Our Widening The Circle Forums are a means for our congregation, neighborhood, and broader community to explore in a creative manner critical issues of diversity, hospitality, and inclusiveness.  This is part of our commitment to be an Open & Affirming, Anti-Racist/Pro-Reconciling, and Accessible Congregation.

The Widening The Circle Forums are usually planned on a monthly basis and include a creative or interactive element (film, speaker, interactive exercises, etc.) ample time for discussion, and refreshments.  There is never a charge, and suggestions for future topics, speakers, films are always encouraged.

November 15, 2011 @ 7:00 p.m.

November Widening The Circle Forum To Show “Kinky Boots”

November’s Widening The Circle Forum will again be a movie with discussion. On Thursday, November 17 at 7 p.m. we will watch the movie “Kinky Boots.” This British PG-13 film explores tradition, change and transformation, and the power of taking a chance on supporting those who are different, diverse, and even marginalized.

Inspired by a true story, Charlie Price is a Londoner who is stuck with his dad’s failing shoe company when his father passes away. Charlie is inspired by a local drag queen named Lola and starts a sassy new line of “kinky boots” in an effort to save the company. The results are as hilarious as they are poignant!

There is no charge, and there will be light refreshments. The movie and discussion will last just about 2 hours. We will gladly provide childcare, however you must call ahead by at least 24 hours so that we can make arrangements.
Widening The Circle Forums are part of the larger dialogue in our congregation and community about diversity, hospitality, and inclusiveness. For more information on the film, go to:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434124/
 

For information on transgender persons, go to the great Cleveland organization, TransFamily, online at: http://www.transfamily.org/

October 20, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.

Widening The Circle Forum: The Color Of Friendship
Great For Adults – Youth – Children – Everyone!
Thursday, October 20th
Light Meal @ 6:30 p.m.
Movie & Discussion @ 7 p.m.

Join us to watch this delightful, and yet thought-provoking, family friendly film, The Color Of Friendship (2000, Disney), as we explore relationships that cross boundaries of race, nationality, and culture. A guided discussion will follow.

The film was based on a short story called "Simunye" written by the real-life Piper Dellums (daughter of U.S. Congressman Ron Dellums) about a South African girl named Carrie coming to stay with her family. The Color Of Friendship won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program in 2000 and an NAACP Image Award in 2001.

As always, our Widening The Circle Forums are free, there is ample parking, and child care is available if you call ahead before the day of the event.
 

November 17, 2011 @ 7 p.m.

November Widening The Circle Forum To Show “Kinky Boots”

November’s Widening The Circle Forum will again be a movie with discussion. On Thursday, November 17 at 7 p.m. we will watch the movie “Kinky Boots.” This British PG-13 film explores tradition, change and transformation, and the power of taking a chance on supporting those who are different, diverse, and even marginalized.

Inspired by a true story, Charlie Price is a Londoner who is stuck with his dad’s failing shoe company when his father passes away. Charlie is inspired by a local drag queen named Lola and starts a sassy new line of “kinky boots” in an effort to save the company. The results are as hilarious as they are poignant!

There is no charge, and there will be light refreshments. The movie and discussion will last just about 2 hours. We will gladly provide childcare, however you must call ahead by at least 24 hours so that we can make arrangements.

Widening The Circle Forums are part of the larger dialogue in our congregation and community about diversity, hospitality, and inclusiveness.

Widening The Circle Forum Seeking Your Ideas

The monthly Widening The Circle Forums have been extremely well received and have raised some very good discussions around topics of diversity, inclusiveness, and hospitality. They have not, however, been consistent in both their implementation and participation. So, we are going to you, the congregation and community, to see what ideas you have for Forums this year, both for topics and speakers/movies, as well as for ways to bring more people to the table for conversation,which is critical to the format.

The stated purpose of the WTC Forums is: “Our Widening The Circle Forums are a means for our congregation, neighborhood, and broader community to explore in a creative manner critical issues of diversity, hospitality, and inclusiveness. This is part of our commitment to be an Open & Affirming, Anti-Racist/Pro-Reconciling, and Accessible Congregation.” Additional commitments include: “The Widening The Circle Forums are usually planned on a monthly basis and include a creative or interactive element (film, speaker, interactive exercises, etc.) ample time for discussion, andrefreshments. There is never a charge, and suggestions for future topics, speakers, films are always encouraged.”

