A film about faith on the margins.

Resources

 

Thanks so much for engaging in this intersection of faith and sexuality. We're developing an ongoing list of resources to help people who have seen the documentary film, Seventh-Gay Adventists, and want to read and engage more with resources.

Our goal has always been to spark a thoughtful and authentic conversation through the lens of real people and real stories about a topic that has been far too often just an abstract debate.

We recognize that this is an ongoing conversation in faith communities today in which sincere and committed people disagree, and yet we've seen at our screenings the transformative power of coming together in a safe listening space. The people in our film inspire us that we actually love each other through challenging conversations.

Here are some resources we've found helpful. Please feel free to contact us with any suggestions you think should be added.

Online Articles

Enough Room at the Table - Guidebook (A 40 page PDF with suggestions for hosting a dialogue including a plethora of articles, language suggestions, a conversational contract, and much more developed as a companion guide to the Enough Room at the Table film.)

Ask a Gay Christian

(an Interview with Justin Lee)
A fantastic resource that's a bit of an abbreviated version of Justin Lee's personal story as well as a vision for how Christians can and should interact even if they don't have theological unity around this topic.

The Danger of a Single Narrative by Rachel Held Evans
A beautiful post about why we need to listen to more than just the narratives that fit our pre-existing ideas and why we particularly need to let LGBT voices speak for themselves.

An Open Letter to Conservatives by Daneen Akers
One of the filmmakers of Seventh-Gay Adventists: A Film About Faith on the Margins discusses how and why she wishes those who hold a traditional theological view on same-sex relationships could step into unconditional love, even if we continue to have competing theological paradigms in the church.

The Great Debate by Justin Lee

Justin Lee, founder of the Gay Christian Network (now Q Christian Fellowship), explains how he moved from being "Side B" (a traditionalist believing that celibacy was the only option for LGBT people who take the Bible seriously) to "Side A" (the affirming view that believes that the few verses--or the "clobber texts"--in the Bible don't refer to orientation as we understand it today and committed, monogamous unions can be blessed). He's very respectful of traditionalists, as that's how he grew up himself, and he's committed to supporting both Side A and Side B gay Christians.

Someone To Talk To by Carrol Grady

The first open ally in the SDA church over 20 years ago when her son came out as gay and a beloved grandmotherly figure in the LGBT Adventist community, Carrol Grady has a whole series of articles just for Adventists discussing science, gay rights, same-sex marriage, what the Bible says and more. A very good resource specially written for LGBT Adventists and their families. 

Blogs

Alicia Johnston - inclusive, curious, compassionate, Christian

Geeky Justin - Justin Lee on faith, culture, and nuance

Eliel Cruz - An activist, speaker and writer on religion, LGBTQ issues, and culture

Films

Enough Room at the Table - The companion dialogue film to Seventh-Gay Adventists modeling a group of Adventists from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and theological convictions participating in an in-depth, mutual, authentic, and respectful dialogue about faith, gender, and sexuality. The discussion guide developed to accompany this film is here.

Outspoken - A seven-part short documentary film series from the producers of Seventh-Gay Adventists featuring LGBT Adventists (plus an Adventist parents'/pastor's family story) living out their faith and who they are in unique and compelling ways. 

For the Bible Tells Me So 

Trembling Before G-D

Love Free or Die

Workshops

A Sanctuary For Conversation - Can Adventist Churches create safe spaces for positive, healing, informed, and authentic conversation? A Sanctuary for Conversation: Listening, Loving, and Learning is a workshop that helps to answer that question. This workshop works hard to balance the Adventist Church’s current position while providing a model for engaging in conversations and active listening. Each workshop is tailored for the church community where it is hosted, including bringing local LGBT Adventists, local parents of LGBT Adventists, and a local psychologist to be interviewed. 

Support and Community

Seventh-day Adventist Kinship

SDA Kinship has been supporting and advocating for LGBTQ Adventists and those who love them for over 35 years and has regional chapters all over the world and many private Facebook groups for talking to people who understand exactly what it's like to be both Adventist and LGBT. 

Intercollegiate Adventist GSA Coalition

(IAGC) The IAGC is just a few years old, but it's growing quickly. It's the umbrella group for GSAs on Adventist colleges and universities, and they work to promote dialogue, awareness, and support for LGBT students on Adventist campuses. There's a public group and a closed group for additional support.

Q Christian Fellowship (formerly Gay Christian Network)

Q Christian Fellowship (originally started by Justin Lee as the Gay Christian Network) is a support organization for LGBT Christians who are both Side A (believe same-sex unions can be blessed by God) and Side B (believe celibacy is the only option). Their annual conference is an incredible space for worship, networking, and connecting with other LGBT Christians and allies/advocates.

Welcoming and Affirming Churches

A database of welcoming and affirming churches. For Adventist churches, additional recommendations are available for Kinship members.

Believe Out Loud

An online community celebrating diversity and affirming historic Christian principles while advocating for full inclusion of LGBT people in faith communities.

Renewed Heart Ministries

A non-profit ministry dedicated to teaching about following Jesus (not just being a Christian) and following the often difficult path of survival, resistance, liberation, restoration and transformation. Herb Montgomery, an Adventist speaker and author, is the director, and he also helps start Heart Groups, which are modeled on the small/home churches of early Christianity. (Herb's endorsement of the SGA film is that he was "unexpectedly blown away" and "can't recommend it highly enough" for those seeking to follow Jesus.)