RENEWING CHRISTIANITY
THE HIGHER GROUND CURRICULUM
A SIX WEEK FACILITATED CONVERSATION WITH SCRIPTURE AND BLACK
CHURCH TRADITION CONCERNING THE INTERSECTION OF LESBIAN
AND GAY RELATIONSHIPS AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY   
 
Currently one of the most controversial intersections of contemporary cultural life and Christianity is
the issue of marriage equality, regardless of sexual orientation.  Up until now, reactionary groups,
who oppose marriage equality, have largely controlled the public conversation regarding
Christianity and sexual orientation.

In response, Renewing Christianity has launched the Renewing Marriage Project to engage in a
grassroots conversation with churches and community groups concerning the positive spiritual
value of gay and lesbian relationships in a Christian context.  Currently, we are developing a set of
curricula to assist churches that are seeking to transition from an anti-gay paradigm to an affirming
one.  These curricula offer relevant theological resources to congregations that engage them in
their cultural and theological context with a particular focus on biblical theology prominent in
evangelical faith communities.  

In partnership with the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a non-profit that advocates for gay
human rights in the black community, we have nearly completed our first curriculum, the Higher
Ground Training Manual, a theological education tool for Black Protestant churches.  This
curriculum explains the spiritual value of recognizing and supporting gay and lesbian people in the
life of the Black church and doing so authentically within a biblical and evangelical Christian
paradigm.  The curriculum was presented to at a clergy conference in April of this year to great
acclaim.  It is clear that the training manual represents a long awaited move forward in theological
resources available to churches in transition.

For information on what others who are already doing this work in the Black Christian community
are saying about this project  click
here and here.  

If you are interested in supporting this project please make a tax exempt donation:
As part of our Renewing Marriage Project, we will host the following educational
events this fall:

In September: In partnership with the NBJC, engage in two local church training forums for
marriage equality activists in California during the month of September about the content of our
curriculum, and how to discuss the positive spiritual value of gay and lesbian marriages.  

In October: In partnership with the NBJC, host public town hall discussions at three California
universities for students, faculty and the general public in the month of October.


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