last things, as seen through the lenses of LGBT theologians.
Written by Rev. Patrick S. Cheng
In Rainbow Theology, Patrick S. Cheng does what no one else has done to date: he systematically examines the theological writings of LGBTIQ people of color in order to reflect upon the theological significance of the intersections of race and queer sexuality across multiple ethnic and cultural groups. Cheng's pioneering work is particularly important in light of the current polarizing debates over issues of race, sexuality, and religion within churches and communities of faith around the world. Rainbow Theology is not simply descriptive, however; it is a trenchant work of constructive theology which delineates the themes of multiplicity, middle spaces, and mediation as a way to open theological discourse for a broad readership of academics, clergy, and laity interested in this critical theological topic.
Written by Tara Y. Coyt
Real Talk About LGBTQIAP: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Pansexual explores over 200 questions about sexuality, gender identity, biological sex, relationships, equality, and issues like bathroom laws, conversion therapy, healthcare discrimination, and religious freedom bills. Tara Coyt, a heterosexual, cisgender writer answers questions through interviews with a diverse group of LGBTQIAP voices from across the United States. Included are LGBTQ Institute Executive Director Ryan Roemerman, Fulton County Commission Co-Chair Joan Garner, Outwrite Bookstore Founder Philip Rafshoon, and transgender activist Vandy Beth Glenn. Real Talk also examines information from researchers, historians, medical professionals, and biblical perspectives from Peter J. Gomes, Rabbi Debra Kolodny, and Reza Aslan. Also included are findings from the American Psychology Association, Georgia Equality, GLAAD, HRC, PFLAG, and Pew Research Center.
Written and Illustrated by Michael Hall
A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as red suffers an identity crisis in this picture book by the New York Times-bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo. This funny, heartwarming, colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self can be read on multiple levels, and it offers something for everyone. Funny, insightful, and colorful, Red: A Crayon's Story is about being true to your inner self and following your own path despite obstacles that may come your way. Red will appeal to fans of Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, and The Day the Crayons Quit, and makes a great gift for readers of any age. Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let's draw strawberries ), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange ), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can't be red, no matter how hard he tries. Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He's blue.
Written by Ginger Gaines-Cirelli
Get empowered to speak out and act in troubled times. Our flocks are more divided and polarized on a number of issues than ever before. Well, it seems that way, but of course all generations have faced fears and troubles. As church leaders who shepherd our congregations, how do we begin to relate to concerns about the “wrongs” happening in the world today? Sacred Resistance helps us respond to questions about speaking out against injustice and taking appropriate action. Author Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, who pastors a church located adjacent to the White House in Washington D.C., provides a theologically sound framework for congregations to discern what to do—and when to do it as well. With warmth and compassion she offers practical advice on how to lead others through troubled times.
Written by John Archibald
On growing up in the American South of the 1960s--an all-American white boy--son of a long line of Methodist preachers, in the midst of the civil rights revolution, and discovering the culpability of silence within the church. By the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and columnist for The Birmingham News. Everything Archibald knows and believes about life is refracted through the stained glass of the Southern church. It had everything to do with people. And fairness. And compassion. In Shaking the Gates of Hell, Archibald asks: Can a good person remain silent in the face of discrimination and horror, and still be a good person? Even though Archibald grew up in Alabama in the heart of the civil rights movement, he could recall few words about racial rights or wrongs from his father's pulpit at a time the South seethed, and this began to haunt him. In this moving and powerful book, Archibald writes of his complex search, and of the conspiracy of silence his father faced in the South, in the Methodist Church and in the greater Christian church. Those who spoke too loudly were punished, or banished, or worse. Archibald's father was warned to guard his words on issues of race to protect his family, and he did. rchibald writes of this difficult, at times uncomfortable, reckoning with his past in this unadorned, affecting book of growth and evolution.
Written by Linda Tatro Herzer
A must read for all pastors, chaplains, counselors, and congregants, and for family and friends of transgender people, as well as for gender expansive individuals seeking to find their stories in the biblical narrative and desiring to know how scripture supports them. The author, a nontransgender pastor, spent three years serving a church where ten percent of the congregation identified as trans men, trans women, cross-dressers, or genderqueer. This motivated her to learn about gender expansive people and put her in situations where her previous understanding of the Bible was greatly expanded. In this scholarly, yet easy-to-read book, Herzer gives clear, insightful accounts of what she has learned.
