This section contains links to lots of resources for further individual learning about a wide range of topics. All of them have been recommended to the Methodist Church by people with experience in the relevant field. Not all of these external resources will always share a Methodist ethos or theology. However, that does not mean we cannot learn more about equality, diversity and inclusion issues from reading these resources, and then apply that learning within church life, to better ensure justice, dignity and solidarity within our fellowship.
This video from the Learning Network gives guidance on Critical Thinking and how we can help ourselves to learn, even when we are considering resources that contain things that make us uncomfortable, or with which we disagree theologically:
If you find anything in these resources that you consider inappropriate, please reflect on what learning you can take from the resource and why other Methodists might have recommended it. Please also contact Equality&diversity@methodistchurch.org.uk to report the resource so it can be reviewed and removed from this list if necessary.
Women and Patriarchy
Beyond Equality: Men Prevent Violence: Beyond Equality Guidance for men on how to make public spaces safer for women
Imagine toolkit: 6059e8cda501da4f5637adbd_IMAGINE-Toolkit-EN.pdf (webflow.com) A collection of advice and interventions for engaging boys and young men to prevent sexual harassment and sexual violence against women and girls.
Methodist Women in Britain: MWiB | Methodist Women in Britain Charity that aims to bring women together and encourage, train and equip women to participate fully in the life of the church
Patriarchal church: Article from the Church Times on a study from Finland about the association between religion and patriarchy
Small Group Gender Study Guide: Gender Resources for small groups to study Gender, from the Inclusive Church
Stop telling women they have imposter syndrome: Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome (hbr.org) Article from Harvard Business Review
Suggested Reading: Pink Brain, Blue Brain: Pink Brain, Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grow into Troublesome Gaps — and What We Can Do About It by Lise Eliot | Goodreads Book by Lise Eliot that argues against harmful stereotypes of the innate differences between males and females.
Gender Diversity
Affirming transgender people: An Afternoon with Austen Hartke at Inclusive Gathering Birmingham - 31 October 2021 - YouTube A webinar from Inclusive Gathering Birmingham. Education and storytelling to help us become better neighbours to gender-expansive people, with Austen Hartke
A guide to gender identity terms: A Guide to Understanding Gender Identity and Pronouns : NPR Glossary of gender identity terms, created with help from GLAAD
A Journey Without a Map: AllsortsYouthProject - A Journey Without A Map.pdf (webflow.com) A guide to being a parent of a trans child, from AllSorts Youth Project
AllSorts Youth Project Further Reading: Further Reading (allsortsyouth.org.uk) Useful resources and contacts, curated by AllSorts Youth Project
AllSorts Youth Project: Allsorts Youth Project - What We Do East Sussex based organisation who listen to, connect and support LGBT+ children, young people and their families; challenge exclusion, prejudice and discrimination; and provide training, information, advice and guidance to organisations working with LGBT+ young people.
Autism & Gender Diversity: Largest study to date confirms overlap between autism and gender diversity | Spectrum | Autism Research News (spectrumnews.org) Report on a study into the intersection of autism with gender diversity
Autism & Gender Diversity: 2021_DEdChPsy_Milne.pdf (uel.ac.uk) Study into the intersection of autism with gender diversity
Being trans in the Methodist Church: https://youtu.be/o3eviHGZPq4 A video on being transgender in the Methodist Church, including some advice for churches
Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES): Gender Identity Research & Education Society – Improving the Lives of Trans People (gires.org.uk) A UK wide charity whose purpose is to improve the lives of trans and gender diverse people, which hears, helps, empowers and gives a voice to trans and gender diverse individuals and their families.
Gendered Intelligence: Home | Gendered Intelligence Grassroots charity that exists to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve trans people’s quality of life.
GIRES written evidence to Transgender Equality Inquiry: TRA0058 - Evidence on Transgender Equality (parliament.uk) Written evidence submitted to the UK Parliament by the Gender Identity Research and Education Society.
How common is intersex?: How common is intersex? | Intersex Society of North America (isna.org) Fact sheet from the Intersex Society of North America.
