"Listen to Their Hope: Hear Their Faith" is a powerful collection of first person accounts of faith by lesbian, gay, and ally persons, all from the greater Metro area. this downloadable resource offers both inspiration and insight.
A project of the Joint Synod Committee for Inclusivity
of the Minneapolis Area and St. Paul Area Synods,
written by Kari Aanestad with the Joint Synod Committee.
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To the Tune of a Welcoming God is a timely collection of essays and hymns eloquently calling for a Christian faith that extends an affirming welcome to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons. Written by local writer and longtime RIC team member, David Weiss, To the Tune of a Welcoming God brings academic insight, prophetic vision, and poetic clarity to the question of the church’s welcome to those GLBT Christians at its doorstep—and already in its pews. Available online by clicking here.
David Weiss is also available as a resource person for congregations, colleges, or community groups. Since the summer of 2009 David has dedicated himself fulltime to helping communities of faith embrace and extend a full welcome to LGBT persons. You can download a flyer about his work here or read more about his work and contact him here.
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Others useful links:
Lutherans Concerned/North America works for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Lutherans in all aspects of the life of their Church and congregations. LC/TC is a local chapter of LC/NA. Their website will link you to a good number of other advocacy groups, both Lutheran and beyond.
Website: www.lcna.org
Email: admin@lcna.org
Mail: PO Box 4707, Saint Paul, MN 55104-0707
Phone: 651-665-0861
The Institute for Welcoming Resources, a program of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, is an ecumenical group that provides resources to facilitate a paradigm shift in multiple denominations so that churches become welcoming and affirming of all congregants regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. They have a large set of resources and links to all their denominational partner organizations.
Website: www.welcomingresources.org
Email: info@WelcomingResources.org
Mail: 810 West 31st Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: 612-821-4397
Soulforce is a national organization that pursues freedom for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance. They frequently work with denominational advocacy groups to strategize ways to use active nonviolence both to garner media attention and to transform hearts.
Website: www.soulforce.org
Email: info@soulforce.org
Mail: PO Box 3195, Lynchburg, VA 24503
Wingspan Ministry is a local congregational ministry of St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church that provides pastoral care, education, advocacy and support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Wingspan helps St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church model a new way of being church that seeks to include all persons. The best way to experience the work of Wingspan is to join in worship or fellowship activities at St. Paul-Reformation.
Website: www.stpaulref.org
Email: office@stpaulref.org
Mail: 100 North Oxford Street, Saint Paul, MN 55104-6540
Phone: 651-224-3371
The Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities is a grassroots, self-supporting, and independent coalition dedicated to promoting ministry to, with, and on behalf of GLBT persons—primarily of a Roman Catholic background—and their families and friends. This progressive Catholic group seeks to help GLBT Catholics integrate their sexual identities with their faith heritage.
Website: www.cpcsm.org
Email: cpcsm@ourtownusa.net
Mail: 2930 13th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407-1420
Phone: 612-201-4534
The Naming Project seeks to provide a safe and sacred space where youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities know themselves to be named and claimed by a loving God. Through its unique summer camp program, youth are able to explore and share their faith, experience healthy and life-giving community, reach out to others, and advocate for systemic change in church and society.
Website: www.thenamingproject.org
Email: staff@thenamingproject.org.
Mail: 2511 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55406