The following is a list of resources on human sexuality/same-sex attraction and marriage compiled by various CRC pastors and leaders that are in line with the biblical interpretation found in the CRCNA’s 1973 report on homosexuality. We are hoping to make this list active so please forward your suggested additions through the ‘Contact Us’ link..
Please download a list of resources here: (docx) (pdf)
Biblical/Theological
Allberry, Sam. “Is God Anti-Gay?” Epsom, Surrey, England: the Good Book Company, 2013/2015 revised and expanded edition.
Recording of Sam Allberry lecture hosted by Westminster Seminary in Escondido, California on March 19, 2015.
https://www.wscal.edu/resource-center/is-god-anti-gay
Anderson, Ryan T. Truth Overruled: The Future of Marriage and Religious Freedom. Washington DC: Regnery Publishing, 2015.
Bolt, John. Bavinck on the Christian Life: Following Jesus in Faithful Service. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2015. [Particularly chapter 7 on “Marriage and Family”]
Butterfield, Rosaria Champagne. Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ. Pittsburgh: Crown & Covenant Publications, 2015.
Recording of Rosaria Butterfield “Hope for Holland” event hosted by Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan, on September 3, 2015.
http://www.centralavecrc.org/funeralsspecialevents.cfm
Cooper, John W. “Not Like Women in Office: Scripture, Hermeneutics, and Same-Sex Relations.” Calvin Seminary Forum, Fall 2015 issue, p. 5-9.
http://www.calvinseminary.edu/wp-content/uploads/Forum-October-2015-Copy.pdf
DeYoung, Kevin. What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2015.
Esolen, Anthony. Defending Marriage: Twelve Arguments for Sanity. Charlotte, NC: Saint Benedict Press, 2014.
Gagnon, Robert. The Bible & Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2001.
Girgis, Sherif, Ryan T. Anderson, and Robert P. George. What is Marriage?: Man and Woman: A Defense. New York, NY: Encounter Books, 2012.
Grenz, Stanley J. Welcoming, but Not Affirming: An Evangelical Response to Homosexuality. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.
Leder, Arie C. “Until My Body Finds its Rest in You, O Lord.” Calvin Seminary Forum, Fall 2015 issue, p. 13-16.
http://www.calvinseminary.edu/wp-content/uploads/Forum-October-2015-Copy.pdf
Lefebvre, Michael, ed. The Gospel & Sexual Orientation: A Testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. Pittsburgh: Crown & Covenant, 2012.
Lutzer, Erwin W. The Truth about Same-Sex Marriage: 6 Things You Need to Know About What’s Really at Stake. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2004.
Reilly, Robert R. Making Gay Okay: How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior Is Changing Everything. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2014.
Stott, John. Same-Sex Partnerships? A Christian Perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 1998.
Weima, Jeffrey A.D. “Same-Sex Activity: What Does the New Testament Say?” Calvin Seminary Forum, Fall 2015 issue, p. 9-12.
http://www.calvinseminary.edu/wp-content/uploads/Forum-October-2015-Copy.pdf
Whitekettle, Richard A. “Marriage Equality and the Bible: Why All Forms of Marriage in the Old Testament are Not Equal” The Witherspoon Institute Public Discourse, May 12, 2014. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2014/05/13054/
Pastoral Care
Barr, Adam T. and Ron Citlau. Compassion Without Compromise: How the Gospel Frees Us to Love Our Gay Friends Without Losing the Truth. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 2014.
Butterfield, Rosaria Champagne. The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: an English Professor’s Journey into Christian Faith, expanded edition. Pittsburgh: Crown & Covenant Publications, 2015.
Recording of Rosaria Butterfield “Hope for Holland” Event hosted by Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan, on Thursday, September 3, 2015.
http://www.centralavecrc.org/funeralsspecialevents.cfm
Groeschel, Benedict. The Courage to be Chaste. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1988.
Hill, Wesley. Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010.
Hubbard, Peter. Love into Light: the Gospel, the Homosexual and the Church. Greenville, S.C.: Ambassador International, 2013. More resources at http://www.loveintolight.com.
Medenblik, Jul. “Entering the Conversation.” Calvin Seminary Forum, Fall 2015 issue, p. 3-5.
http://www.calvinseminary.edu/wp-content/uploads/Forum-October-2015-Copy.pdf
McDowell, Sean and John Stonestreet. Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014.
Questions Kids Ask About Sex: Honest Answers for Every Age. Ed. J. Thomas Fitch and Melissa Cox. Grand Rapids, MI: Flemming H. Revell, 2007.
Shaw, Ed. Same-Sex Attraction and the Church: The Surprising Plausibility of the Celibate Life. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2015.
Smith, Kenneth A. Learning to Control Your Sexuality: Finding the Way to Live God’s Will. 2015 (for copies email 515baldwin@gmail.com).
Straunch, Alexander. The Hospitality Commands: Building Loving Christian Community. Building Bridges to Friends and Neighbors. Littleton, CO: Lewis & Roth Publishers, 1993.
Welch, Edward T. Homosexuality: Speaking the Truth in Love. RCL Ministry Booklets by CCEF. Phillipsburg, N.J., P&R, 2000.
