odd man out.

On Tuesday, I wrote about the Marin Foundation, an incredible organization building bridges between religious and LGBT communities.  I mentioned founder Andrew Marin’s book, Love Is an Orientation, which I highly recommend (and plan to write more about in the future).

In a couple of weeks, the Marin Foundation will be releasing a DVD curriculum based off Love Is an Orientation, and though I have not yet seen it, I expect it will be an invaluable resource for ministers, small group leaders, professors, Christians, and anyone else who wants to learn more about developing meaningful relationships with LGBT people.  You can watch a short promo video for the curriculum to learn more.

I should probably explain: Although this post sounds like an advertisement, I’m writing completely from my own passion for the Foundation and what they’re doing.  Love Is an Orientation is absolutely one of the best books I’ve found about the difficult matter of how relationships can endure differences in worldview in belief in regards to faith and sexuality, and I think the DVD curriculum will be extremely helpful.

So, for those of you who have heard me say we need to talk more about LGBT issues in church and have asked me how to start those conversations, here is my advice: Buy this DVD, and buy a copy for your minister (Merry Christmas!), and go through the six-week study with your small group at church.  From what I’ve seen, people are itching to talk about homosexuality within the context of a trusted faith community.  This DVD series will open many doors for discussion.