As I’m sure you know…
We have
a problem.
Bad beliefs
are hurting people.
Especially those who identify as
LGBTQ
and
bad beliefs
result in bad environments
aka, churches*
*not-fun fact: less than 10% of churches in America are LGBTQ Affirming 😱
When it comes to LGBTQ people (especially youth)
we know that
in non-affirming spaces there exists:
increased health risk behaviors
lower self-esteem
higher psychological distress
poorer emotional wellbeing
psychological trauma
depression
anxiety
ostracization
suicidality
It gets worse…
when there is religiously based efforts to “change or fix” people, it leads to increased:
but there is
Good News
Better
beliefs
leads to
Better
churches
which leads to
Better
well-being
Which is why I do what I do.
Because I’m here for the BETTER.
Hi, my name is
Colby Martin
and I help
people have better theology, and
churches have better practices,
so that
less harm comes to LGBTQ people, and
more people discover the radical love of God.
For the past 12 years,
part of my ministry has involved advocating and teaching better beliefs for the sake of causing less harm to LGBTQ people.
Examples include:
Planting and pastoring a fully inclusive church in San Diego
Publishing UnClobber: Rethinking our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality
Creating online resources that equip people and churches with life-giving theology
But what has been just part of my ministry…
God is now inviting me to make
my full-time work.
In the words of the great Frederick Beuchner,
How do I know this is God’s call?
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and
the world's deep hunger meet.”
What does that look like?
Here’s a few of the ways I embody this ministry…
Training on the clobber passages
Equipping churches working to become Affirming
Coaching pastors and leaders
Creating resources for better beliefs and better practices
Itinerant preaching & pastoring
What does that look like?
Here’s a few of the ways I embody this ministry…
Training on the clobber passages
Equipping churches working to become Affirming
Coaching pastors and leaders
Creating resources for better beliefs and better practices
Itinerant preaching & pastoring
But
here’s
the
reality…
Without the outside support of people and groups who believe in this work,
I cannot meet the increasing demands nor reach those most in need.
Fact #1: Currently I cannot accept almost half of the requests for me to travel and speak, train, preach, and consult because the church or group lacks the resources.
Fact #2: In order to make ends meet I am currently working 4 to 5 jobs at any one time, taking away my best hours and my best Self from this work/ministry.
Which is why
I am searching for people:
who see the problems of a broken church, and who see the ways in which bad theology has caused harm
and I’m asking if they will
join me in helping to meet these needs by supporting me and this ministry.
With the support of people like you, who believe in the importance of this work, I will be able to:
Travel to more places that need training and support
Create resources that equip people and churches
Work to eradicate bad beliefs and replace them with life giving truths
Together we can reach those who need it most.
Need to hear more?
I totally get it… Keep on scrollin’!
or jump to:
Why Me?
“Why should a straight, white, cisgendered male, post-evangelical pastor do this work?”
Good question. Here’s some thoughts on that.
-
We are in this mess (where LGBTQ people have historically been marginalized and discriminated against) because of people like me. Straight men who've made the rules, and taught the theology. I was complicit in this system for years as an evangelical pastor, and now I feel a responsibility to do what I can to set to rights the many wrongs that have been perpetrated.
-
While it's true that some people do not want to hear from men like me (for understandable reasons!), it's also true that for other people it is BECAUSE I am a straight, cisgendered pastor that allows my words and work to land differently for people.
-
UnClobber has been the go-to book for many people and churches since it's publication in 2016. As a result, it opens some doors and establishes trust that I might otherwise not have access to.
-
Due to the fact that I was raised and trained in the evangelical world, I know the language, the tools, and the way to talk about these things so that open-hearted evangelicals might hear it.
-
Without question, I know in my bones that this is work I am being called to, and it is work that I love. Few things compare to the ministry work I do with UnClobber, and with helping liberate people from harmful theology.
Why Now?
It’s a unique time in our culture and in the church world for this exact kind of ministry.
Here’s what I mean…
-
Our society has made massive gains in just the past few years as it relates to better understanding, more representation, and overall increased awareness and equality for LGBTQ people.
-
While it's true that our society has made great gains in this space, it's also true that over the past 8 years we've witnessed a rise in legislative efforts to undo those gains, as well as alarming levels of transphobia and homophobia.
-
It's often been said that the Church is about 20 years behind culture, and that's certainly true of LGBTQ inclusion, as more than 90% of churches in America are still non-affirming.
-
We are seeing more and more churches move to become affirming, as well as more new churches starting as fully inclusive. This means the need for resources and training will only increase in the years to come.
-
...tend to be the churches with the least resources. That's why I'm out here asking you to help me help them.
In summary
While I am by no means special, I am trying to pay attention to the reality that I am uniquely positioned to do this work, and to help fix the church where she’s broken with regards LGBTQ inclusion.
Due to my experience, my background, and my heart for this ministry, and because of my established credibility in this space, I have been afforded certain access and audiences so that I can
Steward my privilege,
Use my gifts and abilities,
and be a conduit of love.
This issue is not going away any time soon. We will continue to need resources (both human and material) to help meet the rising needs of the church and LGBTQ inclusion.
While I’ve been able to accomplish much over the years, in light of just how much work there is yet to do, it simply is not enough.
Which is why I’m asking if you will join me.
I am ready, willing, and able, but I need your help.
What is the Goal?
My goal is to raise enough money (through tax-deductible donations) to be able to make this work my full-time ministry.
With your support I will be able to…
-
Rather than spreading myself thin through 4 to 5 jobs, once I meet my fundraising goal I will be able to give this ministry my best hours and my full Self.
-
The hope is to remove the barrier of finances from churches and groups and individuals that need the kind of support, equipping, training, and encouraging I provide. With the financial backing of people like you, I can say to the under-resourced church, "Don't worry about the finances, I'm supported by people who believe in this work."
-
Integrating their faith and sexuality remains one of the biggest challenges for many LGBTQ people. This ministry helps by replacing bad ideas about God, the Bible, and sexuality, with life-giving and affirming truths.
-
Another significant focus of my ministry is to fellow allies, as well as parents of LGBTQ kids. With your support, I can be more readily accessible to provide coaching, care, and guidance.
-
Being independently supported means that I will have space in my life to write more (I'm currently working on UnClobber Part 2); create more video courses; and overall increase the library of resources for more affirming theology.
“What we dream alone remains a dream. But what we dream with others can become a reality.”
-Edward Schillebeeckx