Welcome ...

to the Transforming Congregations website.

If you care about what's happening in our culture and the Church around the issues of sexuality -- and if you want to do something about it -- and if you think that it's more important to reach out in love than to simply make statements ... then you've come to the right place.

Because we want to help you make a difference -- in your own life, in your local congregation and in your world.

Churches are facing some of the most difficult questions of our times, and the world is watching to see how they will answer. Will Christians be a winsome and convincing witness for purity in a sexually permissive society? And what will we do with the sexually confused, broken and sinful in our midst?

For far too many churches the answer is rejection and exclusion. Harsh and condemnatory words are heard from the pulpit, church leadership projects a "holier than thou" attitude, and folk quickly get the message that their particular sins are outside the realm of God's grace.

Or churches settle for silence and denial. That doesn't affect us here, whatever that might be. Sexual addiction ... pornography ... homosexuality ... infidelity ... promiscuity. Maybe if we don't talk about it, it will just go away.

Help for Churches and Leaders

Ministry Resources

"Forward into Ministry" Equipping Workshops for Clergy and Lay

Ministry Leaders

News

and

Commentary

Karen's book excerpted in Good News Magazine - "Outsider Influence and UMC Pro-Gay Activism"

March 2012 Newsletter

"Update on Book Project"

"Preparing for General Conference in Tampa"

"Schism in the Mainline"

"Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Freedom"

Given those choices, is it any wonder that many kind-hearted people opt for uncritical acceptance? At least there's a smidgen of compassion in that response.

But Scripture tells us that there is another choice, a more hopeful, holy and loving choice -- and that choice is transformation. God's grace is so amazing that even the most deeply rooted sexual sin can be overcome. And even the most painful sexual brokenness can be healed.

As you explore our website, we hope you and your church will begin to live out that truth in love.

It is God's will ...

that you should be sanctified;

that you should avoid sexual immorality;

that each of you should learn to control his own body

in a way that is holy and honorable,

not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.

... For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God,

who gives you his Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5,7-8 (NIV)