Announcing a New Resource Blog

The board of the Association of Lutheran Resource Centers has begun a blog! It’s a new opportunity for learning about and highlighting best resources, This is a team effort to serve pastors, teachers, and lay leaders around the church. The blog is best suited to announcements and posts from the board that benefit from “tagging” about different topics. The posts become part of a “feed” that anyone can subscribe to or put on their center’s website. The blog provides a way of categorizing and saving the best resources through posts, pages, and tags. It also makes more public and visible what resource centers have to offer. Unlike a listserv or e-mail group that requires joining, anyone can browse a blog.

You’re invited to visit at http://blogs.elca.org/alrc

Choral Music on Loan

Looking for a piece of choral music? Stop looking and check out The Resource Center in Clear Lake, Iowa. Choral music is available for loan from The Resource Center. You may contact them by phone at 641-357-4451 or email lrc@netins.com Multiple copies of traditional choral music can be found in their online catalog.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Two places for great resources

Worship planning and Christian education resources at TextWeek.com (external link)

For thoughtful reflections about all things related to learning and faith formation for children, youth, and adults, go to LifelongFaith.com (external link)

A rich well of resources for faith communities from the Alban Institute is available at CongregationalResources.org (external link) Excellent for call committees, leaders in all areas of congregational life, transition times.

Join conversations about bible study and Book of Faith resources at Bookoffaith.ning.com (external link) Interesting opportunities for sharing ideas and resources with people around the church.

Wanting to share your own creative work, writing, ideas for ministry? Go to ELCA.feautor.org (external link) This multilingual, open source site features unpublished resources for all areas of congregational life.

Hand in Hand blog digest from ELCA Global Mission (external link) for finding stories, bulletin blurbs, and devotion ideas from mission partners around the world. Two Pentecost stories just posted: The Pentecost spirit renews the faith< (external link)/a> and An unfolding Pentecost story (external link).

HeartsAndMindsBooks.com (external link) Book notes, reviews, articles for pastors, church leaders, or anyone who cares about congregations and ministry.

Stoles and paraments available from InterWovenStudio.com (external link)

Check out SanctuaryRenovation.com (external link), a collection of gifted liturgical artists in the Upper Midwest who work with congregations on both small and large projects.

The Story of Stuff (external link) Don’t miss this award-winning environmental stewardship video.

Go to www.elca.org (external link) for the latest news, resources and more from around the ELCA.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Best Web Resources

Among the many privileges of the work I do is the opportunity to explore resources from a wide spectrum of writers, producers, and publishers. To this rich mix, add the bonus of regular conversations with colleagues, pastors, and teachers whose passion for learning and teaching is contagious. The result continues to be an almost insatiable appetite on my part for reading and learning, hearing and viewing books and tapes, lectures and presentations, travel related to study, and opportunities of all kinds for continuing education.

You will find here a “working list” of some resources which continue to be life-giving and faith-stretching! These people, themes and metaphors, films and books celebrate paradox, mystery, ambiguity. Even more than providing a new lens through which to experience God’s presence, the resources described here are well-springs of grace and truth that continue to nourish and sustain. These extraordinary people and their enduring gifts of interpretation can help us experience the mystery of God’s love and the wonder of being
human.

The Resource Center functions as a center for learning, a crossroad for sharing best resources and best practices. It’s a deep well! I hope you will “dig deeply” so that this center helps serve as a creative source for your life and ministry.

Julie K. Aageson
Director, The Resource Center
Coordinator, ELCA Resource Centers

Themes and Metaphors

• grace and gratitude
• the book and the meal
• God as indiscriminate host
• emerging church
• learning to be “we”
• Body of Christ
• God resting on our eyelids
• the book and the bath
• worship as rehearsal for bearing
• God’s work, our hands
• faith practices the reign of God to the world
• liturgy and learning
• tree of life
• bread of life
• original blessing

Liturgy and Learning

Go to Lifelong Faith (external link) for the very best resources for Christian education and lifelong faith formation. We subscribe to The Lifelong Faith Journal (external link), available for loan.

Liturgy and Learning Through the Life Cycle by Westerhoff and Willimon
In this classic study linking liturgy and learning, the authors provide a framework for parish life that celebrates the essential acts of the church as nourishing and enduring anchors of faith.

The Religious Potential of the Child by Sophia Cavalletti
This groundbreaking approach to faith formation is based on encounter with the mystery of God in liturgy, scripture, and life and is as important for adults as for children.