The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay: The Autobiography of the Rev. Troy D. Perry
Written by Rev. Troy D. Perry
This is the frank and revealing portrait of a man, the Reverend Troy Perry, pastor and founder of his church, lover of God ... and a homosexual. Here, he shares his own life story with the world in the hope of creating greater understanding and ending the evils of prejudice.
Written by John F. Dwyer
A thoughtful analysis of the faulty rationale behind Christian anti-gay bias. There have been enormous strides toward equality for the queer community in recent years. There have also been regressive local legislative actions seeking to limit those national steps toward equality. Many of those who have led these regressive efforts are individuals steeped in purposeful ignorance, bias, tribalism, and a radicalization of faithful beliefs, misleading their congregations and influencing legislators. Personhood, the intense value of our individuality, cannot be made less by these few passages of scripture: God's love for our uniqueness is not compromised by oft misinterpreted verses. Having knowledge and words to counter baseless accusations can disarm those who would use these passages as weapons of exclusion and judgement, and can empower the queer community to live confidently in God's love.
Written by Bishop Karen P. Oliveto
Together at the Table is the personal story and public message of Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly LGBTQ person to be elected a bishop in The United Methodist Church. Her election was controversial, with opponents seeking to have her removed and some even threatening violence against her. As the UMC continues to struggle with decisions about inclusion, Bishop Oliveto believes that the church can stay together--that people of different convictions can remain in communion with one another. Woven together with her own story of coming out and following God's call to ordained ministry is her guidance for how to live together despite differences--by practicing empathy, living with ambiguity, appreciating the diversity of creation, and embracing unity without uniformity.
Written by Justin Lee
As a teenager and young man, Justin Lee felt deeply torn. Nicknamed "God Boy" by his peers, he knew that he was called to a life in the evangelical Christian ministry. But Lee harbored a secret: He also knew that he was gay. In this groundbreaking book, Lee recalls the events--his coming out to his parents, his experiences with the "ex-gay" movement, and his in-depth study of the Bible--that led him, eventually, to self-acceptance. But more than just a memoir, TORN provides insightful, practical guidance for all committed Christians who wonder how to relate to gay friends or family members--or who struggle with their own sexuality. Convinced that "in a culture that sees gays and Christians as enemies, gay Christians are in a unique position to bring peace," Lee demonstrates that people of faith on both sides of the debate can respect, learn from, and love one another.
Written by Austen Hartke
In 2014, Time magazine announced that America had reached the transgender tipping point, suggesting that transgender issues would become the next civil rights frontier. Years later, many people--even many LGBTQ allies--still lack understanding of gender identity and the transgender experience. Into this void, Austen Hartke offers a biblically based, educational, and affirming resource to shed light and wisdom on this modern gender landscape. Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians provides access into an underrepresented and misunderstood community and will change the way listeners think about transgender people, faith, and the future of Christianity. By introducing transgender issues and language and providing stories of both biblical characters and real-life narratives from transgender Christians living today, Hartke helps listeners visualize a more inclusive Christianity, equipping them with the confidence and tools to change both the church and the world.
Written by Rev. Justin Tanis
Rev. Dr. Justin Tanis is a creative queer theologian and activist. This classic is a primer for understanding the spiritual journeys of transgender people, examining the biblical support for inclusion, and provides faith communities guidelines for hospitality. It is a great resource for understanding and promoting acceptance of the transgender community. It is a trailblazing work in the exploration of transgender identities, gender variance and Scripture, and responses of exclusion and inclusion conveyed by communities of faith. Outlining explicit and implicit barriers to participation, Tanis challenges faith communities to offer genuine hospitality and welcome to transgender and gender non-conforming people, offering several ways to extend such welcome, including liturgical resources created specifically for the transgender community.
Written by Colby Martin
Armed with only six passages in the Bible-often known as the "Clobber Passages"-the conservative Christian position has been one that stands against the full inclusion of our LGBTQ siblings. UnClobber reexamines each of those frequently quoted passages of Scripture, alternating with author Colby Martin's own story of being fired from an evangelical megachurch when they discovered his stance on sexuality. UnClobber reexamines what the Bible says (and does not say) about homosexuality in such a way that sheds divine light on outdated and inaccurate assumptions and interpretations. This new edition equips study groups and congregations with questions for discussion and a sermon series guide for preachers.
Voices From The Rainbow: Stories of harm and healing from our Hollywood UMC family
Written by Rev. Denyse Anne Barnes
As the United Methodist Church struggles with human sexuality and fully welcoming all people, this book was put together to share the stories of the LGBTQIA+ people (both laity and clergy) who attend Hollywood UMC. The stories reflect the pain and hurt inflicted on so many as well as the incredible and transformative experiences happening inside the walls of this church which is a living example of God's love for all of their beloved children.
