Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Oklahoma,
and we pray that they may find peace and healing at this difficult time.
May 2013 Newsletter
From the President
 As you surely know, in late April, NBA player Jason Collins came out in a cover article in Sports Illustrated. I frankly was surprised to learn that he was the first major male sports star to do so. My first reaction was that I wish that we lived in a world where an actor, athlete, or politician coming out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, would not be news. I’m sad we don’t live in that world yet.
In the Sports Illustrated interview, Collins said,
"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay. I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.”
He also noted “My parents instilled Christian values in me. They taught Sunday school, and I enjoyed lending a hand. I take the teachings of Jesus seriously, particularly the ones that touch on tolerance and understanding.” So many were inspired with his courage in coming out publicly and I was glad he chose to cite his faith. The response to his interview was overwhelmingly positive, and he even received a call from the White House congratulating him on his decision.
 So it was a shock when hours after the news broke, ESPN sportscaster Chris Broussard said to millions of viewers:
If you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits. It says, you know, that’s a sin. And if you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be—not just homosexuality. Adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be—I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God, and to Jesus Christ. So, I would not characterize that person as a Christian, ’cause I don’t think the Bible would characterize him as a Christian.
Broussard’s statement ignores the fact the Bible does not address modern understandings of sexual orientation, and it disregards the overwhelming witness of scripture for inclusion and welcome of all people. Days after Broussard’s statement, twelve well-known religious leaders published a statement in the Washington Post, noting:
Christians hold a wide variety of viewpoints on human sexuality. It is not necessary, nor is it right, to reject lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people out of hand due to the Christian faith. To do so, misrepresents the ever widening nature of the gospel of Christ, who engaged with those on the margins, and placed in leadership people who were not powerful by worldly standards.
And I knew that the Religious Institute had to respond with a strong message that anti-gay is not Christian. We needed to tell ESPN that just as they would respond immediately to a racist remark by a commentator that they needed to let Broussard know that it was unacceptable to label Collins a sinner on the air. Working with our partners at Groundswell/Auburn seminary, we created a petition that has now been signed by more than 4500 people of faith, including more than 1000 religious leaders, united in their desire that ESPN not allow anti-gay speech to go unchallenged. Thank you to all of you who signed and circulated the petition.
We have now held two meetings with the Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Wellness at ESPN. The President of ESPN has released a much stronger statement than the tepid apology that was released defending Broussard at the beginning of May. We have learned that ESPN does offer diversity training, and it seems clear to us that they want to handle future stories of athletes coming out with greater sensitivity. We have let them know that we can provide them with religious leader spokespersons for future sexuality related stories and have offered to provide training on sexuality and religion to their producers, writers, and on air talent. We are hoping to receive a written response to the delivery of the petition, and will keep you informed.
We are convinced that people of faith raising their voices has made a difference. And I remain convinced that one day, in the not so distant future, we will live in a world that understands that sexual and gender diversity is a blessing and that the sexual orientation of celebrities, whether bisexual, lesbian, gay, or straight, will be unremarkable.
News
 Three More States Recognize Marriage Equality
In May, Rhode Island, Delaware and Minnesota became the latest states to legally recognize marriage equality, bringing the national total to 12 states plus the District of Columbia.
Read more here
Stem Cells Produced From Cloned Human Embryo
On May 15, scientists from the Oregon Health and Science University said they had produced embryonic stem cells from a cloned human embryo, raising the possibility of new regenerative medicinal therapies as well as criticism from Catholic officials.
Read more here
Dramatic Increase in Sexual Assaults in the Military
On May 7, the Pentagon released a survey estimating that the number of sexual assaults in the military jumped from 19,000 in 2010 to 26,000. As people of faith who are called "to see, hear and respond to the suffering caused by sexual abuse and violence against women..." we support Secretary Hagel's plan to hold commanders more accountable for sexual assault.
Read more here
 United Methodist Pastor Faces Charges for Performing Son’s Marriage
Rev. Dr. Thomas Ogletree, a retired United Methodist pastor, retired dean of Yale University Divinity School and former dean at Drew Theological Seminary, will face a church trial as a result of officiating the wedding ceremony of his son. (At right: Rev. Dr. Tom Ogletree and the Religious Institute's Michael Cobb.)
Read more here
Take Action!
Help Stop 20 Week Abortion Ban
Republican Congressman Trent Franks, who recently introduced legislation to outlaw all abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks, has now announced he would soon be amending the bill to apply nationwide. Tell your lawmakers as a person of faith you support safe, legal, and accessible abortion services.
Take action here
New Resources
 Boys and Sex Ed: Beyond Statistics and Stereotypes
This new video from ANSWER gives an introduction to their newest online workshop on boys and sexuality education.
See the video and learn more here
 Have you read the Religious Institute’s A Time To Speak: Sexuality Education and Faith Communities, 3rd Edition? This guidebook affirms the unique role of congregations in providing sexuality education. It explains why religious institutions must be involved in sexuality education; how congregations can provide sexuality education directly; and how congregations can support sexuality education in the community.
Learn more here
Kinsey Reporter App
Kinsey Reporter is a new smartphone app to share, explore, and visualize anonymous data about sexual behavior.
