The next post in this series on identity in relation to faith and sexuality is from Kevin Harris. Kevin is the Director of Community Relations and the Administrative Assistant at The Marin Foundation. What? Why do you identify as gay? Aren’t you a Christian? Bring up the topic of homosexuality and identity (or gender identity that does not adhere to the norm) with Christians, and you may feel like you’re talking about spam. Like the meat, it’s either a mystery... Read more
The next post in this series is from Matt Richards. Matt is a Church Planting Intern at Urban Village Church, a Social Worker at the University of Chicago and he received his M. Div from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Recently, I went and saw a play that one of my friends wrote called, “The Homosexuals.” It tells the story of a group of gay urban men who become family for one another. There is a very moving scene in... Read more
The next post in this series on identity is from John Smid. John is the Director of Grace Rivers Ministry in Germantown, TN. John is married to his wife of 22 years, Vileen, and the proud father of two children and four grandchildren. As a child there was little discussion about homosexuality. I recognized that there was something different about me all through my childhood that I didn’t understand. I didn’t relate well to most other boys however I did... Read more
Over the next couple weeks, we will be featuring some guest posts from gay and lesbian Christians (and those who do not identify as such while experiencing same-sex attractions) as they will be sharing some of their thoughts on identity and a part of their own journey with faith and sexuality. The first post comes from Mandy Wilson. Mandy is a freelance writer from Nashville, TN. Her personal journey brought her through years of study and research, as she struggled... Read more
So exciting! It’s almost release day for our new Love Is an Orientation DVD Curriculum which is set to release on December 13th (for those of you not in North America it will release January 1 through your respective Amazon sites and the Zondervan website). This new resource will be for any church, university, non-profit, organization, clinic, community center, small group of friends or individuals interested in what it means to not only elevate the conversation between the LGBT community and the conservative world, but... Read more
For the upcoming Living in the Tension community gathering on November 7th, our friend Shawn Harrison will be sharing with the group about a part of his journey with faith and sexuality followed by a Q&A portion. Shawn is a youth pastor who has same-sex attractions but has chosen to pursue marriage with his wife of ten years. We will be meeting at our usual spot in Room 120 on 5255 N. Ashland Ave. at 7pm. We hope to see... Read more
In 2010, teenager Brittany McMillan started Spirit Day as a response to all the LGBT youth that had taken their own lives that year. It has now become an annual event as GLAAD is encouraging those in the U.S. to wear purple on October 20th as a sign of support for LGBT youth and to speak out against bullying. This year, GLAAD approached The Marin Foundation to co-sponsor this national event, which we are happy to do to get the message out... Read more
It shouldn’t surprise me anymore when socially awkward and scared people in real life become the boldest person ever behind a keyboard. It’s their cover for living a real life that actually makes a difference in other people’s lives. They do it because it’s the best, and most efficient way to be gutless without any repercussions. It’s a way to say things that they know they could never, ever say in real life because they don’t have enough dignity and... Read more
In light of October being LGBT History Month, we will be watching the documentary Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin for our next Living in the Tension community gathering on Monday, October 17th. We will meet at our regular location on 5255 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago a little earlier at 6:45pm. Bayard Rustin (pictured right with Philip Randolph on the cover of LIFE), who has been called the ‘Lost Prophet‘ by historian John D’Emilio, was a leader of the civil-rights movement.... Read more
On Tuesday, October 4th at 7pm at 5255 N. Ashland Ave Room 120, British author and professor Keith Sharpe is going to be speaking about his new book The Gay Gospels. He is currently on a book tour throughout the United States and has decided to make a stop in Chicago with us! You can check out his book’s website here where you can read the Introduction. Hope to see you on Tuesday evening to be challenged with a lecture, and then... Read more
Love is an Orientation
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