SOFFA Marmalade: www.facebook.com/SOFFAmarmaladeUK/ Organisation in the West Midlands for people who have a trans person in their family or as a friend: Significant Others, Family, Friends & Allies
Trans people are not issues:
Article by Karl Rutlidge, Methodist Presbyter who happens to be trans
Transfaith: Transfaith An interfaith organisation that supports transgender spiritual and cultural workers and their leadership in community.
Trans safeguarding in practice: Trans Safeguarding in Practice — Creating Sanctuary A resource from Creating Sanctuary to help churches consider trans and non-binary identities in their safeguarding policy and practice
Transfigurations –Gender Outlaws in the Bible: Peterson Toscano » Enjoy Transfigurations–Gender Outlaws in the Bible on-line for FREE Video of Peterson Toscano’s performance piece on sexual and gender minorities in the Bible.
Transgender Awareness Week: Transgender Awareness Week (methodist.org.uk) Blog by Karl Rutlidge, trans man and Methodist minister, written for Transgender Awareness Week in 2023
What are pronouns? Why do they matter?: What Are Pronouns? Why Do They Matter? — Pronouns.org Resources on Personal Pronouns Resources on personal pronouns from pronouns.org
Gender Diversity: Suggested Reading
Christine Burns books: Christine Burns MBE Bookshop UK Books by Christine Burns, campaigner for the civil rights of transgender people
Gender: The Inclusive Church Resource: Gender: The Inclusive Church Resource (dartonlongmantodd.co.uk) Book by Rosemary Lain-Priestley and Bob Callaghan, written to help churches to be equipped to welcome all people regardless of their gender.
God and the Transgender debate: God and the Transgender Debate: What does the Bible actually say about gender identity? by Andrew T. Walker | Goodreads Book by Andrew T. Walker on what the Bible says about gender identity
God doesn’t make mistakes: God Doesn’t Make Mistakes: Confessions of a Transgender Christian by Laurie Suzanne Scott | Goodreads Book by Laurie Suzanne Scott on being an evangelical Christian and transgender.
Omnigender: Omnigender: A Trans-Religious Approach by Virginia Ramey Mollenkott | Goodreads Book by Virginia Ramey Mollenkott that bridges traditional religious doctrine and secular postmodern theory regarding gender.
Sex and Uncertainty in the Body of Christ: Sex and Uncertainty in the Body of Christ: Intersex Conditions and Chr (routledge.com) Book by Susannah Cornwall which offers a systematic theology of physical intersex conditions.
Sex/Gender Biology in a Social World: Sex/Gender: Biology in a Social World - 1st Edition - Anne Fausto-Ste (routledge.com) Book by Anna Fausto-Sterling which presents a new way to think about how biological differences can be produced over time in response to different environmental and social experiences.
The Bible and the Transgender Experience: The Bible and the Transgender Experience | How Scripture Supports Gend – The Pilgrim Press Book by Linda Tatro Herzer on how scripture supports gender variance.
The Gender Agenda: The Gender Agenda: Towards a Biblical Theology on Gender Identity, Reassignment and Confirmation - Chalke, Steve: 9781980670001 - AbeBooks Book by Steve Chalke which explores the theology of gender identity, reassignment and confirmation.
This is my body: This Is My Body by Christina Beardsley, Michelle O'Brien | Waterstones Book by Christina Beardsley and Michelle O’Brien which offers a reflection on gender dissonance and religious faith
Transfaith: Transfaith by Chris Dowd, Christina Beardsley | Waterstones Book by Chris Dowd and Christina Beardsley which provides a resource for churches who want to begin to understand and welcome transgender people into their congregations.
Trans/Formations: Trans/Formations by Marcella Althaus-Reid, Lisa Isherwood | Waterstones Book by Marcella Althaus-Reid and Lisa Isherwood which offers theological reflection on a range of trans lived experiences.
Transgender. Christian. Human: Transgender. Christian. Human. Book by Alex Clare-Young on transgender Christian identity
Trans-Gendered: Amazon.com: Trans-Gendered: Theology, Ministry, and Communities of Faith: 9780829815283: Tanis, Justin Edward: Books Book by Justin Edward Tanis, a pastor at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion, from 2003.
What does God think? Transgender people and the Bible: What Does God Think? Transgender People and The Bible by Cheryl B. Evans | Goodreads Book by Ceryl B. Evans on what the Bible says about transgender people.