Written by Cheryl B. Evans
From the award winning author of I Promised Not to Tell comes this thought provoking new book, What Does God Think? Presented with the idea that her transgender child was "not of God", Cheryl B. Evans set out to see what God really thinks about transgender people. What does the Bible say? Why is there such a big divide among Christians? Why do some Christians insist there is no such thing as a transgender person while other Christians accept and affirm transgender people? And most importantly, what does God think? This is an invitation to examine the scriptures and give consideration to the social, cultural, and scientific facts that impact what we believe, and the way we internally feel about transgender people.
Written by Cory Silverberg
Geared to readers from preschool to age eight, What Makes a Baby is a book for every kind of family and every kind of kid. It is a twenty-first century children's picture book about conception, gestation, and birth, which reflects the reality of our modern time by being inclusive of all kinds of kids, adults, and families, regardless of how many people were involved, their orientation, gender and other identity, or family composition. Just as important, the story doesn't gender people or body parts, so most parents and families will find that it leaves room for them to educate their child without having to erase their own experience. Written by sexuality educator Cory Silverberg, and illustrated by award-winning Canadian artist Fiona Smyth, What Makes a Baby is as fun to look at as it is useful to read.
Edited by Kevin Slimp
Following General Conference 2019, many United Methodists returned to their Sunday School classes, worship services, and small groups, asking the same question: “Where do we go from here?” In this book, bishops (including Virginia bishop, Sharma Lewis), pastors, laypersons, campus ministers, students, general board directors, and others share their honest responses. Voices from the traditional, centrist, and progressive viewpoints share their thoughts on where their church is and where it should go from here. Thought-provoking, inspiring, and sometimes troubling, this book offers individuals and groups a place to better understand what United Methodist leaders are thinking in this crucial time. Kevin Slimp, publisher at Market Square Books, credits Bishop Kenneth Carder (retired) for his support in connecting with many of the writers so quickly. “Bishop Carder believed in the project from the beginning, and his support can’t be overstated”.
Written by Brook Pessin-Whedbee
What do you like? How do you feel? Who are you? This brightly illustrated children's book provides a straightforward introduction to gender for anyone aged 5-8. It presents clear and direct language for understanding and talking about how we experience gender: our bodies, our expression and our identity. An interactive three-layered wheel included in the book is a simple, yet powerful, tool to clearly demonstrate the difference between our body, how we express ourselves through our clothes and hobbies, and our gender identity. Ideal for use in the classroom or at home, a short page-by-page guide for adults at the back of the book further explains the key concepts and identifies useful discussion points. This is a one-of-a-kind resource for understanding and celebrating the gender diversity that surrounds us.
Wonderfully and Purposely Made, I Am Enough: A Journal All About Me
Written by Cheryl B. Evans
From the award-winning author of I Promised Not to Tell: Raising a transgender child comes this one-of-a-kind interactive journal created with the unique and wonderful transgender spirit in mind. With three tastefully discreet covers to choose from, Wonderfully and Purposely Made: I Am Enough is the journal that lets you tell your story on your own terms, even if you’re not out to the world. With opportunities to express yourself through writing, art, and photographs, these pages will quickly become your own. Tailored specifically for transgender people in all stages of their journeys, it gives you the chance to share who you really are, all in one motivational journal. So, go ahead – splash your style, charisma, and individuality across the pages, and don’t forget to share a little of your heart and soul along the way. This journal includes: writing prompts; inspirational quotes and trivia to help you find and keep gratitude and self-love in your everyday life; engaging games and activities; creative coloring pages.