To Dance with God by Gertrud Mueller Nelson
Rhythms and rituals of Christian life are described in this beautiful celebration of Christian life as it is shaped by the seasons of the church year.

Holy Things and Holy People by Gordon Lathrop
Both books are a feast of riches about the power of the liturgy to renew and transform the church.

Worship Matters Series
Each of these little booklets from Augsburg Fortress provides rich insights into all aspects of worship.

Emerging Church

The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church and Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith both by Diana Butler Bass
Both books offer compelling descriptions of vital congregational life and new birth among Christians. See also www.dianabutlerbass.com (external link)

A New Kind of Christian and Finding Our Way Again (and others) by Brian McLaren
A voice to be reckoned with as the church continues to wrestle with ongoing reformation. See also www.brianmclaren.net (external link)

Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell
An edgy, insightfully honest look about what it means to be Christian. See also www.robbell.com (external link)

Reflections on Faith

Turn My Heart: A Sacred Journey from Brokenness to Healing by Briehl and Haugen
This collection of music, poetry and texts is for all of us who at one time or another are broken and longing for healing and hope.

Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles
“A love song to the feast at the altar and the feast of a food pantry…” A truly stunning story of Christian conversion. See also www.stgregorys.org (external link)

An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor
There are not two worlds–secular and sacred–God is present everywhere. God’s kingdom is here and now. See also www.barbarabrowntaylor.com (external link)

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott
A raw and compelling confession of faith that graphically illustrates the light of Christ and its persistent ability to penetrate darkness.

Radical Amazement: Contemplative Lessons by Judy Cannato
Pay attention to the universe we’re part of–it speaks of God at every turn.

Under the Tree of Life-the Religion of a Feminist Christian by Gail Ramshaw
This lovely confession echoes much of my own faith journey and struggle. Ramshaw’s elegant use of language and her scholarly yet common insights about corporate Christian life are profound and truthful.

Sacrament of Life, A Life of the Sacraments by Leonardo Boff
Taking ordinary elements of daily life–a journey, a mug, his father’s cigarette butt, water–Boff illustrates God’s presence in this beautiful little study of sacramentality.

Wisdom Distilled from the Daily by Joan Chittister
Following the Rule of St. Benedict, Chittister clearly describes the richness of daily life when guided by attention to St. Benedict’s common sense reverence for God, self, and others.

Original Blessing by Matthew Fox
Fox’s daring view of historical Christianity and his theologically sound basis for celebrating the goodness of God’s creation is life-giving and grace-filled.

A Metaphorical God by Gail Ramshaw
A feast of images for God!

I Asked for Wonder-A Spiritual Anthology-Abraham Joshua Heschel ed. by Samuel Dresner
I first read Heschel thirty years ago. This collection of his most vivid observations about God’s presence and our meager interpretations is a jewel.

Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer
Compassionate and compelling meditation about vocation and call

Stories of Faith by John Shea
Shea the storyteller has an uncanny gift for cracking open scripture to unleash the transforming power of the biblical stories.

The Preaching Life by Barbara Brown Taylor
“You will find an altar in nearly every paragraph of this book …she works with God’s word, God’s people, God’s gifts, God’s hope for the world.”

Listening for God–Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith I & II
This uncommon collection of short stories by some uncommon writers addresses the convergence of faith and life in memorable and graphic storytelling.

In Search of Belief by Joan Chittister
A challenging and profoundly thoughtful confession of faith. See also www.benetvision.org (external link)

Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing
An important contribution to conversations about end times and the book of Revelation

Treasures Old and New: Images in the Lectionary by Gail Ramshaw
A collection of 40 images most used in the lectionary texts

Video / DVD / Film

The Nooma Films – this series of 10-12 minute films by Rob Bell uses the experiences of life to teach forgiveness, discipleship, unconditional love and more

Celebrate What’s Right with the World – photography and dialogue about beauty and how we look at the world

Differences – a short film that makes provocative comments about difference

The Rapture Racket – informed and thoughtful presentation about the book of Revelation

Babette’s Feast – Isak Dinesen’s tale of Babette and the meal she prepares for a pious congregation isolated on the coast of Denmark

The Gods Aren’t Angry – Rob Bell’s discussion of our struggle to define God and the origins of religion

Everyday Creativity – inspiring ways for fostering creativity and seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary

Making the Connections: Worship and Evangelism – Gordon Lathrop and Walter Kallestad discuss the relatedness of worship and outreach

Sacred Stories – three storytellers, Maya Angelou, Frederick Buechner, and James Carroll, reveal the power of faith and the presence of God in the stories of their lives.

