Augsburg Youth Theology Institute: “And It was Very Good”
June 20, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - June 25, 2021 @ 5:00 pm
2021 VIRTUAL AUGSBURG YOUTH THEOLOGY INSTITUTE
AND IT WAS VERY GOOD:
Affirming and Advocating for Gender and Sexual Diversity in God’s Creation
Sunday, June 20–Friday, June 25, 2021
In the interest of safety for our participants, mentors, and staff due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have decided along with university events, to gather in a virtual format for the 2021 Institute. Specific questions about this format can directed to ayti@augsburg.edu.
2021 THEME
What is the rightful place for LGBTQIA+ people in God’s creation? After decades of fights over human sexuality, LGBTQIA+ people, gender, and gender roles, the church is moving to a place of acceptance, and even advocacy. This year at the institute we are going to look at the role of LGBTQIA+ people in scripture, in our church history, and the faithful advocacy to allow LGBTQIA+ people to be full members of society. We are looking at the events of the past several years through a theological lens, asking what God is doing, and where our discernment can lead us.
2021 INSTRUCTOR
Ross Murray (he/him) is the founding director of The Naming Project, a faith-based youth ministry and summer camp for LGBTQIA+ youth and their allies. He has worked with youth and families in a variety of settings, and presented LGBTQIA+ youth ministry around the country.
In his day job, Ross is the Senior Director of Education & Training at The GLAAD Media Institute, providing activist, spokesperson, and media engagement training and education for the LGBTQIA+ community members, corporations, the media industry and advocacy organizations desiring to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community. Ross has secured national media interest in stories that bring examples of LGBTQIA+ equality across diverse communities in America, with a speciality in the relationship between religion and LGBTQIA+ people.
Ross is a consecrated Deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with a specific calling to advocate for LGBTQIA+ people and to bridge the LGBTQIA+ and faith communities. He is a producer for the “Yass, Jesus!” podcast, a faith and sexuality affirming podcast that believes you don’t have to pick between gay and God. In 2014, he was named one of Mashable’s “10 LGBT-Rights Activists to Follow on Twitter.”