So, what input do you have regarding the Forums? You can call, mail, e-mail, or come in and have a conversation with Pastor Allen. Specific ideas on interactive discussion starters (speakers, movie clips, simulation games, etc.) are strongly encouraged!

Contact Pastor Allen at PastorAllen@FranklinCircleChurch.org

Extensive Resources Section Below

Archives of Past WTC Forums Here

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For An Archive Of Many More Of Our Past Forums, Click HERE!
 

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Resources On Hospitality, Inclusiveness, and Diversity

Articles  ~  Websites  ~  Books/Journals  ~  DVD/Videos  ~  Other Resources

Articles:

Diversity among congregrants is essential to hearing a full Gospel
Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 15, 2010

To read this story online, go to: http://www.cleveland.com/religion/index.ssf/2010/05/multicultural_congregations_be.html

By Mark Rollenhagen
 

We all know the good Samaritan story, right?  You don't have to be religious to know that the moral of the story is that if we come across someone in need, we should help out them out.  But an interesting thing happened many years ago when missionaries read that Bible story in Tanzania.  For those Africans, the moral of the story was that God sends help in surprising and unexpected ways. They didn't identify with the passers-by who, except for the Samaritan, didn't try to help. They identified with the guy in the ditch.

That's how a seminary professor once explained how culture, social location and other factors influence how we hear Scripture.  It's also a good example of how narrowly we experience Scripture -- and how limited our understanding is -- when we read it and hear it only among people like ourselves.

On Sunday, May 23, Christians will observe Pentecost by again reading the story in Acts in which the Holy Spirit comes over Jesus' followers and they begin to speak and be understood in all languages.  It's a good time to remember that multiculturalism is not some new liberal movement in the Christian church. It is the birthright and the sustenance of a church born at Pentecost.  As historian and theologian Justo Gonzalez has put it: "What happened at Pentecost was that at the very moment of its birth, the church was crossing cultural boundaries."  Gonzalez and others have suggested that diversity in worship communities is essential to hearing a fuller Gospel.

Ronald Byars, a Presbyterian professor who has written about the importance and the conflict involved in multicultural worship, says we suffer when we limit worship practices to those things that suit our personal tastes.  "When any of us ask that liturgy be reduced to the dimensions of our experience and our comprehension, we are asking for a smaller Gospel, " Byars wrote in his "The Future of Protestant Worship."

The history of mainline Christian denominations over the past few decades is largely one of unsuccessful attempts to build community among aging European congregations and other cultures.  We hear the Gospel more fully when we hear it and talk about it among people of different backgrounds and life situations.  People of all colors and hues.  Able-bodied and wheelchair-bound.  Men and women.  Gay and straight.  Rich and poor.  Young and old, and everyone in between.

On Saturday, May 22, on the eve of Pentecost, about two dozen small congregations from diverse communities will gather at Hope Lutheran Church in Cleveland Heights for a conference called "Diversity in the Church: Lessons Learned."  It's an ecumenical gathering of congregations from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church.  They will celebrate diversity -- the full breadth of diversity -- as a gift that helps us hear a fuller Gospel, and they will consider the challenges of proclaiming the Gospel in multicultural communities.

So often "diversity" is something that old, mainline Protestant congregations turn to as a desperate attempt to stay alive in communities where the racial makeup has changed sharply.  They try to bring in African-Americans, Asian-Americans or Latinos, whoever might help fill the empty pews and balance the church budget.  Those efforts almost always fail to bring in people or they ignite conflict that blows up a congregation.

If historic Protestants are to have a future, they must return to the Pentecost idea of a faith that jumps cultural boundaries and reclaim an identity of a church in which diverse people worshiping together hear -- and share -- a fuller gospel.

~ Rollenhagen is a student at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus and a pastoral intern at Hope Lutheran Church in Cleveland Heights as part of his preparation for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Our diversity can once again be our strength: Message of Faith
by The Rev. Louise Westfall
Cleveland Plain Dealer ~ Saturday May 16, 2009
To read this article online, go to: http://www.cleveland.com/religion/index.ssf/2009/05/our_diversity_can_once_again_b.html

The Rev. Louise Westfall (left)
Westfall is senior pastor of Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights.


The City of Hope.

