Trans-forming the Church: Blessed Bodies and Gender Justice
On January 29, 2019, the Rev Liam Hooper was our guest star for a Resource Round Up highlighting the free, online video curriculum, “Trans-forming the Church: Blessed Bodies and Gender Justice.”
The LIVE session was recorded and is available as an on demand offering of the Transfaith Institute.
We are collecting $5 per participant because we believe in compensating transgender time and expertise! Rev Liam will receive a royalty on each registration.
In the course room and the recorded video session, you will find:
30 minutes of video presentation in 10 easy to manage installments (about 3 minutes each) to study on your own or share with family and community
An easy to use YouTube playlist
A Study Guide with Discussion Questions for each video
Background on how the resource came to be
Suggestions for how to use it in your local community and how to follow up afterwards
More on Rev Liam’s current activities
Over the 50 minute conversation with the Rev Liam Hooper about the video curriculum, we learned that Rev Liam is passionate about the Hebrew texts and works closely with Jewish colleagues and Muslim friends. While the video series was designed for use in a Christian context (specifically United Methodist), it does not talk about Jesus and focuses on texts from Genesis. Thus it could be used in a Jewish, Muslim, or multi-faith context without significant adaptation.
The design of the curriculum was to provide an introductory level theological conversation about transgender identities and experiences that could be used in communities without paying for travel costs from a national organizer. The course can be shared in a 45-90 minute adult education session or even shared with a family member as part of your coming out process.
When it came time for the Q&A, the conversation took an unexpected but powerful turn as Colleen Fay and Rev Liam engaged around the gifts that transgender people bring to their communities.
Rev Liam also provided extra commentary on the content of the video series, what he might do differently, and how things are in North Carolina the source of the run U.S. bathroom bills.