More on GLBT & Questioning Youth
Reconciling Journey affirms and supports our GLBTQ Identified and Questioning Youth. Recent studies have shown that, on average, lesbian and gay youth first become aware of their same-gender attractions at an average of 9-10 years old and first identify as lesbian or gay at an average of 14-16 years old.
Gay youth are 2-4 times more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth, have
higher rates of homelessness, and experience higher rates of harassment and
other forms of discrimination at school.
Gay and straight youth need to be supported in exploring their spirituality and
sexuality in an integrated way. However, many gay youth feel outcast by their
home churches and/or feel social pressure to hide their same sex attractions.
This causes many GLBTQ youth to question God's love for them and His overall
plan for their lives.
We must support our GLBTQ questioning youth as they seek to know themselves and understand God's plan for their lives. We believe God's plan for all people is to live joyful, whole, and purpose filled lives that glorify God and reflect His love, peace, grace, pursuit of justice, and light to the world.
If you know of, or are yourself, a GLBTQ identified or questioning youth, listed below are helpful references and supportive links. Please also feel free to contact Reconciling Journey's Executive Director, Stacy DeVold-McCaskill, for additional support and resources.
Questioning Youth Center - Based in Naperville, QYC operates youth drop-in centers in Aurora, Naperville, and DeKalb and hosts a 24 hour help line (800) 850-8078. The center is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for adolescents, in order to facilitate ongoing personal growth and the development of a positive sexual identity, whether they identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning.
Safe Schools Coalition -- Fact sheets and resources on GLBT Youth. An international public-private partnership in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth helping schools become safe places where every family can belong, where every educator can teach, and where every child can learn, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
Study Guide - Christian Youth - An Important Voice in the Present Struggle for Gay Rights in America - This study will guide you into a serious look at the radical Jesus and the Biblical mandate that no child of God be considered second-class.
Youth Info
This page was last updated: May 4, 2008
Reconciling Journey Ministries
Affirming GLBT Christians and seekers in their daily walk
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July 27-August 1, 2008
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Northern Minnesota
Summer Youth Event!
Reconciling Journey Ministires affirms and supports GLBT & Questioning Youth by offering scholarships to an annual summer bible camp for GLBTQ Youth who are Christian and/or exploring a relationship with God through Jesus.
The Naming Project is a Christian summer camp affirming and supporting GLBT and questioning youth in both their sexual orientation, gender identity, and desire to deepen their relationship with God.
The next camp is scheduled for July 27-August 1, 2008. This Christian GLBTQ teen camp is a youth ministry of Bethany Lutheran Church, an ELCA church based in Minnesota.
Camp Out is a documentary film that follows GLBT teenagers as they attend the first season of this camp. The camp is now in it's 6th season. The Executive Director of Reconciling Journey, Stacy DeVold-McCaskill, is a returning camp counselor for The Naming Project.
Reconciling Journey is viewing Camp Out and fundraising to support two campers for the 2008 season. Please join us at our fundraiser Saturday June 28th (click for more details).
Calling all GLBTQ & Allied Teens ages 15-17
To apply for the RJ Youth Camp Scholarship:
1) Write a 1-2 page essay on why you want to go to camp.
learn more about the camp & this year's camp theme.2) Have a sponsoring organization (your local church, the
Questioning Youth Center, a youth organization, school
counselor, parent or guardian) write you a letter of
recommendation.
3) Fill out The Naming Project's camp application.
4) Submit all your letters & application forms to Reconciling
Journey Ministries, Inc. (click this link for contact info)
5) You must either be a Illinois resident or your sponsoring
organization must be based in the greater Chicagoland area.
Campers are responsible for travel expenses to and from Minneapolis, Minnesota. RJ will pay the full camp fee of $300 and the Minnesota
in-state travel fee (from Minneapolis to camp $30 round-trip).
We encourage scholarship winners to work with your sponsoring organization to raise funds to cover travel costs to/from Minneapolis, MN.