Cleveland became known by this name at the turn of the 19th century because of the way it welcomed a burgeoning immigrant population attracted to its abundant manufacturing jobs, strong neighborhoods and good schools, and an ethic that valued hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, faith and community good.

Today, more than 100 years later, those are still our shaping values, and ones that will help us welcome and hope, even as we struggle through economic hardship.

How ironic, then, that the very characteristic once enhancing Cleveland's vitality among American cities has become a stumbling block to its growth and resilience.

Our region is characterized by deep divisions by race and socio-economic status, ZIP code and school system. Too often, suburban communities have been pitted against each other -- and the urban core -- for resources and services and power.

Fear has dominated politics and civic initiatives: fear of the "other;" fear that "they" will claim more than their fair share; fear that there really aren't enough resources to go around; fear that hard-won gains will be lost. Fear has diminished our community's capacity to perceive diversity as a strength and rich source of creative perspectives and wisdom with which to seek solutions to our shared ills.

It doesn't have to be that way. Our religious traditions are united in claiming faith as an antidote to fear. From the natural world we see that greater diversity actually yields greater stability. A wider spectrum of voices introduces new ideas to persistent problems. A broader, more inclusive range of ideas produces more flexibility to deal with changing global realities.

Opening windows and doors to diverse people allows fresh breezes to blow upon entrenched systems and worn-out ways. If you believe that "need" is Cleveland's greatest commodity, you haven't listened closely enough to Cleveland's creative and compassionate citizens.

Why not seek the diverse voices of those in Cleveland's temples, mosques, churches and houses of worship to contribute ideas and perspectives in pursuit of a thriving metropolitan region? All over the region, these conversations are yielding positive results on a local level.

For example, a small group of Cleveland Heights parents and grandparents wondered how their church might help provide after-school alternatives for community youth. With seed money from church members, they bought a closed church building and recruited the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland to establish their outstanding after-school program in that site.

The project grew with the support of dozens of faith communities, businesses, civic leaders, public schools, foundations and individuals. Today the program is thriving, with more than 500 young people engaged in positive learning experiences that will help them realize their enormous potential.

We know how effective collaboration is locally. Now it's time to tap the multitude of local faith resources on behalf of the whole metropolitan region.

What if every faith community dedicated a month of focus to consideration of core values and how they might be applied toward building a sustainable metropolitan region? Imagine a huge interfaith worship service in a public space such as the downtown Mall or Wade Oval to witness to our shared commitment.

Resistance to change might be overcome by the force of moral authority encouraging new initiatives and outlooks. The ice jam of fear might be broken, and Cleveland could stand with arms outstretched in welcome, once more the city of hope.

Archive Of Past Years' Forums Click HERE

To see an outline of Pastor Allen's Keynote at Advance Conference, go to the Widening The Circle Page by clicking HERE!

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Pastor Allen's Keynote at Advance Conference this year was all about Divinity & Diversity.  Check it out!

Saturday, August 16, 2008
“Divinity & Diversity…What Now?” Unity In Our Diversity/ Diversity And Beyond”

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“They Are There”  by, Janelle Eccleston