Winner, Lauren. Girl Meets God: On the Path to a Spiritual Life. Chapell Hill, NC: Alonquin Books, 2002.
Recording of Rosaria Butterfield “Hope for Holland” Event hosted by Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan, on Thursday, September 3, 2015.
http://www.centralavecrc.org/funeralsspecialevents.cfm
Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (www.ccef.org) and Harvest USA (www.harvestusa.org – see below) have a variety of resources, including a good selection of mini-books.
Dennis Hollinger, president and ethics professor of Gordon-Conwell, lecture
Christian Organizations Ministering to and Helping Churches Minister to Those Struggling with Sexual Sin, including Same-Sex Attraction
Harvest USA
The purpose of Harvest USA is to partner with and equip the Church in bringing the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform the lives of those affected by sexual sin. Harvest brings the truth and mercy of Jesus Christ by helping individuals and families affected by sexual struggles and also providing resources that address biblical sexuality to individuals and churches
http://www.harvestusa.org/
Journey Canada
Journey Canada is a community-based, Christ-centred discipleship ministry that exists to help people find hope and live life through experiencing Jesus in their relationships and sexuality.
http://www.journeycanada.org/
Living Out
Living Out is coordinated by three Christian leaders in the UK who experience same sex attraction. They want to help Christian brothers and sisters who experience same-sex attraction stay faithful to Biblical teaching on sexual ethics and flourish at the same time, and help the Christian Church walk alongside them in this. They also desire to help the wider world hear and understand that there is more than just one viable script for those who are same-sex attracted.
http://www.livingout.org/
Evaluation of New Directions Ministry by John Span
Declarations/Statements/Letters
Manhattan Declaration (2009)
http://manhattandeclaration.org/#0
Declaring a Status Confessionis on Christian Sexual Integrity by colleagues in AZ (2015)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ri0pzsh8pgpHGvXqMzvUhb2viF4NOF5Qzlp1Hr86NMw/edit?usp=sharing
Regarding Same-Sex Attraction: A Letter to All Sites of Madison Church by Rev. Dave Beelen (11/2015)
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dd210c9e906bee82e2493dc83&id=84bdbe6dac
Legal/Administrative
These resources are recommended for your perusal and are not given as legal advice. Please consult your local legal counsel for definitive direction.
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Advice from the CRCNA Executive Director’s office on church policies (2015):
http://www.crcna.org/sites/default/files/model_church_facilities_2015.docx
The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
Protecting Your Ministry from Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Law Suits (2015):
https://erlc.com/store/product_detail/18876
Synodical Resources
Synod 1973 Study Committee Report: “Committee to Study the Homosexual Problem” (start on page 609):
http://www.calvin.edu/library/database/crcnasynod/1973agendaacts.pdf
Synod’ 1980 Study Committee Report 29: “Marriage Guidelines.” Acts of Synod 1980, pp.467-485
http://www.calvin.edu/library/database/crcnasynod/1980agendaacts.pdf
Synod 2002 Study Committee Report: “Committee to Give Direction about and for Pastoral Care for Homosexual Members” (start on page 313):
http://www.crcna.org/sites/default/files/2002_agenda.pdf
Synod 2013 Overture and Mandate for the 2016 Study Committee:
Agenda (see pages 418-420) –http://www.crcna.org/sites/default/files/2013_agenda.pdf
Acts (see pages 615, 616, 640) – http://www.crcna.org/sites/default/files/2013_acts.pdf
Synod 2016 Study Committee Report: “Committee to Provide Pastoral Guidance re Same-sex Marriage”:
http://www.crcna.org/sites/default/files/same-sex_marriage.pdf
Specific Reactions to the 2016 Study Committee Report
Dr. David Feddes
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c-W5yFJbC9oVRznqDMDTpGBs1rusyeStcZpncgd6v10/edit?usp=sharing
Rev. Aaron Vriesman
“The Young Adult’s Guide to the CRC’s New Same-Sex Marriage Report” (11/2015)
http://www.weareyalt.org/the-young-adults-guide-to-the-crcs-new-same-sex-marriage-report/
Following are books and articles which seem to deviate from or even oppose the biblical teaching that has become the foundation for the CRC’s position on homosexuality with helpful reviews.
Gritter (Vander Wal-Gritter), Wendy. Generous Spaciousness: Responding to Gay Christians in the Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2014.
Review of Gritters’ book by Dr. Gene Haas of Redeemer University College:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xKoZeBe-P5rQZAZORNUzZ7mbYI_2tbFztsBSqKJeIek/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs
Review of Gritter’s book by Matthew Lee Anderson: http://mereorthodoxy.com/generous-spaciousness-gay-christians/
Brownson, James V. Bible, Gender, and Sexuality: Reframing the Church’s Debate on Same-Sex Relationships. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2013.
Review of Brownson’s book by Wesley Hill: http://livingchurch.org/gunning-complementarity
Review of Brownson’s book by Andrew Goddard: http://klice.co.uk/uploads/Goddard%20KLICE%20review%20of%20Brownson.pdf
