Often, youth ministry is the first place where LGBTQ issues surface in the church. Youth workers often feel trapped because their students DEFINITELY want to talk about LGBTQ inclusion and yet so many times church leadership does NOT want to have those conversations.
Books on LGBTQ issues in the church abound. 2024 published many, and here are those top books plus a few more I read this year that I recommend. This list is split between conservative and progressive Christian interpretations around LGBTQ inclusion in the church.
Making the final decision and communicating it with wisdom and grace.
The discernment team digs into the scriptures and into the issues, building towards a clear path forward. It ends with writing a statement.
Engage the congregation in the process. This is neither easy nor safe, but it is still essential.