     By and large, this essay emerges from my personal experiences in life.  In spite of the obstacles I have begun to overcome-- or quite possibly because of them-- I am learning to be my best self.  I have experienced a great range of situations.  I am a daughter, sister, mom, grandmother, friend, a nurse by profession (not practicing), a neighbor, a long-term survivor of HIV, a sinner, and now by the grace of God, a Disciple of Christ.
     Receiving all of God's goodness inside myself allows gratitude to take over.  One dictionary's definition of gratitude is “thankful appreciation.”  The Bible is full of examples of gratitude and grateful people.  Often the term “thanksgiving” is used. Frequently thanksgiving leads to witnessing: Psalm 107:1-2 (KJV) says, "Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so...”  Today I choose to witness my faith in Christ by stressing the message that Jesus made apparent in his actions and His works, as well as His words.  Every person is worthy of love.  Love is central to the teachings of Jesus.  “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 RSV ).
     The opening lines of Genesis state “God created Heaven and earth,” and this is followed later by, “And all that God created was good.”  Because Jesus was God's son he reached out to all... the poor, the oppressed, the blind; he healed lepers, and he even forgave a prostitute.  His ministry focused on and was concerned with justice and righteousness.  Jesus took time for other people.  He was never “too busy.”  He took time to listen to people.  Recently Pastor Allen challenged us to be more like Christ, by, “just being.”  I am giving my best effort to rise to the challenge.   It certainly deserves every effort I can make, even if I may fail. 
     It has only been recently as I learn to relate with others in the body of Christ that I have found out how unloving I can actually be.  How many times have I been “too busy” and passed someone by? How many times have I inadvertently not really just listened? Do I know how to just be present?
     Recently during a car trip with my youngest adult daughter Leesa, we were discussing some of the problems in her life.  At some point in the conversation, annoyed and perplexed, my daughter confronted me about past times when I had not listened to her feelings.  I was hurt by her words.  However after some reflection, I came to the conclusion that I was glad my daughter loved me enough to confront me and make me aware of my behavior.  This writing is not intended to condemn.   It is merely an encouragement for us all to take off the blinders that may obstruct all possibility of seeing wider visions.  Its intention is for us to learn to think
beyond our programmed prejudices.  Being a member of one minority does not excuse us from endeavoring to reach out to those in another socially defined minority. 
     When I was in treatment for drug addiction the program was one of confrontational means, calling each other out on our behaviors, denial, lies, etc.  There was a saying we used; “If it doesn't apply, let it fly.”  I would like to employ this phrase in my essay today.
     I am proud to belong to a multicultural fellowship of faith!  The community surrounding our church is a mosaic of cultures.  The building itself is beautiful and the huge sanctuary just seems to pull you in.  When I see the empty seats on Sunday I feel a sense of personal responsibility to help fill some of them.  However, just feeling doesn't fill them.  It is only by action that I can live up to this responsibility.      
     I tend to only bring other family members with me to church…  people who are more or less, just like me… people I love… people who, for selfish reasons, I would like to see grow in faith and accept Christ.  There is nothing wrong with this per se, but I don't know why I only shower my love and affection on those I already love.  What I do know is that we can't limit our love and concern to only those inside our own families and inside the church.  Jesus said, “...don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors.  For they will repay you by inviting you back.  Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind” (Luke 14: 12-13 NLT).
   It seems so easy to stay focused on our own little worlds and forget that there is a much bigger world all around us.  Our faith must improve the entire community, not just our individual lives.  We are a church all hours of the week, not just Sundays. We all need to take our faith out of our church and into practice in our community.  Too often we crave the comfort of the familiar.  We must leave our comfort zones.  When I read the Gospels I feel challenged by Jesus who committed himself to those whom society has forgotten or found of little value - the poor, the oppressed, those who have no voice, those who have often not had the advantage of education. 
     There are many opportunities to help the lonely, depressed, oppressed, and less fortunate.  Look in the community that surrounds your church.  They are there.   Look in the community you live in.  They are there.  Look in your place of employment or in the schools you attend.  They are there.  You just have to find them.
     How do I find them, one might ask? Chances are if they are a minority race or culture they have been victim to racism and discrimination at some time.  I do not pretend to understand what the world looks like through a Black person's eyes, because I am not black.  But I have felt the pain of prejudice.  On a city bus in Miami Florida, I had my then small, olive-skinned, curly headed daughter Jada with me.  An absolutely angelic little blonde-haired girl with china-blue eyes, about the same age as my daughter, took a seat next to her and engaged her in playful conversation.  Immediately, her mother whisked her up from the seat and carried her to a seat toward the back of the bus.  I can still remember vividly my daughter's questioning face, and the little girls, wondering, perhaps, what she had done wrong? This is how we "program" our young.  Children do not see differences; they are pointed out to them.
    The color of one's skin, or country of one's origin, are not the only way we begin to socially malign others.  People who suffer from mental illness are often shrouded in anxiety, shame, and isolation.   Families who are often their caretakers find themselves isolated as well.  Gays and lesbians are experiencing unequal justice in our community.  Bigotry and intolerance continue to run rampant in our streets.  Fear and intolerance help to breed violence.
     We as a church community should reject any effort to place any individual or group of people outside of the human community.  As a Christ-centered church, before we get judgmental about anyone else, we need to stand in front of a mirror.  See your face in the face of strangers.  Most likely there are more commonalities than differences.  Sometimes our commonness just comes in different packages.  Isn't a gift, still a gift, no matter how it is wrapped? We can acknowledge our differences while striving to appreciate the contributions each of us brings.  Judgment is not our job, it is always God's.  Matthew 7:1 (KJV) says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”  We are all children of God.  We are not just individuals, we are meshed--a woven tapestry of many colors, shapes and textures.  The body of Christ is   
"knitted together" in love (Colossians 2:2 NASB).  The different gifts we each bring enrich the fabric of community.
     When my granddaughter Imani was four years old, the Head Start program she attended celebrated the children's graduation at the end of the year with a Pee-Wee Prom.  The event included being picked up and transported to the prom in a limousine.  The day of the event her mother had to work and her father was not present in her life at the time.  I carefully dressed her in her fancy dress and got her ready to attend.  She was so excited, and I felt a little glum that I was the only one there to share her excitement.  She wanted to show off her attire and delight with others, so I allowed her to knock on several apartment doors of some residents I knew casually.  It so happened at the time, that I lived in a building that subsidized housing for HIV/AIDS residents; it also happened at the time the majority of the residents were Gay men.  By the time Imani reached the front porch where the limo was to pick her up, 5 or 6 of the men were lined up to see her off!  The men knew how important the event was to her without her having to say so.  They participated in her joy by “just being present.” There was a sort of communal accountability in that apartment building; a place which was full of people torn apart by financial misfortune and disease, and yet it was an accountability which endured the entire time I resided there.  To my astonished embarrassment, several of the men thanked me, for allowing them to be a part of her special day!
     What an encouraging resolution Pastor Allen has made (to make himself more present in our community and outreach programs)!  These are the places we can all begin to create an environment that is receptive to both people and ideas different from our own.  Just by being there and opening our arms to receive people with love can make all the difference in someone else's life.  We have to resist the temptation to solely love by doing.  Just be there.  Learn to listen to other's pain and losses.  Find out what hurts them deeply, then tell them you love them.  Accept their weaknesses.  Listen to someone and most likely that person will tell you who they really are, using their own definition, rather than yours.  Sometimes we may become discouraged by a lack of what we perceive as results, however when we make ourselves available to others with the same acceptance and love that Jesus demonstrated, it is then that God takes over and our job is done.
    Jesus didn't preach the Gospels to tell us to be cookie-cutter images of each other; he didn't tell us to act alike, think alike, always agree, or even worship alike.  He told us to love God and one another.  The church of Jesus Christ is to be inclusive.  Let's make Franklin Circle Christian Church a safe harbor for all.  It is one of the richest sources of legacy we can leave with our already rich church heritage.  Wouldn't it be rousing to hear this response to someone's cry, "I don't feel safe anywhere I go!" ...with finger pointed toward FCCC, “They are there!”
 

