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: https://youtu.be/pBYp8Ke8YmU
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.
Creating Sanctuary: Creating Sanctuary A resource for creating healthy and safer churches
Dignity and Worth: Home - Dignity & Worth (dignityandworth.org.uk) A group of Methodists committed to the full dignity and worth of every person, whatever their sexuality or gender identity
Diverse Church: Diverse Church A charity who provide pastoral care to support and encourage LGBT+ Christians to grow in their faith
GLAAD: GLAAD An organisation to shape the media narrative regarding LGBTQ acceptance
Homophobia: Homophobia: The Methodist Church Definition and Guidance from the Methodist Church
Inclusive church webinar: Inclusive Church - YouTube Webinar from the Methodist Church, including sharing stories of queer and gay people within the church
Moving out of fear and shame:
Article on being a gay Christian, by James Blackhall
One Body One Faith: OneBodyOneFaith | Home A grassroots charity to enable LGBT+ Christians and advocates for change within the church
Open Table Network: Open Table Network A partnership of ecumenical Christian worship communities who welcome LGBTQIA+ people
Personal reflections in the 1993 Conference Resolutions:
Reflections by those who took part in the Conference decisions on Human Sexuality in 1993
Reconciling Ministries Network: Reconciling Ministries (rmnetwork.org) Working for full participation of all LGBTQ+ people through the life and leadership of the United Methodist Connection.
Small Group Sexuality Study Guide: Sexuality Resources for small groups to study Sexuality, from the Inclusive Church
Two23: Two:23 | for LGBT+ Christians in the UK (two23.net) A network of Christians connected by LGBT+ issues who encourage all to discover the love of God for themselves
You are us, and we are you: Lois Tucker shares her experience of being Christian and queer
Sexual Orientation: Suggested Reading
Bold I approach: Bold I Approach A worship anthology for an inclusive Church - Outcome, .: 9781300924036 - AbeBooks A worship anthology for an inclusive church.
Controversies in Queer Theology: Controversies in Queer Theology by Susannah Cornwall, Lisa Isherwood - Paperback / softback - 9780334043553 (hymnsam.co.uk) Book by Susannah Cornwall and Lisa Isherwood which explores queer theology.
Love means love: Love Means Love: Same-sex Relationships and the Bible: The Revd David Runcorn Book on Same-sex relationships and the Bible