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The Reformation Project is a Bible-based, Christian grassroots organization that works to promote inclusion of LGBTQ people by reforming church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity. Our vision is of a global church that fully affirms LGBTQ people.

 

A Bible-Based, Gospel-Centered Approach to LGBTQ Inclusion

The Reformation Project is a Bible-based, Christian grassroots organization that works to promote inclusion of LGBTQ people by reforming church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity. We envision a global church that fully affirms LGBTQ people.

 
 
 

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Greg and Lynn McDonald, authors of "Embracing the Journey," do life-changing ministry work with conservative Christian parents and their LGBTQ children. We are so blessed to have them leading our new Parents in Process program this Thursday, November 7 in Seattle. . If you have a parent (or two!) who still has room to grow in their relationship with you after you've come out, let them know about Parents in Process and encourage them to sign up: reformationproject.org/parents.
Is your Christian parent wrestling with how to respond after you've come out? We are offering a program at this year's Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle just for them. . It's called Parents in Process, and it's led by the fantastic Greg and Lynn McDonald, authors of "Embracing the Journey: A Christian Parents' Blueprint to Loving Your LGBTQ Child." . The McDonalds will be sharing their unvarnished and honest personal story of having a gay son, along with lessons they've learned from walking with hundreds of Christian parents who have LGBTQ children. The program will include an interview of the McDonalds by Matthew Vines and a parent panel discussion where you will hear from parents who are well-healed on their journey, with plenty of time for Q&A. . The day will also include a two-part workshop led by Greg and Lynn to help parents move from a place of fear and mourning to embracing their "new normal," culminating with helping them to thrive and find purpose in their journey. Attendees will hear from Matthew Vines and his dad as they share how they navigated the journey of studying Scripture together. The program will end with an LGBTQ panel discussion where parents can ask LGBTQ individuals anything that is on their mind. . No matter where your parent is at with their theology, if they are open to listening and learning, we would love to welcome them this Thursday, November 7 in Seattle. You can register here: reformationproject.org/parents.
Do you want LGBTQ-affirming Christians to know about your organization or church? Do you want to show your support for LGBTQ Christians? . Then sign up today to become a sponsor of our Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle this November 7-9. Conference sponsorships are a critical way both to raise the visibility of supporting organizations and to contribute to the success of the conference itself. . We're already ahead of where we were at this point last year in terms of conference registrations, and the exhibit hall will be in the center of the action at our host church this fall, so this will be an ideal opportunity to spread the word about your organization. . Check out our sponsorship packages at give.reformationproject.org/seattlesponsor, and let us know if you have any questions about them! We'd love to partner with you as we work to advance LGBTQ inclusion in the church at this year's Reconcile and Reform conference.
Our Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle is now less than three months away, and if you're interested in leading a workshop at it, you still have some time: workshop proposals are due tomorrow! . If you share our love for God, the Bible, and the church and have expertise about advancing LGBTQ inclusion in the church, we'd love to consider your workshop proposal. The four categories for proposals are: . • Bible and Theology • Family and Community • Churches and Leadership • Diversity and Inclusion . Read more about workshops and download the proposal form at reformationproject.org/workshops. Then send in your proposal by the end of the day tomorrow to be considered. And whether you're interested in leading a workshop or not, go ahead and register to join us from November 7-9 if you haven't yet!
Announcing a special conference event: An Evening with Rev. David! . Earlier this year, Kathy Baldock shared an extraordinary story that shed new light on how the term “homosexual” first entered English translations of the Bible in the mid-20th century. . In 1959, a young, gay seminary student named David wrote a letter to the head of the Revised Standard Version biblical translation team challenging the RSV’s use of the word “homosexual” in 1 Corinthians 6:9. . Dr. Luther Weigle, the Dean of Yale Divinity School and the head of the translation committee, wrote back to David and admitted that the RSV translation was wrong—leading to a change in a later version of the RSV to the more generic phrase “sexual perverts” rather than a specific condemnation of gay people. . The letters between David and Dr. Weigle remained buried in the Yale Archives until Kathy and her colleague Ed Oxford found them last year. Remarkably, David is still alive, now over 80 years old and a retired pastor in Canada, and Kathy was able to connect with him after discovering his letter. . She has gotten to know him well since then, and this fall, Kathy and Ed Oxford will join Rev. David for a special event at our Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle. On Friday evening, November 8, TRP will present “An Evening with Rev. David: The Story Behind a Historic Letter About Biblical Translation” to share the story of Rev. David’s life and his historic role in challenging an inaccurate and harmful translation of two key words in the Bible. . Admission to this special event is free for Reconcile and Reform attendees. If you haven’t registered yet, sign up today to join us in Seattle from November 7-9 for what is shaping up to be a wonderful weekend. We can’t wait to see you—and Rev. David—there!
