Our Heart for All People
At Restoration Church we affirm the God Image “Imago Dei” of All People.
(Genesis 1:26)
We believe All People regardless of racial, socio-economic position, physical/ mental ability, gender identity, sexual orientation and relational status, are invited to the table of Jesus, included in the ministry of the Church, and affirmed in our community.
(Galatians 3:26-27)
As a community we commit to be united around Jesus, even when our beliefs are not always uniform, because the Kingdom of God is bigger than any one of us, but belongs to every one of us.
(Ephesians 4:3-6)
We trust the power of the Holy Spirit and the sovereignty of God to lead His people, while we embrace our call to love All People.
(1 John 4:7-8)
We desire for Restoration to be a place of healing, belonging and safety for our queer siblings, for them to experience the transformational love of Jesus here. We confess that the global Church has not loved the LGBTQ+ community as Jesus does. We desire to be part of the restorative work to see a fuller expression of God’s Kingdom. We desire for All People to be Fully Alive and Forever Free because of their relationship with Christ.
(Acts 8:26-40)
In terms of human sexuality, we believe God’s heart is revealed through the scriptures. We hold to biblical integrity and encourage a biblical sexual ethic for all couples. Sexual intimacy is intended for a committed, life-long, Covenantal marriage relationship between two people.
(1 Corinthians 6:9-20)
The church should reflect the grace and truth of the gospel message and point Jesus followers to love and lead like Christ. As His body, we set the table for those who are curious, skeptical or reconstructing in their faith journey.
(Acts 15:9,19)
Restoration is not simply a church experience or a spiritual statement. Restoration is a way of life, partnering with God to confront our deepest divisions, express mercy, work towards unity, and mend what has been broken.
God cares deeply about injustice and suffering and He has empowered the Church to be a part of the transformation of lives, and restoration of SHALOM (peace). We participate in this mission by LEARNING (walking humbly), ENGAGING (acting justly), and SERVING (loving mercy). This is the way we rebuild our neighborhoods, the city, and this world.
(Micah 6:8)
We are thankful that you’ve landed here. This is designed to be a space to learn more, and to intentionally move towards love and action.
Resources for Further Exploration
Below are resources that we recommend to explore both the affirming and the traditional view of sexuality. We encourage you to read from both points of view so that we can better understand the Bible, better accommodate those who hold a different theology than we do, and better represent the love of Jesus as a community to those who are watching us.
If you have any questions or need additional recommendations, feel free to email us at [email protected].
"Guiding Families of LGBTQ+ Love Ones" by Bill Henson
Guiding Families of LGBT+ Loved Ones: The Essentials Edition offers a relationally honoring, biblically sound guidance for Christian pastors and parents when an LGBTQ+ loved one comes out. Filled with practical, ready-to-use relational tips; answers to common questions; and explorations of grief, parental influence, and relational care. This is a great place to start if you are exploring this topic for the first time.
(Traditional Viewpoint)
"Changing our Mind" by Dr. David P. Gushee
Arguably America's leading Christian ethicist, Gushee walks us through a principled discussion, with a careful study of context and biblical language, that is respectful of traditionalists while calling for inclusion and the end of contempt.
(Affirming Viewpoint)
"People to Be Loved" by Preston Sprinkle
Preston Sprinkle challenges those on all sides of the debate to consider what the Bible says and how we should approach the difficult questions such as how should the church treat people in the LGBTQ community.
(Traditional Viewpoint)
"God and the Gay Christian" by Matthew Vines
Unique in its affirmation of both an orthodox faith and sexual diversity, With care and precision, Vines devoted years of intensive research into what the Bible says about homosexuality.
(Affirming Viewpoint)
"Washed and Waiting" by Wesley Hill
Hill offers wise counsel that is biblically faithful, theologically serious, and oriented to the life and practice of the church. As a celibate gay Christian, he gives us a glimpse of what it looks like to wrestle firsthand with serious and difficult questions.
(Traditional Viewpoint)
"Un-Clobber" by Colby Martin
Armed with only six passages in the Bible - often known as the "Clobber Passages" - the conservative Christian position has been one that stands against the full inclusion of our LGBTQ siblings. UnClobber reexamines what the Bible says (and does not say) about homosexuality in such a way that sheds divine light on outdated and inaccurate assumptions and interpretations.
(Affirming Viewpoint)
"Gay Girl, Good God." by Jackie Hill Perry
In Gay Girl, Good God, author Jackie Hill Perry shares her own story, and experience of gender confusion. She embraced masculinity and homosexuality with every fiber of her being, and writes offering practical tools that helped her in the process of finding wholeness.
(Traditional Viewpoint)
"Bible, Gender, Sexuality." by James Brownson
This thought-provoking book by James Brownson develops a broad, cross-cultural sexual ethic from Scripture, locates current debates over homosexuality in that wider context, and explores why the Bible speaks the way it does about same-sex relationships.
(Affirming Viewpoint)
"What Does the Bible Really Say About Homosexuality?" by Kevin DeYoung
After examining key biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments and the Bible’s overarching teaching regarding sexuality, DeYoung responds to popular objections raised by Christians and non-Christians alike, making this an indispensable resource for thinking through one of the most pressing issues of our day.
(Traditional Viewpoint)