This weekend I attended the "Gays in the Family" conference put on by the North Pacific Union Conference's Family Ministries department.

I'm writing this update from Denver where we had a screening of the Seventh-Gay Adventists film, and then we're heading to two quite different screenings for audiences that I wish could meet each other. The first is a screening at the Capital Memorial Church in D.C. that is part of a whole evening dedicated to talking about homosexuality in the church and will include quite a diversity of perspectives (including Nick Miller, Roy Gane, and Jason Hines).

The July 19 issue of The Adventist Review includes a column by Andy Nash, a journalism teacher and pastor at Southern Adventist University, about what he feels is missing from our new documentary film, Seventh-Gay Adventists: A film about faith on the margins.

It's been about three years since my husband, Stephen Eyer, and I first realized that the best way to respond to our deep disappointment about Prop 8 (the same-sex marriage ban in CA) passing was to make a film that focused on the stories of gay and lesbian Adventists in an effort to change hearts and minds in the pews through the power of story.

Seventh-Gay Adventists: A film about love, sex, and eternal life is a small, independent documentary being produced by my husband and me.

The summer heat and beach reading days are gone, which, for me, always tends to mean I turn toward more significant reading material. My bedside reading table is full of books that are quite new to my repertoire--books on parenting, childbirth, and such. (I'd love good book suggestions on nurturing your child's spirituality from you parents and grandparents out there.)

I know I always enjoy getting book recommendations from this community. What books have you either read recently and want to recommend or are looking forward to reading?

Just a reminder of this month's book and film club selections. If you haven't had a chance to read the book or view the film, act quickly! You can find all of the upcoming selections, here. Our discussion starts after Labor Day.

Book: Christianity And Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives Edited by David Ferguson, Fritz Guy and David Larson
Film: For The Bible Tells Me So 

Editor’s Note: After 32 years, Prophetess of Health has been republished. To mark this event, Spectrum interviewed Ron Numbers about the book, his experience of Adventism, and the church’s response to this historic book. Additionally, I chose a classic review from a cluster of reviews originally published in 1977 to help us revisit the topic. 

I felt a mixture of emotions leading up to these Olympics. Given the human rights record in China, and particularly given the ongoing conflict in Darfur and the continued tensions over Tibet, I wasn't sure what to think. I even participated in the torch protest in San Francisco when the torch stopped here briefly on its only American visit (ended up not ever seeing the torch as the organizers diverted the course at the last minute).

It was great to hear what you all have been watching this summer, so let's bring on the books! Summer is often known as a time for lighter reading, but I have a feeling with this crowd we've got quite a mix of books on the bedside stand or in the beach bag. What book keeps your attention right now? What books are challenging your assumptions? Inspiring you? Making you laugh?