There's just a week left to send in workshop proposals for our Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle this fall! Download the form on our website and submit it by next Tuesday, August 20. There are four categories for workshop proposals: . • Bible and Theology • Family and Community • Churches and Leadership • Diversity and Inclusion . You can read more here: reformationproject.org/workshops. We will do our best to assemble a compelling, diverse lineup of workshops, so send in your proposals by next week if you'd like to be considered!
Prices go up at midnight tonight for The Reformation Project's Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle this fall! Sign up today to join hundreds of affirming Christians for a transformative weekend focused on advancing LGBTQ inclusion in the church in a Christ-centered, Bible-based way: reformationproject.org/conference.
If you're thinking about joining us for our Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle this November 7-9, registration rates rise at the end of the day tomorrow, so sign up now for the best price: reformationproject.org/conference. . Speaking up about LGBTQ inclusion in your church can be daunting and isolating. Through inspiring keynotes from LGBTQ Christian leaders, teaching from respected Bible scholars and theologians, worship, and workshops, the Reconcile and Reform conference will equip and empower you to help advance LGBTQ inclusion in your church in a Bible-based, Christ-centered way. We'll also have special programs for parents and pastors this year. . If you share our love for God, the Bible, and the church and are passionate about LGBTQ inclusion, this is an experience you won't want to miss. See you in Seattle!
There are only five days left to get the best price on tickets to TRP's Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle this November 7-9! . Sign up at reformationproject.org/conference by the end of the day on July 31 to join hundreds of LGBTQ Christians and allies for a transformative weekend together to: • Hear inspiring speakers like Justin Lee, Nicole Garcia, and Pastor Candace Hardnett • Connect, make friends, and worship with other affirming Christians • Learn the biblical case for LGBTQ inclusion • Become equipped to be the most effective advocate for LGBTQ inclusion you can be in your church. . For the first time this year, we'll also have special offerings for both parents and pastors who are navigating the complexity of these conversations in their families and churches. . If you share our love for God, the Bible, and the church and know that the church can and should do better when it comes to LGBTQ people, this is a conference you shouldn't miss. See you in Seattle!
Earlier this week, we announced a new program for parents at this year's Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle: Parents in Process. . Today, we're pleased to share that, in parallel with the parents program, we'll also be hosting Pastors in Process: a private, off-the-record gathering specifically for pastors of non-affirming churches who want to move the conversation on LGBTQ inclusion forward in their churches. Fred Harrell, Senior Pastor of City Church San Francisco, Ken Fong, retired Senior Pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles, and Matthew Vines, TRP's Executive Director, will help to facilitate the gathering. . We've heard from many pastors of non-affirming churches who feel isolated and under-equipped as they seek to foster a more inclusive posture toward LGBTQ Christians in their churches, and we're looking forward to this opportunity to help to change those dynamics. . If you attend a non-affirming church and your pastor is either affirming or sympathetic to this conversation, this would be an ideal gathering for them to attend. Given the sensitive nature of these conversations, participation in the Pastors in Process gathering is not open to public registration. You can visit our website to learn more about the process for receiving an invitation to participate: reformationproject.org/pastors. . Whether you're a pastor or not, remember that there's less than a week left before ticket prices increase for our Reconcile and Reform conference! Sign up before next Wednesday, July 31, to get the best rates and join us in Seattle this fall: reformationproject.org/conference.
Do you have a Christian parent who you deeply desire to see become more supportive and embracing of you as an LGBTQ person? Then invite them to attend Parents in Process, a new daylong program The Reformation Project is holding this fall as part of our Reconcile and Reform conference in Seattle (reformationproject.org/parents). . Greg and Lynn McDonald, authors of the fantastic book "Embracing the Journey: A Christian Parents' Blueprint to Loving Your LGBTQ Child," will lead the program, which is designed for parents who are still wrestling with their questions, doubts, and fears after learning that their child is LGBTQ. . Greg and Lynn share: "As evangelical Christian parents, we were completely unprepared to respond when our son came out. If you could do it wrong, we did. At first, we tried to 'fix' him, to no avail. But even in the earliest days of our journey, we clung to two absolutes: we would love God, and we would love our son. It has been 17 years since then and our learnings have been huge. . "Today, we head up a ministry called Embracing the Journey, where we build bridges between LGBTQ individuals, their families, and the church, even when they seem at odds. We have walked with many hundreds of Christian parents with LGBTQ children, and we are excited to get to spend the day with parents at The Reformation Project’s conference this fall!" . Registration opens today for Parents in Process, which will be held at Plymouth Congregational Church on Thursday, November 7: reformationproject.org/parents. Parents in Process attendees are welcome and encouraged to attend the full Reconcile and Reform conference, which requires separate registration, but they are also welcome to come just for the parents program if they like. We're so looking forward to meeting all the parents who come!

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God and the Gay Christian

Have you read Matthew Vines' book about the Bible and same-sex relationships? Download our study guide to use in small groups.

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