Book lists from other affirming organizations
books and resources from the Institute for Welcoming Resources National LGBTQ Task Force
The Institute for Welcoming Resources National LGBTQ Task Force has a list of books and resources for children : http://www.welcomingresources.org/families.xml
books and resources from Reconciling Ministries Network
RMN has a list of books and studies on their Resources page: https://rmnetwork.org/resources/#books-and-studies
Books and Resources from Methodist Federation for Social Action
Methodist Federation for Social Action has an online bookstore that curates recommendations based on justice issues including LGBTQIA+ justice, racial justice, disability justice, theology of justice, peacebuilding, and more:
Books and Resources from the General Board of Church and Society
Church and Society has a searchable database to find books that teach all children that they are created in the image of God:
Books sorted by Topic or Recommended Audience
For Kids
A Church for All
All are Welcome
Intersectionallies: We Make Room for All
Jacob's New Dress
My Princess Boy
Neither
One of a Kind, Like Me / Único Como Yo
Red: A Crayon's Story
What Makes a Baby
Who Are You?: The Kid's Guide to Gender Identity
For Parents/Caregivers
I Promised Not to Tell: Raising a Transgender Child
My Parenting Journey with a Transgender Child: A Journal
Methodist/Wesleyan related
Holy Love
Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology
Our Strangely Warmed Hearts: Coming Out Into Gods Call
Out of Exodus: A Journey of Open and Affirming Ministry
Queering Wesley, Queering the Church
Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights
Revolution
Together at the Table: Diversity Without Division in the United Methodist Church
Voices From The Rainbow: Stories of Harm and Healing from our Hollywood UMC Family
Where Do We Go From Here?: Honest Responses From Twenty-Four United Methodist
Leaders
First Person Accounts
All Are Welcome: Toward a Multi-Everything Church
Balancing on the Mechitza: Transgender in Jewish Community
Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America
God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships
Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America
I Promised Not to Tell: Raising a Transgender Child
My Name is Brett: Truths from a Trans Christian
Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology
Outside the Lines: How Embracing Queerness Will Transform Your Faith
Queering Christianity: Finding a Place at the Table for LGBTQI Christians
Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights
Revolution
The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay: The Autobiography of the Reverend Troy
D. Perry
Together at the Table: Diversity Without Division in the United Methodist Church
Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate
Voices From The Rainbow: Stories of Harm and Healing from our Hollywood UMC Family
Multiple Contributors or Points of view
All Are Welcome: Toward a Multi-Everything Church
Balancing on the Mechitza: Transgender in Jewish Community
Homosexuality: A Conversion: How a Conservative Pastor Outgrew the Idea
that Homosexuality is a Sin
Out of Exodus: A Journey of Open and Affirming Ministry
Queering Christianity: Finding a Place at the Table for LGBTQI Christians
Real Talk About LGBTQIAP: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual,
and Pansexual
Voices From The Rainbow: Stories of Harm and Healing from our Hollywood UMC Family
Where Do We Go From Here?: Honest Responses From Twenty-Four United Methodist
Leaders
Good for Group Study
For The Bible Tells Me So: the Biblical-Theological Necessity of LGBTQ+ Inclusion
in the Church
Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church
Holy Love
Homosexuality: A Conversion: How a Conservative Pastor Outgrew the Idea
that Homosexuality is a Sin
Out of Exodus: A Journey of Open and Affirming Ministry
Sacred Resistance: A Practical Guide to Christian Witness and Dissent
Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians
Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality
Racial and/or Ethnic focus
A Church for All
All are Welcome
All Are Welcome: Toward a Multi-Everything Church
Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America
Intersectionallies: We Make Room for All
Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology
Rainbow Theology: Bridging Race, Sexuality, and Spirit
Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights
Revolution
Transgender and/or Gender Identity focus
Balancing on the Mechitza: Transgender in Jewish Community
I Promised Not to Tell: Raising a Transgender Child
Intersectionallies: We Make Room for All
Jacob's New Dress
My Name is Brett: Truths from a Trans Christian
My Parenting Journey with a Transgender Child: A Journal
My Princess Boy
Neither
One of a Kind, Like Me / Único Como Yo
Red: A Crayon's Story
Bible and the Transgender Experience: How Scripture Supports Gender Variance
Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians
Trans-Gender: Theology, Ministry, and Communities of Faith
What Does God Think?: Transgender People and The Bible
What Makes a Baby
Who Are You?: The Kid's Guide to Gender Identity
Wonderfully and Purposely Made: I Am Enough: A Journal All About Me
Scriptural focus
For The Bible Tells Me So: the Biblical-Theological Necessity of LGBTQ+ Inclusion
in the Church
God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships
The Gospel of Inclusion: A Christian Case for LGBT+ Inclusion in the Church
Out of Exodus: A Journey of Open and Affirming Ministry
Outside the Lines: How Embracing Queerness Will Transform Your Faith
Bible and the Transgender Experience: How Scripture Supports Gender Variance
Those Seven References: A Study of Homosexuality in the Bible and Its Impact on
the Queer Community of Faith
Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate
Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians
Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality
What Does God Think?: Transgender People and The Bible
Are we missing a book or resource you love? Let us know at anewthingva@gmail.com!