Websites:

aha! training and educational resources about poverty

http://www.ahaprocess.com/

Teaching Tolerance of the Southern Poverty Law Center

http://www.tolerance.org/index.jsp

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Reconciliation Mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliaton)

http://www.reconciliationmission.org/

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Just Neighbors Curriculum ~ Poverty Awareness ~ Interfaith Hospitality Network

http://www.justneighbors.net/

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Accessible Congregations Campaign

of the National Organization For Disabilities

www.nod.org/religion/index.cfm

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Americans With Disabilities Act

www.ada.gov/

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Free Translation Service

www.freetranslation.com

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http://www.gaychurch.org/index.html

An affirming gay Christian (GLBT) site dedicated to ... "Building (ALL) the Body of Christ in Love!"

Gay Church is a web site dedicated to ministering to the gay and lesbian Christian community (GLBT) and friends of our community. We feature one of the largest gay and lesbian welcoming Christian church directories and bulletin boards in the world. Network with other homosexual Christians!
 

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"National Center for Transgender Equality: Home"

http://www.nctequality.org/

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Middle Collegiate Church/New York City

Multicultural Ministry

http://www.middlechurch.org/multicultural/index.htm

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http://roadtofreedom.org/cs/home

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Check out this online video:  http://www.perrythepeacock.com

Books & Journals:

!!! THIS SERIES BY ERIC LAW IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY PASTOR ALLEN!!!:

The Wolf Shall Dwell With the Lamb
A Spirituality for Leadership in a Multicultural Community

by Eric F. H. Law

In this first of his books on multiculturalism, Law uses a combination of theology and cultural anthropology to explore how certain cultures consciously and unconsciously dominate in multicultural situations and what can be done about it.

