Resources
We are not meant to walk this journey alone.
As many of us have experienced shifts in our faith and as we reimagine church together, we’ve encountered many spiritual guides along the way. These guides are helping us engage in deep theological reflection, giving us new spiritual practices and helping us love God, ourselves & our neighbors in a deeper way.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but here are some of the people, resources & groups who’ve been great resources.
Authors, speakers & advocates
Kathy Escobar – pastor with The Refuge Christian community, author & blogger
Brian McLaren – author, speaker, activist & public theologian
Jacqui Lewis - Senior Minister for Public Theology and Transformation at Middle Church, NYC
Shane Claiborne – social justice activist, author, speaker & founder of The Simple Way
Rob Bell – author, speaker & former pastor
Nadia Bolz-Weber – founding pastor of House for All Sinners & Saints, writer & speaker
Richard Rohr – Franciscan priest & globally recognized ecumenical teacher, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation
Rachel Held Evans – teacher & writer about faith, doubt & life in the Bible belt. Rachel passed away unexpectedly in 2019.
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove – writer, speaker, founder of the Rutba House & director of the School for Conversion
Lisa Sharon Harper - speaker, writer, activist, artist
Christine Sine – writer & contemplative activist
Jen Hatmaker - writer, teacher, podcast host
Parker Palmer - writer, teacher, founder of the Center for Courage and Renewal
Brian Zahnd - pastor & writer
Father Gregory Boyle - founder of Homeboy Industries
A few podcasts
Everything Happens with Kate Bowler
Learning How to See with Brian McLaren, Richard Rohr & Jacqui Lewis
The Bible for Normal People with Pete Enns
Spiritual Practices
Center for Action and Contemplation
Resources for LGBTQ+ Christians + allies
For The Bible Tells Me So (2007): a documentary following five families with a gay or lesbian son or daughter with commentary from scholars and ministers, including Desmond Tutu.
Torn by Justin Lee
Walking the Bridgeless Canyon by Kathy Baldock
Transforming by Austen Hartke
How We Sleep at Night by Sara Cunningham
Changing Our Mind by David Gushee
God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines
Bible, Gender, Sexuality by James Brownson
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality by Daniel A. Helminiak
The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists
The Liturgists Podcast Episode 20: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liturgists-podcast/id903433534?mt=2&i=1000364440860
Resources for Mental Health Support
Local Therapists and Mental Health Counselors:
Roxanne Louh – licensed psychologist – 904-318-9418 - rklouh@yahoo.com
JD Moorehead, LSCSW – 349-1755
Candice Ster – Clinical Social Work/Therapist, Jacksonville Beach | Psychology Today
Susan Gillespy, LMFT – marriage & family therapist – 904-403-8067
Lou Lothman – marriage & family therapist –- 904-398-2437
Organizations:
Here Tomorrow: Here Tomorrow offers a warm, welcoming physical and virtual space to have conversations about mental health, and receive guidance on what to do if mental health problems are getting in the way of you living your life. They strive to transform lives by building a community where mental healthcare is acceptable and accessible.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
For Veterans: The Fire Watch and Cohen Veterans Network
Talkable Communities (free mental health training resource)
Book, Talks & Other Resources
Books: Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie, The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon, Healing: Our path from mental illness to mental health by Thomas Insel, Modern Madness: An Owner’s Manual by Terri Cheney, Addiction & Grace by Gerald May, Healing through the Dark Emotions by Miriam Greenspan, This is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo.
TED Talk: Depression, The Secret We Share by Andrew Solomon
TheoEd Talk by Mike McHargue: "Wishing for the End: Responding to America's Suicide Crisis"
Modern Love, Season 1 (Episode 2)
Enneagram Resources
For faith shifters longing for new music