The Rabbi’s Gift - an unforgettable allegory about a community’s longing for Christ’s presence

Elie Wiesel’s Greatest Figures of the Bible – beautiful “tellings” of the big stories, based in part on Wiesel’s Messengers of God and Biblical Portraits and Legends

Everything is Spiritual – for Jesus and his tradition, all of life is spiritual

The Overwhelming Love of God – a passionate and persuasive confession of God’s grace and love by Brennan Manning

How Do We Help? The Goal of Christian Ministry – insightful observations about the purpose of Christian life and ministry

A Second Chance – a short film about grace and forgiveness

CD’s

Turn My Heart: A Sacred Journey from Brokenness to Healing by Susan Briehl and Marty Haugen

Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell

Our Search for the Living God by Elizabeth Johnson

In God’s Eyes, We’re All Minorities by Krister Stendahl

A Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism by Krister Stendahl

The Gods Aren’t Angry by Rob Bell

The Rise and Fall of Christendom by Douglas John Hall

A New Vision of the Parish by William Willimon

Bread from Heaven by Richard Hays

How Shall We Worship by John Westerhoff

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Nourished and Sustained: Celebrating Faith and Life

A Taste of The Best Resources:

Find a thoughtful source for stewardship ideas at the Stewardship of Life Institute (external link) at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg. Former Eastern North Dakota Synod pastor, Sharron Lucas (Sheyenne-Oberon Area Ministry) writes a weekly column reflecting on lectionary texts (external link) on this site.

Pastor John Golv, interim at Peace Lutheran Church in Fargo, is author of Our Stewardship: Managing Our Assets from the Congregational Leader Series. It’s among the most accessible and engaging stewardship resources we have! (PR732)

Mark Allan Powell’s Giving to God: The Bible’s Good News about Living a Generous Life is among the most readable resources on comprehensive stewardship ministry… highly recommended! (B3512)

If you’ve not gone to www.elca.org/stewardship (external link) you’re missing one of the best sections of the ELCA website. It’s filled with helpful and current stewardship information. (See the seven-part curriculum described below!)

Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate by J. Cliff Christopher will be reviewed in the May newsletter. This new vision for financial stewardship is recommended by Pr. Jerry Protextor, Peace Lutheran in Fargo. (B3716)

NIV Stewardship Study Bible: Go to Luther Seminary’s Stewardship section (external link) for a helpful summary (external link) of this new stewardship resource from Zondervan. From our own Pr. Kari Bahe: “The best resource for stewardship is the Bible.” (B3717)

Herb Miller’s New Consecration Sunday is a revised stewardship program kit focusing on a biblical and spiritual theology of the need to give. Available for loan.

A number of congregations have appreciated using Ask, Thank, Tell by Charles Lane. It’s a straightforward, easy-to-read stewardship guide. “The section on ‘Creating a Culture of Thanksgiving’ is [excellent].” (B3211)

The How’s and Why’s of Money Leadership (external link) is a free, seven-part curriculum for “leaders who want to plumb the depths of their congregation’s financial soul.” It deals with attitudes about money, congregational finances, leadership, money and theology and more. Especially for congregations who find themselves stuck and looking for direction, this resource was developed cooperatively by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Alban Institute and the Lilly Endowment.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Stewardship

The following list is a sampling of resources for those who preach. The Resource Center maintains a large collection of additional resources on preaching and homiletics. Your inquiries, suggestions, and input are welcome!

• Preaching, worship planning, Christian education resources and more at TextWeek.com (external link)
• Additional preaching helps from Luther Seminary at WorkingPreacher.org
• The annual Festival of Homiletics features “best preaching” from pastors across the church. Check out information for the next event on the Good Preacher website (external link).
• A rich well of resources including preaching helps can be found online at the Congregational Resource Guide (external link) including the web resource, “Preaching Today: Sorting It Out (external link)”
• SundaysandSeasons.com (external link) now includes a preaching module with reference tools and a flexible platform for writing sermons
• Series of videos on particular texts: “Preaching from the Periscopes” available for loan from the Resource Center
• Series of videos on the art and practice of preaching called “Great Preachers” available for loan from the Resource Center
• Books of children’s sermons
• Sundays and Seasons follows the church year and the three-year Revised Common Lectionary to help worship planners, preachers, lay leaders, and others as they prepare for weekly worship—available for loan
• Sermons and presentations including sermons from the annual Festival of Homiletics are available on CD – for loan from the Resource Center
• Copies of lectionary preaching aid, New Proclamation, are available for loan from the Resource Center

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Resources for Preaching

Creation Waits with Eager Longing (external link) is a set of resources from Living Earth: A Lenten Journey. It includes a worship series and weekly themes of reflection, remembrance, rediscovery, repentance, reconciliation, and recommitment about becoming more faithful stewards of God’s creation.