"This book is foundational for anyone involved in multicultural ministry. I know from experience that the principles and tools Eric Law offers here are invaluable for growing congregations in a context of diversity."
     -The Right Reverand Catherine S. Roskam, Bishop Suffragan of New York

Price: $16.99
Online Price: $11.55
click on the image to order from Chalice Press Bookstore

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The Bush Was Blazing But Not Consumed
Developing a Multicultural Community
Through Dialogue and Liturgy

by Eric F.H. Law

Creating a workable multicultural community isn't easy. You need understanding and sensitivity-and the techniques and processes this book can teach you.

In The Wolf Shall Dwell With the Lamb, Rev. Law explores the dynamics of multicultural misunderstandings and how different cultures perceive and use power. Here, Law builds on that by showing how to work with those dynamics to create a truly inclusive community.

Price: $16.99
Online Price: $12.74
click on the image to order from Chalice Press Bookstore
 

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The Word at the Crossings
Living the Good News in a Multicontextual Community

by Eric F.H. Law

Law encourages us to stop denying the conflicts that arise out of the differences within us and among us and to allow differing perspectives to affirm, enrich, or challenge one another. He proposes practical disciplines, models, and techniques, and includes appendices for Christian educators and pastors.

The Word at the Crossings also includes many of the short plays that Rev. Law incorporates into his workshop presentations.

Price: $18.99
Online Price: $14.81
click on the image to order from Chalice Press Bookstore

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Inclusion
Making Room for Grace

by Eric F.H. Law

In this book, Law defines and explores "the inclusive community of God," what it means, and how we can move toward inclusivity in our lives and our congregations. It includes appendices and diagrams, as well as a short play.

"There is much here that should be put into practice at once in congregations, and it is supported with a remarkably accessible biblical and theological framework-material that might be put to excellent use in adult education programs."
      -David Esterline, Dean of the Faculty and Vice-President for Academic Affairs McCormick Theological Seminary

Price: $16.99
Online Price: $12.74
click on the image to order from Chalice Press Bookstore
 

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Sacred Acts, Holy Change
Faithful Diversity and Practical Transformation

by Eric F.H. Law

Offering practical guidelines for transformation, Sacred Acts, Holy Change challenges readers to not just read and hear about the theology of change, but to actually live it! Law teaches us how to apply the techniques and theories of his extensive work, spelling out the processes for achieving genuine transformation in a congregation attempting to be multiculturally inclusive.

Law takes readers on a Process for Planned Change.  Read it with other church leaders and be transformed.

Online Price: $16.99
click on the image to order from Chalice Press Bookstore

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The God Box by Alex Sanchez

"Alex Sanchez evokes the crucifying experience of adolescents wrestling with their sexual identity and their identity as Christians. He does a remarkably faithful job of opening up long-abused biblical passages often used as proof texts to denigrate homosexuality. This book is a gift not just to teenagers, but to those who love and work with them."
--The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church
 

High-school senior Paul has dated Angie since middle school, and they're good together: they have a lot of the same interests, like singing in their church choir, and being active in Bible club. But when a new boy, Manuel, transfers to their school, Paul has to rethink his life. Manuel is the first openly gay teen anyone in their small town has ever met, and yet he says he's also a committed Christian. Talking to Manuel makes Paul reconsider thoughts he has kept hidden, and listening to Manuel's interpretation of Biblical passages on homosexuality causes Paul to re-evaluate everything he believed. Manuel's outspokenness triggers dramatic consequences at school, culminating in a terrifying situation that leads Paul to take a stand.

From The God Box:

"I wasn't sure who was crazier, him or me. During prayers one night, I'd ask forgiveness for hanging out with Manuel, but the next day I'd thank Jesus for bringing him into my life. I couldn't stop thinking about Manuel, and every time I stormed away from him, swearing never to return, five minutes later I wanted to come running back. How could I choose between my sexuality and my spirituality, two of the most important parts that made me whole?"

Lambda Literary Award-winning author Alex Sanchez tackles a subject ripped from headlines in this exciting and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be both religious and gay.


 

DVD/Videos

Other Kinds Of Resources

Celebrate Kwanzaa!

December 26 - January 1

Click on the photo above to find a helpful Kwanzaa resource from our partners at the United Church of Christ!