Read more here
 Trust
TRUST is an award-winning documentary that tells the story of an 18-year-old from Honduras who endured rape as young girl, experienced sexual abuse at the hands of her own brother, overcame substance addiction, and healed through the transformative power of art.
Learn more here
Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary Introduces Program on AIDS Competence
The Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA has introduced a certification program on pastoral care on HIV/AIDS.
Read more here
Faithful Voices Network
By J. Michael Cobb
Director, Outreach and Communications
A small group at my United Methodist congregation has been talking about our denominational stance on homosexuality for about a year, and we just expanded this conversation to include the entire congregation. Our group has had many conversations, with many people, but one comment seemed to recur with great frequency.
I would tell a person that I wanted our congregation to be openly welcoming of LGBTQ people. This statement was time and again answered with surprise, the other person saying “Aren’t we already welcoming? After all, we wouldn’t turn away anyone! Why do we need to do anything differently from what we are already doing?”
What a great question!
Here's how I have come to respond:
Well, sure we would never turn anyone away. But why would an LGBTQ person who isn’t already connected to this church community have any reason to know that? We don’t say that anywhere on our web site, in our weekly bulletin or in any public place.
What IS commonly known, though, is that some high-profile Christians oppose equal rights for LGBTQ people. Methodists go beyond that, stating in our polity that homosexuality is ‘incompatible with Christian teaching.’ Given all that, how would LGBTQ people know that they are welcome here?
And this gets the conversation going. Change is hard, and institutional change can be even harder. It requires speaking up and taking the risk that some people won’t like what one has to say. I know how hard it can be to speak up—it took me more than a year to get up the nerve to tell someone else that I wanted our local United Methodist congregation to have a conversation about whether LGBT people would have any reason to feel welcome in our church.
Fairly or not, Christians are seen as having taken a stance against LGBT people, and so it is up to LGBT-affirming Christians to counter this impression as publicly as possible if it is going to change. For that matter, Christians don’t have a monopoly on anti-gay bias. If faith communities are going to move towards sexual justice, people of faith need to have the conversation—about inclusion of LGBT people, and about celebrating the blessings of sexual and gender diversity. For this to happen, however, someone needs to start the conversation. Could it be you?
Religious Institute News
 Rev. Haffner Offers Keynote at PPFA Interfaith Breakfast
President Debra W. Haffner offered the keynote address at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America National Conference Interfaith Breakfast. Because the President of the United States spoke later that morning, Haffner was able to address more than 1,000 Planned Parenthood executives from the President’s bulletproof podium (a first for her!). PPFA President Cecile Richards wrote Haffner, “Your words were inspiring and it meant so much to have you share the special day with us…I am so grateful for your extraordinary leadership and look forward to continuing this critical work with you.”
 Two New Seminaries are Designated as Sexually Healthy and Responsible: List Now Totals 27
Congratulations to Eden Theological Seminary and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary as the newest seminaries to meet the designation as a sexually healthy and responsible seminary.
This brings the number of seminaries in the United States that have now met the Religious Institute's criteria of a sexually healthy and responsible seminary to twenty-seven, up from just ten in 2009.
The updated list of Sexually Healthy and Responsible Seminaries is here.
Call for Sexuality Course Outlines
The Religious Institute offers a database of course syllabi on sexuality-related topics by outstanding academics and theologians. If you are currently teaching at a graduate theological institution, please consider sharing your latest syllabi as part of our ongoing efforts promoting institutions to become more sexually healthy and responsible, and encouraging more classes on sexuality at graduate theological institutions.
Click here to see the broad range of subject areas covered and to view syllabi
Click here to share your syllabus
 Reviews for Meditations on the Good News: Reading the Bible for Today
For those of you who have read and enjoyed Rev. Haffner’s new book Meditations on the Good News: Reading the Bible for Today, please consider leaving a review on its Amazon page.
Several excerpts from the book are available here.
You can purchase the book here.
Thank You For Your Support!
The Religious Institute would like to thank the Moriah Fund for their recent grant award. We are grateful for their contributions to our shared work!
Religious Institute on the Road
May 26, 2013, The Unitarian Church in Westport, Connecticut
President Rev. Debra Haffner will be preaching at the worship service.
More information here
May 26, 2013, Fort Montgomery United Methodist Church, Fort Montgomery, New York
Director of Outreach and Communications Michael Cobb will be preaching on Peace With Justice Sunday at the 9:30am service.
More information here
May 26, 2013, United Methodist Church of the Highlands, Highland Falls, New York
Michael Cobb will be preaching on Peace With Justice Sunday at the 11:00am service.
More information here
 June 1, 2013, Queer First: Spirit of Pride, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York, NY
Acting Deputy Director Marie Alford-Harkey will be exhibiting at this celebration of LGBTQIA youth, their families and allies.
More information here
June 8, 2013, Christ Episcopal Church, Norwich, CT
Marie Alford-Harkey will present a workshop titled “Believe Out Loud,” that will help attendees to speak to people in their church or judicatory about why it is important to welcome and include LGBT people in the life of church communities.
Learn more here
June 20, 2013, Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly, Louisville, KY
Rev. Debra Haffner will present a workshop titled “Sexually Responsible and Safer Congregations” at 3:30pm, followed by a signing of her new book Meditations on the Good News: Reading the Bible for Today.
Read more here
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