For helpful information about the season of Lent, Palm/Passion Sunday, the Three Days and services of daily prayer, take a look at the third volume in the Using Evangelical Lutheran Worship series, Keeping Time: The Church’s Years.

A Lenten devotional series called Holy Lent Holy Land Holy People: A Journey Through the Sermon on the Mount includes true stories from the Holy Land, journeys through the Sermon on the Mount with copy-ready biblical commentary and preaching reflections, and original art from Bethlehem. The adaptable Word document (download .doc file) also contains music, prayers, litanies, questions for reflection and discussion, and can be used for Lenten mid-week worship or Bible study. It was developed in 2008 by the Peace Not Walls task force of the Southwestern Texas Synod (external link) and is offered as a free resource to the church at-large. Visit the ELCA Peace Not Walls (external link) for more information and resources.

For a Lenten DVD series on grace, check out Down and Out: Where Grace Takes You. This six part series reintroduces viewers to the life-changing reality of God’s promises and points the way to a completely different view of life in light of grace. Sessions are 19-25 minutes each. Available for loan.

In the six part series, What’s God Up To? Bible Stories Through New Eyes, provocative and thoughtful biblical teacher, Amy-Jill Levine asks edgy questions about familiar bible stories. Sessions are 25 minutes each. DVD available for loan.

Many additional series are available for small groups, individual study, and reflection. See the online catalog and the e-resource for December 2009, Open for Exploration for additional recommendations.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: More Resources for Lent

For a rich Lenten worship experience, be sure to consider the new Holden Prayer Around the Cross, a set of resources by Susan Briehl, Tom Witt, and Marty Haugen adapted from Holden Evening Prayer and Prayer Around the Cross. It includes fourteen sample liturgies that could be used in a variety of settings. To accompany Holden Prayer Around the Cross, a set of musical resources is available in Singing Our Prayer: Companion to Holden Prayer Around the Cross.

Ask about a new Lenten series called Water for Your Soul: Living in Baptism Every Day by Glenn Borreson. It’s a powerful way to focus on baptismal catechesis and includes material for Ash Wednesday to Holy Week.

Brand new from Augsburg Fortress, Worship Guidebook for Lent and the Three Days is a must-have for worship planners and leaders. The Music Sourcebook for Lent and the Three Days is also new. Preview copies available.

The 40 Day Journey books for small group study or individual use are ideal for Lent. The newest is Book of Faith Lenten Journey: Marks of the Christian (based on Romans 12). Additional titles include 40 Days with the Lord’s Prayer;

40 Day Journeys with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Joan Chittister, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther, Madeleine L’Engle and others.

Find complete worship planning beginning with Ash Wednesday see the newly expanded resources online at Sundays and Seasons (external link).

Gail Ramshaw’s 40 Days and 40 Nights is a beautiful collection of readings for the weeks of Lent.

The Three Day Feast (by Gail Ramshaw) from Worship Matters gives worshipers and worship planners much to ponder – a feast itself!

Lutheran poet and writer, Herb Brokering, has given us Stations of the Heart, a beautiful book of devotional reflections.

Finally, take a look at From Death to Life, a new book about resurrection hope by EaND synod pastor Scott Block, Grace / Oakes and Nazareth/Cogswell.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Lent

