Holy Huddle Resources

The following are resources that may be used to enrich respectful conversations on the topic of human sexuality. Click here to download a PDF of this list.

Questions from Holy Huddles

Click here to download some of the questions that were submitted during the Holy Huddle gatherings. They are grouped by topic and similar questions are combined. This is a working document and as questions are submitted, they will be added. Please check back regularly.

Scripture

• I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)
• Enlarge the site of your tent, and stretch out the drapes of your dwellings; don’t hold back. Lengthen your tent ropes and strengthen your stakes. To the right and to the left you will burst out, and your children will possess the nations’ land and settle their desolate cities. (Isaiah 54:2-3)
• “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too. You know the way to the place I’m going.” Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:1-5)
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
• Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. (Romans 12:3-5)

Guidance from John Wesley

• General Rules of the Methodist Church: as prescribed by John Wesley
• “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.” ― John Wesley
• “I continue to dream and pray about a revival of holiness in our day that moves forth in mission and creates authentic community in which each person can be unleashed through the empowerment of the Spirit to fulfill God’s creational intentions.” ― John Wesley, How To Pray: The Best of John Wesley on Prayer
• “Though we cannot think alike may we not love alike?”― John Wesley
• “The world is my parish.”― John Wesley

Books

• A La Familia, by Miguel de la Torre: Una conversación sobre nuestras familias, la Biblia, la orientación sexual, y la identidad de genero. A Conversation about our families, the Bible, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
• A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader, by Rueben P. Job: What can we learn from John Wesley that will help us to better know and serve God in Christ? Rueben Job answers that question in this 26-week devotional experience.
• Confronting the Controversies: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues, by Adam Hamilton: This booklet with CD-ROM contains a step-by-step guide with tools enabling a pastor to plan, implement and promote the Confronting the Controversies program.
• Finding Our Way: Love and Law in The United Methodist Church: Encourages frank and constructive dialogue that will help us conference together and open ourselves to God’s guidance.
• Homosexuality and Christian Community, edited by Choon-Leong Seow:  Various views on homosexuality and the church are discussed by faculty members of Princeton Theological Seminary.  Representing differing views, these theologians offer a guide to churches and individuals engaged in theological reflection about homosexuality and the church.
• Seeing Black and White in a Gray World: The Need for Theological Reasoning in the Church’s Debate Over Sexuality, by Dr. Bill Arnold: Dr. Arnold makes a convincing case supporting the current United Methodist stance on same-sex practices.
• Staying at the Table: The Gift of Unity for United Methodists, by Scott J. Jones: Bishop Scott Jones reminds us that “the strength of Wesleyan doctrine is its ability to articulate holistic, balanced, and practical interpretation of Scripture.
• The Bible and Homosexual Practice, by Robert Gagnon: An analysis of the biblical texts relating to homosexuality.
• The Bible’s Yes to Same-Sex Marriage, by Mark Achtemeier: A study guide is included in this book about a Christian pastor’s theological journey from the condemnation of same-sex marriage to and understanding that the Bible does not necessarily condemn same-sex marriage.
• The Conversation Matters, by Henry H. Knight III and Don E. Saliers: A classic work about the way Christians should engage in Conversations about difficult topics.
• The Loyal Opposition: Struggling with the Church on Homosexuality, by Rev. Tex Sample and Rev. Amy DeLong: A multifaceted argument that the gospel requires a commitment to the full inclusion of all persons in the body of Christ. It focuses on how members of mainline denominations can respond to official denominational positions with which they disagree.
• WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED: Methodists Debate Race, Gender and Homosexuality, by Jane Ellen Nickell: This work looks at The United Methodist Church’s conversations to see what can be learned from earlier periods of change. The book analyzes General Conference transcripts of floor debates in key years of these struggles.
• When Christians Get It Wrong, by Adam Hamilton: Adam Hamilton tackles issues about being anti-homosexual along with other issues and addresses the how’s and why’s of Christians getting it right.

United Methodist Resources

• 10.04 Resolution on Inclusivity: The Desert Southwest Conference passed this resolution at the 2015 Annual Conference Session.
• Resolution Q & A: Bishop Hoshibata addresses your questions about the resolution.
• 2013 Marriage Equality Resolution (PDF)
• Bishop Report to Judicial Council with Ruling of Law (PDF) on Ruling of Law on 2013 Marriage Equality Resolution
• Council of Bishops Commission on A Way Forward: A proposal by the Council of Bishops to do a complete examination and possible revision of every paragraph of the Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and explore options that help maintain and strengthen the unity of the church.
• Social Principles: Affirmation that we as United Methodists affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God.
• The United Methodist Church’s Position on Homosexuality
• United Methodists and Human Sexuality
• Human Sexuality and the UMC timeline 1964-2014 compiled by Ashley Boggan, PhD Student, Drew University

Bible/Group Studies

• Confronting the Controversies: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues, by Adam Hamilton: This booklet with CD-ROM contains a step-by-step guide with tools enabling a pastor to plan, implement and promote the Confronting the Controversies program.
• Created by God: Tweens, Faith, and Human Sexuality: Designed to communicate to fifth and sixth graders that we are a fantastic creation made by God.
• For the Bible Tells Me So: A film and study guide which explores and encourages healing, clarity, and understanding around the issue of Scripture and sexual identity.
• Out of the Shadows into the Light: Conducting a non-threatening and accessible conversation about an issue that is presently tearing many churches and denominations apart, Out of the Shadows, into the Light focuses on communication in hopes of creating reconciliation for the Christian community.
• Sex: A Christian Perspective on Our Bodies, Decisions and Relationships for 6^th, 7^th and 8^th

• The Bible and Human Sexuality: Claiming God’s Good Gift, by Ellen A. Brubaker: This study explores the Bible and human sexuality as two essential components of our Christian faith.

Research

• Latino’s changing views of same-sex marriage, by Mark H. Lopez and Danielle Cuddington: Trending by age, political party, and religious affiliation among Latinos.