Welcome to our Educational Resource library!

Sit back and enjoy a coffee as you explore the variety of resources we have made available. And, as you enjoy your explorations, consider the following invitation:

We are welcoming submissions to our Library. If you have essays, articles, sermons, worship resources or other resources that you would like to submit for possible publication on this site, please contact us by email.

1. Multimedia Resources
    
• Aimée and Jaguar
  A Jewish lesbian in the Third Reich falls in love with a Nazi super-mom - and vice versa. The title comes from the nicknames the lovers give each other. Based on a true story as recounted in a 1994 book by Erica Fischer.
   
• THE BUBBLE
  Three young Israelis share an apartment in Tel Aviv's hippest neighborhood. When Noam, who spends his weekends serving at checkpoints in the National Guard, falls in love with a Palestinian man named Ashraf, he and his friends conspire to help Ashraf stay on in Tel Aviv illegally. But will their utopian dream be shattered by the political and social realities of the Middle East? WINNER OF THE 2007 Toronto INSIDE OUT LESBIAN AND GAY FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL and a selection at the Toronto International Film Festival.
  Links:
  www.youtube.com link 1
  www.youtube.com link 2
  Internet Movie Database
  New York Times Review
   
• For the Bible Tells Me So
  Offering healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity, this landmark film “boldly takes on a loaded topic and examines it both intellectually and emotionally; the result may well leave you blinking away a few tears” (Seattle Times). Produced by First Run
   
• Inlaws & Outlaws
  With remarkable honesty, good humor, great music and real heart, Inlaws & Outlaws weaves together true stories of couples and singles, gay and straight to celebrate what we all have in common: we love. Produced by the Hearts & Minds Project.
   
• Normal
  Starring Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson, Normal tells the story about a 'normal' everyday faithfully married man in middle America who after 25 years of marriage recognizes his gender identity as a woman. Winner of the 2004 GLAAD Media award for outstanding television movie.
  Read the review.
  Available on Amazon.com
   
2. Same Gender Marriage
    
• Alberta's Lutheran Church and Gay Marriage
  – from Equal Marriage For Same Sex Couples
  This article begins with a thought-provoking quote by Martin Luther which challenges literal interpretations of the bible and calls us to take our contemporary social and legal context more seriously: “Moses’ law cannot be valid simply and completely in all respects for us. We have to take into consideration the character and ways of our land when we want to make or apply laws or rules, because our rules and laws are based on the character of our land and its ways and not on those of the land of Moses, just as Moses’ laws are based on the ways and character of his people and not those of ours.” Martin Luther’s Works, Volume 46, p. 291
   
• The Bible and Same-Gender Marriage - A presentation Wisconsin's for Marriage Equality Conference by Mary A. Tolbert, December 4, 2004
   
• An Ecumenical Consideration for Gay Marriage - Rev. Dr. Jon Fogleman
   
• Ten Reasons Why Christians Should Support Same-Sex Marriage - Vaughn Roste
   
• Twelve Biblical Principles of Marriage - Vaughn Roste
   
• A Gallery of Photos of the first same-gender marriages performed beneath the great rotunda of San Francisco City Hall - February 2004 – Keep a Kleenex box handy … these are powerful images!
   
3. Ministry of all the Baptized: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in the Ordained Ministry of the ELCIC
    
• Ten Reasons Why the ELCIC Should Accept LGBTQ Clergy - Vaughn Roste
   
• From Candidacy to Call: Interviews with three Extraordinary Candidacy project (ECP) candidates ordained in less than one year!

  Read about the Rev. Dawn Roginski's Call, to serve as pastor of parish programs St Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco
   
  An interview with the Rev. Erik Christensen, called to serve as Pastor at St Luke's Lutheran Church, Chicago IL
   
  An Interview with the Rev. Megan Rohrer, Pastor, called to serve to and with homeless persons in San Francisco by: Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Christ Church Lutheran, St. Francis Lutheran Church, and St. Mary and Martha Lutheran Church, all of San Francisco. The Welcome Ministry, SF.

4. Spirituality and Sexuality: Interconnected or Distant Realities in our lives?
    
• Why Martin Luther Decided to Have Sex - Rev. Megan Rohrer
   
• Re-thinking the Relationship – an address given by Anglican Bishop Michael Ingham at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Ottawa, Ontario, March 7, 2007
   
• Can't turn Around!  Coming Out Rituals – Scott Haldeman, Assistant Professor of Worship, Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago Illinois
   
• Brit Hitvada'ut: A Jewish Coming Out Ritual – Jay Michaelson
   
5. Worship that Includes: Sermons and Worship Resources which proclaim God’s all embracing love in Christ
    
• How can I be sure that God Loves Me Too? – Video of a sermon addressing the tragedy of suicide among lesbian and gay youth by the Rev. Dr. Mel White, Justice Minister for Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC). View this sermon.
  Other video resources on GLBTQ responses to the churches are available at Soulforce.
   
• Order of Service for the Blessing of Registered Partnerships (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark) – This rite of blessing for same gender couples from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark includes a joint Statement from the Bishops of the ELCD issued in 2005.
   
• Service of Blessing for a Registered Partnership – This rite was approved by the Central Board of the Church of Sweden (Lutheran), December 6, 2006
   
• Rite of Blessing for Same-Gender Relationships and Resolution - approved by New England Synod Council (ELCA), December 1, 2006
   
• A Rite for the Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Covenants - This rite of blessing for same-gender unions was issued  by Bishop Michael Ingham, Diocese of New Westminster (Anglican Church of Canada), May 23, 2003
   
• You Are My Beloved Ones, on Whom My Favor Rests! - A Sermon at a Service of Blessing of Marriages which took place at San Francisco City Hall, by Reverend Ruth Frost, Associate Pastor, St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco, California, February 29, 2004
   
• A Rite of Blessing for the Marriages of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Couples Following their Marriages at City Hall – From St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco, California
   
• Covenanting Installation – A liturgy celebrating the installation of Vicar Lionel Ketola on
  April 2, 2006 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church (a Reconciling in Christ congregaton),
  Newmarket, Ontario.
   

And more to come...