• The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder is a wonderful read about a magical Advent calendar and an incredible journey for individuals and families. (B3457)
• For worship planners and others involved in creating sacred space for Advent and Christmas, be sure to check the updated Sundays and Seasons (external link) from Augsburg Fortress. It includes many more resources for comprehensive planning including music, images, and background information.
• Prophets and Angels: An Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols from AFP includes an audio CD, the service of lessons and carols, and full instrumental score.
• Family Advent-ures is a guide to help families observe each day of Advent. For all ages, it includes scripture, storytelling, and activities. (PR1010)
• Check out Text Week: Year C (external link) for texts, images, articles, preaching helps, reflections and more.
• Check out the Saint Nicholas Center (external link) For unique ideas for giving and celebrating
• Visit www.elca.org and search for Advent resources (external link), especially ideas (external link) for alternative Christmas giving (external link).
• Discover new stories that embrace the joy of the Christ child’s birth while uncovering your own personal Advent stories in In My Heart I Carry a Star: Stories for Advent by Derek Maul. (B3649)
• Resources for midweek Advent worship include Joyous Light by Ray McKeever; Holden Evening Prayer by Marty Haugen; Prayer Around the Cross, a reflective service of prayer and meditation; and Unfailing Light by Marty Haugen and Susan Briehl. Additional options include a midweek service based on the O Antiphons in Sundays and Seasons 2010; and evening prayer in LBW and ELW.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Advent

Open for Exploration!

Connect with the Resource Center: Ways to Help Your Congregation

• Find topical collections of resources for all areas of congregational life
• Include the synod website, brochures and bookmarks, and resource collections in your church communications
• Bring your church council, parish education committee, worship leaders, women’s group, youth leaders for a tour of the center. We’re happy to share resources and we welcome input and requests.
• Use the Resource Center for meetings, sharing and learning together.
• Julie Aageson, Director of the Resource Center, welcomes invitations to share resources with pastoral conferences, women’s and men’s groups, and in other congregational settings. Call to make a date!
• Check out the synod website and online catalog

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Connect with the Resource Center

Updated November 19, 2009

One of the most difficult faith issues of our day centers on matters of sexuality and our differing perspectives. Trying to determine exactly what it means to welcome gay and lesbian people to full participation in the life of our congregations continues to be a challenge for us. We have asked for discerning conversation within the church and called for an end to discrimination, assault, and harassment of homosexual persons. But questions related to leadership issues of ordination as well as blessings for same-sex unions remain. How will we as Christians continue to grapple with these complicated issues of human sexuality? How can we be faithful, compassionate, gracious as we wrestle with the place of homosexual persons in the community of faith?

This collection of resources includes materials that reflect the church’s ongoing conversation. It is meant to further productive dialogue. This is by no means a comprehensive list. It is one of many compilations of thoughtful resources. Our hope is that these materials will contribute to understanding and insight. As we continue to work toward a satisfactory policy for including gay and lesbian persons in the life of the church, we invite our congregations to pray for discernment and to use the many resources meant to help address this issue confronting both church and society. Then perhaps we can begin to move beyond divisiveness and politically correct ideologies (whatever they are) to talk about human faces and about justice for and reconciliation with all God’s people.

Featured Resources:

• The Blue Book – What We Wish We Had Known: Breaking the Silence, Moving Toward Understanding
• Congregational Hospitality to Gay and Lesbian People: Resources for Congregations
• Congregations Talking About Homosexuality by Beth Ann Gaede
• Now the Silence Breaks: Toward A Pastoral Understanding of Homosexuality
• Beyond the Bible: Parents, Families and Friends Talk About Religion and Homosexuality
• When Christians Disagree by Harvey and Lois Seifert
• “My Journey Isn’t Over” by Gwen Sayler
• “Sexuality in Ministry” – Spring 2001 issue of dialog: A Journal of Theology
• “Same Gender Unions? Ordination?”
• Bishop’s Pastoral Letter on Resolution #1: The Recognition and Blessing of Relationships by Peter Rogness
• A Call for Dialog: Gay and Lesbian Christians and the Ministry of the Church
• I Belong by Janet Blair
• Sexuality and the Sacred: Sources for Theological Reflection edited by James B. Nelson and Sandra P. Longfellow
• “There is Almost No Justice for Homosexuals in Christianity” by Clark Morphew
• Breaking Silence: A Message to Clergy from a Lesbian Lutheran
• Statement to the Conference of Bishops by Jane Ralph and Delaney Dean
• Gay and Lesbian Ministry in the ELCA by Verlyn Smith
• Homosexuality, Science and the “Plain Sense” of Scripture, edited by David L. Balch
• Homosexuality in the Church: Both Sides of the Debate, ed. by Jeffrey Siker
• Homosexuality and the Christian Faith: Questions of Conscience for the Churches edited by Walter Wink
• The Church and the Homosexual by John J. McNeill
• Sexual Fulfillment by Herbert Chilstrom and Lowell Erdahl
• The New Testament and Homosexuality by Robin Scroggs
• Homosexuality and Christian Community edited by Choon-Leong Seow
• Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality by John Shelby Spong
• The Church and Homosexuality: Searching for a Middle Ground by Merton P. Strommen
• Embodiment: An Approach to Sexuality and Christian Theology by James B. Nelson
• Is the Homosexual My Neighbor? Another Christian View by Letha Scanzoni and Virginia Ramey Mollenkott
• Pastoral Care of Gays, Lesbians, and Their Families by David K. Switzer
• Can We Just Talk About It: The Church and Homosexuality (video)
• Call to Witness (video)
• Lutherans Reflect on Human Sexuality (video)
• May We Talk? A Reflection on Human Sexuality (video)
• My Son, My Son (video)
• One Christian’s Journey (video)
• Talking Together as Christians About Homosexuality: A Guide for Congregations (video)
• Water on the Desert Road: Acts 8 and Unauthorized Ministries with Barbara Lundblad (video)

