Nathan, excellent point about presenting all sides.  I still haven't heard back from the associate pastor.  I'm really praying for God to move in this!

Just for clarification - this is our regular Sunday school class and we want to talk about homosexuality for the 1st 3 weeks in June.  It's not an entire class devoted to support, but that may be something to think about.

By the way, I ordered that book Straight Parents/Gay Children.  We'll be checking out the other resources you mentioned. 

Thanks!!

Hello Mama:

Prayers for you tonight that doors open either at your church or at a venue where you can present God's Love to those Gays who are hurting from being bashed by the conventional church and religion.

All the best

Dave

Update:  I never heard back from the associate pastor today, but I did hear from the senior pastor.  I don't think he's comfortable with us doing the class, but he will not stand in our way.  (When I originally told him about the class, I said something about the hairs on the back of his neck standing up.  When I emailed him again to ask for a reply, I asked if the hairs had laid down.  He said no!  )

The announcement won't be in the church wide bulletin because of space, but I am going to do a flyer to be handed out in the adult Sunday school classes.  Please continue to pray that the ones who need to be there will hear about the class.

We had our first class today and I think it went well.  I talked too fast and rambled, and Teddy was so thoughtful in what he said that he ran out of time.  But we seemed to get very positive responses from people.  I was hoping that others from outside our class would be there, but it was just our class members.

One very good thing was an old member who came after a very long absence.  He came up to me afterward and said that his brother & sister (twins 7 years younger than he) are both gay.  He talked about how much he loved them and how the fact that they are gay doesn't affect that love.  He also works with Boy Scouts.  I had commented that I wish I knew then what I know now, because I could have helped Alan through his struggles.  This man asked me what to say if any of his scouts tell him they are struggling with homosexuality.  (He works with 10 - 12 year olds).  I told him to tell them that no matter what, God still loves them, and that he would still love them.  I told him to be there for them because it's very likely that their parents won't be - at least at first.  I also told him that to tell the boys that 12 may be too young to make that declaration, but that being gay was not a horrible thing.

Next week we will be looking at the "clobber passages".  Keep us in your prayers both as we prepare & next Sunday as we teach!!