HIGHLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH
604-853-7052
3130 McMillan Road, ABBOTSFORD, BC
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  • WELCOME
    • Mission & Values
    • Our Story
    • Plan A Visit
    • Coffee with J
  • SCATTERED CHURCH
    • Calendar
    • Children's Ministry
    • Gatherings & Events
    • Sabbath Liturgy
    • Weekly Liturgy
    • Youth
  • LOVE GOD
    • Baptism
    • Bible
    • Disciplines
    • Lent
    • Prayer
    • Worship
  • LOVE EACH OTHER
    • Elders
    • Small Groups
    • Staff
    • Stewarding Your Gifts
  • LOVE THE WORLD
    • Auction
    • Garden
    • Giving
    • Partners
    • Rentals
    • Service & Witness
  • RESOURCES
    • Aging Series
    • Blog
    • Daily Lectio
    • FAQ
    • Indigenous Relations
    • Library
    • Visual Liturgy
    • Worship Leader Resources

Resources for Reflection on Caring for the LGBTQ+ Community

Featured Resources - Start Here

As Highlanders, we aim to embrace the maxim that we should “seek first to understand.” This can be challenging, especially when we are beginning to explore a complex topic like human sexuality. Because many of us may be unfamiliar with the many layers of this conversation, we’ve created a glossary of terms for you to consult as you explore the resources below. We hope it’s helpful.

Glossary of terms - A reference for understanding the language of the LGBTQ+ community.

The Four “Sides” in Contemporary Christian Debates About Same Sex Orientation and Marriage by J Janzen


Books
  • Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill (2010).
  • Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate by Justin Lee (2013).
  • One Coin Found by Emmy Kegler
  • Tenderness: A Gay Christian's Guide to Unlearning Rejection and Experiencing God's Extravagant Love by Eve Tushnet

​Videos
  • Let's Talk About [Homo]sexuality - Two Christian gay men respectfully debate if gay and lesbian Christians ought to be celibate or if they are free to embrace same sex marriage.
  • Unclobbering the Tangled Mess—Part 1 and Unclobbering the Tangled Mess—Part 2 - Historical understanding on same sex behaviour and response to scriptural passages referencing same sex behaviour.
  • A Time to Listen - LGBTQ+ stories of the Canadian MB church
​
Articles, Posts, and Online Resources
  • Spiritual Friendship.org. Musings on God, sexuality, relationships

Personal experiences and perspectives

Books
  • Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill (2010).
  • Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate by Justin Lee (2013).
  • One Coin Found by Emmy Kegler
  • Tenderness: A Gay Christian's Guide to Unlearning Rejection and Experiencing God's Extravagant Love by Eve Tushnet
  • Messy Grace and Messy Truth by Caleb Kaltenbach
​
Videos
  • A Time to Listen - LGBTQ+ stories of the MB church: June 24, 2021 | September 22, 2021 | January 12, 2022 | June 8, 2022
  • Joey and Dana - YouTube channel of two Christian young women responding to questions that impact LGBTQ+ youth.
  • Pray Away.  Available on Netflix. Ex-leaders and a survivor of the conversion therapy movement speak out about its harm to the LGBTQ+ community. 
​
Podcasts
  • Blue Babies Pink - BT Harman shares his experience of growing up in the Southern Baptist church and struggling with his sexuality. This is also available in a blog format through the same link for those who prefer reading.
  • Jen Hatmaker - For the Love - A Moment of Pride - Jen and her daughter share the joy and sorrow they have experienced in becoming affirming of the LGBTQ+ community.

Articles, Blog Posts, and Online Resources
  • Penny in the Air by Sarah Bessey

Biblical, theological, and historical explorations

Books
  • Two Views on Homosexuality, the Bible, and the Church edited by Preston M. Sprinkle (2016).
  • God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-sex Relationships by Matthew Vines, (2014).
  • Scripture, Ethics, and the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships by Karen Keen
  • Walking the Bridgeless Canyon by Kathy Baldock
  • Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality by Colby Martin

Videos
  • Unclobbering the Tangled Mess—Part 1 and Unclobbering the Tangled Mess—Part 2 - Historical understanding on same sex behaviour and response to scriptural passages referencing same sex behaviour
  • The Gay Debate: The Bible and Homosexuality - Response to scriptural passages referencing same sex behaviour
  • Being Not Straight - Understanding Aromantic/Asexual Orientation

Podcasts
  • The Bible for Normal People - Episode 14: Matthew Vines - God and The Gay Christian
  • The Bible for Normal People - Episode 85: Austen Hartke - The Bible & the Lives of Transgender Christians
  • Ask NT Wright Anything - Episode #13 - Christian sexual ethics, homosexuality, and transgender
  • Theology in the Raw podcast: “#901 - The Historically Christian View of Marriage: Part 1” and “#902 - The Historically Christian View of Marriage: Part 2”

​Articles, Blog Posts, and Online Resources
  • “The Bible and same sex relationships: A review article” by Tim Keller (2015)
  • “15 Reasons for Affirming Same-Sex Relations - and 15 Responses” by Preston Sprinkle
  • “What Is Marriage For? Tracing God’s Plan from Genesis to Revelation by N.T. Wright (2014).
  • The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender 
  • Spiritual Friendship.org. Musings on God, sexuality, relationships
  • How to Read the Bible on Homosexuality by Walter Brueggemann

Christian communities in response

Books
  • Letter to My Congregation, Second Edition: An evangelical pastor’s path to embracing people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender into the company of Jesus by Ken Wilson (2016)
  • Understanding Sexual Identity: A Resource for Youth Ministry by Mark A Yarhouse (2013)

Videos
  • Let's Talk About [Homo]sexuality - Two Christian gay men respectfully debate if gay and lesbian Christians ought to be celibate or if they are free to embrace same sex marriage.
  • A Time to Listen - April 6, 2022 - Representatives from Artisan Church in Vancouver share about what it was like for their congregation to embrace a more generous posture of LGBTQ+ belonging in their church.
  • The Baptist Pastor and His Transgender Friends - TedTalk from a pastor sharing about what it was like for him to come out as affirming of trans members in the church.
  • Bruce Miller with BCMB pastors. Bruce led some of our BCMB pastors through a day of teaching around developing a biblically faithful inclusion model for your church. Time was given to process input and develop ministry guidelines, values, and inclusion parameters.

Podcasts
  • The Liturgists - LGBTQ - Stories from different perspectives on how to respond to the LGBTQ+ community.

​Articles, Blog Posts, and Online Resources
  • “‘We need to talk…’Starting a Conversation on Homosexuality and Same-Sex Relationships” by Michael Pahl (2015).
  • “Doing Process Well: Recommendations for Brethren Congregations” by Carol Wise (2010).
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HIGHLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH
3130 McMillan Road
Abbotsford, BC V2S 6A8  
T: 604-853-7052
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