Featured Links:

• ELCA Journey Together Faithfully (external link)
• Lutherans Concerned / North America (external link)
• The Leaven Center (external link)
• Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (external link)
• Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (external link)
• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (external link)

Recent Additions:

Added November 19, 2009

• Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust Social Statement (external link) adopted at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly
• ELCA Ministry Policies (external link)
  This page provides the ELCA’s current ministry policies and information on the process for implementing changes in ministry policies mandated by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.
• Reflections on the ELCA Churchwide Assembly and the Bible (external link) by Timothy Wengert
• Frequently Asked Questions about the 2009 Churchwide Assembly (external link) actions regarding human sexuality
• Beyond the Bible and Homosexuality: A Journey into the Heart of God
  A presentation at Seminary of the Prairie by the Rev. Steven Kindle (Open Files, 2004)
• The ELCA in Dialogue: We Need to Talk (VT2482)
  Dialogue, stories and experiences of individuals and families from the Red River Valley of ND and MN. Copies may be ordered from dialoguevideo@yahoo.com
• For the Bible Tells Me So (DVD272)
  This award-winning documentary addresses questions of homosexuality and Biblical scripture. It deals with questions like “is the chasm separating Christianity from gay and lesbian persons too wide to cross?” and “does God condemn loving homosexual relationships?” It offers stories and experiences of healing, clarity, and understanding to anyone “caught in the cross hairs of scripture and sexual identity.
• What Does This Mean? A Lutheran Way of Approaching Scripture, the Christian Faith, and 2009 ELCA Decisions
  A PowerPoint presentation prepared by synod leaders, Shar Gumke and Rich Fitzer, for congregations discussing the actions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. DVD includes PP, sexuality documents, and Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson’s presentations. (Open Files)
• Homosexuality: Perspectives for the Church (DVD4)
  These four perspectives reflect conservative notions of issues related to sexuality including what presenters call “the pseudo-identity of homosexuality.” It supports therapy to change sexual orientation.
• Listening to the Spirit: A Handbook for Discernment (B3654)
  Presents a process of discernment for guidance in considering the question, “what is the gospel message to our church as we relate to gay and lesbian Christians?”
• And God Loves Each One (PR1011)
  A resource for dialogue about sexual orientation.
• “Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?” (external link)
  An article by Tony and Peggy Campolo
• Made in God’s Image (PR1012)
  A resource for dialogue about the church and gender differences.
• What Do You Say When Someone You Love Says, I’m Gay? (VT2309)
  A father, pastor and bishop discusses the issue of homosexuality and the struggle in church and society to make sense of the issue.
• Dealing with Tough Issues as Christians (VT2283)
  Demonstrates a process for helping people discuss tough controversial issues honestly and without fear. Part two focuses on homosexuality. Guide.
• Taking a New Look: Why Congregations Need LGBT Members (B3655)
  Invites congregations to welcome and affirm gender differences, helping members see the blessings differently gendered persons bring to the church.
• Greater Milwaukee Synod Sexuality Discussion (VT2416)
  This three part presentation includes helpful reflections on various aspects of homosexuality and the role of the church. Speakers include former bishops, John Beem and Herbert Chilstrom and Drs. Gordon Lathrop and Bruce Malchow.
• As My Own Soul: The Blessing of Same Gender Marriage by Chris Glaser (Seabury Books)

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Talking Together as Christians about Homosexuality