214-351-1901
info@cathedralofhope.com
5910 Cedar Springs Road | Dallas, TX 75235
Local: 214-351-1901
Resources
Sexuality & Faith
Cathedral of Hope is an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ. We practice extravagant welcome and many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender folk have found their spiritual home here. It is said that CoH is the largest open and affirming congregation in the world.
As Christians, we profess that we are created in the image of God. In this image, we make a lifelong journey toward deeper faith, faithfulness, and wholeness. As a church, we seek continually to integrate God’s ongoing revelation with new knowledge and understandings of our lives and times. In our religious life and education, we seek to equip the faithful for this journey in all its possibilities.
As people in the United Church of Christ (UCC), we affirm that sexuality and a spirituality are intricately connected and that both are gifts from God. The actions of our General Synods, conferences, associations, congregations, and councils support this.
The following principles from the UCC’s Created in God’s Image: A Human Sexuality Program for Ministry and Mission, expresses what many in the United Church of Christ believe about faith, spirituality, sexuality, and justice.
Useful Links
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Believe Out Loud
We believe that each of us is made in God's image — beautiful and beloved, unique and whole. We work for the day when all are treated as equals in our families, churches and communities.Button -
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Lambda Legal
Founded in 1973, Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.Button -
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PFLAG
PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies. With nearly 400 chapters and 250,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas across America, PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed.Button -
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Resource Center Dallas
Resource Center is a trusted leader that empowers the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQIA+) communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and wellness, strengthening families and communities and providing transformative education and advocacy.Button -
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Dallas Voice
The premier media source for LGBTQ Texas.Button -
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GLSEN
Every day GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together, we can transform our nation’s K-12 schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.Button -
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Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law. We empower our 3 million members and supporters to mobilize against attacks on the most marginalized people in our community.Button -
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The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people.Button -
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LGBTQ+ Family Support Guide for Birth Injuries
Get practical information to help LGBTQ+ parents overcome unique challenges, find essential medical, financial, and emotional support, and deal with discrimination.Button
LGBTQ+ RESOURCES - BOOKS
Don’t forget to use Amazon Smile if you order any of these books on Amazon!
- “What the Bible Says About Homosexuality” – Daniel A. Helminiak
- “Stranger at the Gate ” – Mel White
- “Living in Sin” – John Shelby Spong
- “Holy Homosexuals” – Michael S. Piazza
- "This Far by Grace” – J. Neil Alexander
- “In the Eye of the Storm” – Gene Robinson
- “Reasoning Together: A Conversation on Homosexuality” – Ted Grimsrud & Mark Thiessen Nation
- “Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe ” – John Boswell
- "Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths and Heal the Church” – Jack Rogers
- “Reading the Bible Again for the First Time” – Marcus J. Borg
- “Coming Out as Sacrament” – Chris Glaser
- “Coming Out: An Act of Love” – Rob Eichberg
- “Paul on Homosexuality” – Michael Wood
- “10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do To Find Real Love” – Joe Kort
- “10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do Improve Their Lives” – Joe Kort
- “Boyfriend 101: A Gay Guy’s Guide to Dating, Romance, and Finding True Love” – Jim Sullivan
- “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” – Don Miguel Ruiz
- “Let Your Life Speak” – Parker Palmer
- “A Hidden Wholeness” – Parker Palmer
- “The Courage to Teach” – Parker Palmer
- “Dance of the Dissident Daughter” – Sue Monk Kidd
- “Women Who Run With the Wolves” – Clarissa Pinkola Estes
- “The Hard Questions for an Authentic Life” – Susan Piver
- “Memories of God ” – Roberta Bondi
DOWNLOADABLE ARTICLES
The Bible and Homosexuality by Rev. Dr. Mona West
Homosexuality: Not a Sin, Not a Sickness by Don Eastman
Our Story Too: Reading the Bible with New Eyes by Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson
What the Bible Says — And Doesn’t Say — About Homosexuality by Rev. Dr. Mel White
ADDITIONAL LGBTQ+ RESOURCES
PRINCIPLES GUIDING THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST COMMITMENT TO SEXUALITY EDUCATION
- Sexuality is a God-given gift.
- The purposes of sexuality are to enhance human wholeness and fulfillment, to express love, commitment, delight, and pleasure, to bring new life into the world, and to give glory to God.
- When making decisions about sexuality, the primary guide is God’s call to love and justice as revealed in both Testaments.
- From a biblical perspective, sexuality is intended to express mutuality, love, and justice. In judging whether behavior is ethical or unethical, the norms of mutuality, love, and justice are the central criteria.
- From a biblical perspective, sexuality is distorted by unethical behaviors, attitudes, and systems that foster violence, exploitation, infidelity, assertion of power, and the treatment of persons as objects.
- In developing a just sexual morality, we need to avoid double standards.
- A responsible and mature sexual ethic respects the moral agency of every person.
- The church, at all levels, ought to be a context for discussion about human sexuality.
- The church ought to encourage and support advocacy with those who are sexually oppressed or the victims of sexual violence and abuse. The church can and must have a role in defining and implementing public policy.
Useful Links
Cathedral of Hope
Proclaiming Christ Through Faith, Hope and Love
5910 Cedar Springs Road | Dallas, TX | 75235
214-351-1901
info@cathedralofhope.com