CCV Endorsement for Author and Alumni Ross Murray
We are thrilled to endorse Ross Murray’s brand new book, Made, Known, Loved: developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Youth Ministry, available on April 20th on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble.
Made, Known, Loved shows congregations how to create a program that affirms LGBTQ youth in their faith and their identity, accepts and welcomes diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, and equips future leaders for the church and the LGBTQ community. This book is filled with personal anecdotes of successes, failures, and important learnings. You will learn from Murray’s twenty years of experience doing ministry with LGBTQ youth through The Naming Project.
This book is not LGBTQ apologetics for the Christian crowd. You won’t hear an explanation of Leviticus 18. Instead, you will read scripture passages as it supports a new way to view and include LGBTQ youth in your youth ministry.
This book is not for you if you are still deciding if LGBTQ people are made, known, and loved by God, just as they are. This is for those who recognize the beautiful creation LGBTQ people and how best to minister to them while they are still in the identity-formation stage.
So many influencers and faith leaders have reviewed this fantastic book, including our very own CCV Executive Director and Religion Professor, Dr. Jeremy Myers, saying this book will “expand your congregation’s proclamation of Christ’s good news.”
Ross Teaches at Summer 2021 Augsburg Youth Theology Institute
We are thrilled to welcome Deacon Ross Murray as the instructor the for 2021 Augsburg Youth Theology Institute. He will invite young people into theological conversations about one big question, “what is the rightful place for LGBTQ people in God’s creation”
After decades of fights over human sexuality, LGBTQ people, gender, and gender roles, the church is moving to a place of acceptance, and even advocacy. This year at the institute we are going to look at the role of LGBTQ people in scripture, in our church history, and the faithful advocacy to allow LGBTQ people to be full members of society. We are looking at the events of the past several years through a theological lens, asking what God is doing, and where our discernment can lead us.
We are so excited to announce that every nominator for this year’s Augsburg Youth Theology Institute will receive a copy of Made, Known, Loved. Applications (youth) and nominations(adult mentors) are due on Friday, April 30th, 2021. Questions can be sent to: ayti@augsburg.edu
Apply Now
About Deacon Ross Murray
Deacon Ross Murray is founding director of The Naming Project, a faith-based camp for LGBTQ youth and their allies. He is Senior Director of Education and Training at The GLAAD Media Institute, a producer for the “Yass, Jesus!” podcast, and an ordained deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, called to advocate for LGBTQ people and to provide a bridge between LGBTQ and faith communities.