Track #1: Acculturating Oneness for the GLBT Community

Track #1 has been designed for the individual within the GLBT community. The GLBT Track focuses on a reaching the Wholistic core of the GLBT individual by extensively covering historical and current social issues, Biblical themes and spiritual ideology.

There are 16 classes that are offered:

Spiritual Acculturation: Fully Knowing and Discovering the Lord

1. Secular Socialism and the Religious Community

2. The Marin Foundation’s Big 4 Principles

3. The Tough Questions

*Section Overview:

This first section starts with an introduction into the broader GLBT thought processes regarding the religious community and God; as told by those within the GLBT community. From fears, to stories, to the polarizing questions everyone asks, this section focuses on how the GLBT community has handled and responded to a Western, Christian dominated culture. Also, we start looking at The Marin Foundation’s Big 4 Principles which provide the entire fundamental basis for The Marin Foundation’s work within the GLBT community. We always encourage discussion and openness as we listen and connect with other’s real-life experiences.  

Theological Interpretations on Homosexuality

4. The Debate Over Ancient Hebrew/Greek Words, Definitions and Related Historical
Timetables

5. Genesis Chapter 19: Sodom and Gomorrah

6. Leviticus 18 and 20

7. Romans 1

8. 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy
*Section Overview:

The Theological Interpretations on Homosexuality are five classes that cover everything an individual would ever want to know about what the Bible says regarding the GLBT community from both a Progressive and Conservative point of view. These classes thoroughly delve into each of the six main verses in the Bible that directly speak to homosexuality, dodging and avoiding no topic or belief system. Through this curriculum each verse will be dissected to its original translation and meaning in Hebrew and Greek, and then built back up in today’s context of theology, overall themes and conclusions. We believe strongly in the timeless principled hermeneutic approach that the Bible has laid forth for all eternity.

Historical Identity: Politics, Religion and the GLBT Community

9.  Current Scientific Research: GLBT and Religious Communities

10. Politics of GLBT Identity, Sex, and Shame

11. Perception vs. Reality

12. Implications towards a Larger Social Viewpoint: Dichotomy of GLBT vs. Religion
*Section Overview:

This section begins with the current scientific research that is coming from both the secular and religious communities regarding the highly debated topics of GLBT development, population, and etiology. The rest of these classes delve into unique topics within the GLBT individual’s life ranging from Identity vs. Behavior and Expectation vs. Integration, to the powerful social influences that affect everyday life coming from both the GLBT and religious communities. These classes are intended to build on the principled theological base set forth within the previous section as we begin to transfer the aforementioned overarching principles into impactful, everyday life experiences.

Social, Spiritual Judgment and the GLBT Community

13. Individual Power and Prayer

14. Spiritual Confidence: One’s Natural Progression

15. Faithfulness in the Unseen

16. Eternal Validation: Freedom from Spiritual Suffering
*Section Overview:

The Social, Spiritual Judgment and the GLBT Community is the final aspect and completion of our wholistic stance, focusing on not adding additional layers, but rather building solid rocks emotionally, spiritually and existentially. These last four classes cement the realization of our Creator and the works of power, confidence, faithfulness and redemption in the overall shifting of the mind frame to a further understanding of what a true one-on-one relationship with the Lord looks like. Through these last four classes, our wish is to ultimately allow the GLBT individuals the opportunity to realize their spiritual/religious and theological potential through a Oneness with Christ.

Track #2: New Christian Paradigm to Bridge Building for the Straight Christian Community

Track #2 has been designed for the individual who is a heterosexual Christian. The Straight Track focuses on immersing the attendees within the major myths, stereotypes and interaction based dialogue in learning how to build bridges with those in the GLBT community. These classes take the participant and bring the GLBT community to them as a tangible entity, one that is no longer something that should be left for someone else to think about. The Marin Foundation attempts to turn a way of life that is not a personal experience for the attendee into an educationally based time that will promote intellectual dialogue and a better social understanding of the GLBT community; assuaging one’s questions and/or fear regarding all related GLBT issues. From those who have family members, friends, co-workers or acquaintances who are in the GLBT community, to those who are just interested and/or wonder about the GLBT community, these classes provide a special opportunity to be educated socially and theologically about all aspects regarding the GLBT community in learning how to answer the tough questions and productively build a bridge.

There are 10 classes that are offered:

Practical Applications – Building Bridges within the GLBT Community

1. Everything Christians Need to Know about the GLBT Community But Have Not Been Told

2. 16 Commitments to Building Bridges within the GLBT Community
Laying the Foundation to Building a Bridge (2 Commitments)
The Big 5 Baseline Fundamentals to Building a Bridge (5 Commitments)
Start Building a Bridge – Approach (3 Commitments)
Practical Applications on how to Tangibly Build a Bridge (6 Commitments)

3. How to Productively Answer the Tough Polarizing Questions

*Section Overview:
The overall point of this first section is to learn from a Christian perspective how to productively build a bridge within the GLBT community. In order to best build a bridge one has to first fully understand, as much as a straight person can, what it truly means to get inside the head of, and walk in the shoes of a GLBT person’s fears, struggles, thoughts, successes, pains, and social understandings. We then fully expand on our 16 Commitments and finally answer the tough questions that Christians have traditionally had polarizing answers for.

Theological Interpretations on Homosexuality

4. The Debate Over Ancient Hebrew/Greek Words, Definitions, and Related Historical Timetables

5. Genesis Chapter 19: Sodom and Gomorrah

6. Leviticus 18 and 20

7. Romans 1

8. 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy
*Section Overview:

The Theological Interpretations on Homosexuality are five classes that cover everything an individual would ever want to know about what the Bible says regarding the topic of homosexuality from both a Progressive and Conservative point of view. These classes thoroughly delve into each of the six main verses in the Bible that directly speak to homosexuality, dodging and avoiding no topic or thought pattern. Through this curriculum each verse will be dissected to its original translation and meaning in Hebrew and Greek, and then built back up in today’s context of theology, overall themes, and conclusions. We believe strongly in the timeless principled hermeneutic approach that the Bible has laid forth for all eternity, and that is the basis for our teachings.

Social Context: Current Research and Judiciary History

9.   Current Scientific Research: GLBT and Religious Communities

10. History: “When Backed into a Corner, Come Out Swinging”
*Section Overview:

This final section begins with the current scientific research that is coming from both the secular and religious communities regarding the highly debated topics of GLBT development, population, and etiology. The remaining information lets the straight individual into the historical content of living as a GLBT person in a Western, Christian dominated culture. A very prominent GLBT media figure once told me (Andrew Marin) over the phone, “when we (as GLBT people) have been backed into a corner for so long by the Christian community, our only hope of survival is to come out swinging.” The Marin Foundation is attempting to bring the fight from violence, to peace; and this can only happen through true Biblical and social understanding – starting first with the Christian community.

“Andrew Marin has a very creative and compelling way to share to all types of audiences. His love for Jesus, his heart of compassion and his unique approach to ministry all combine to help lead the way for the church to share God’s love with those who have felt on the fringe.”

Bill Shereos, Senior Pastor
First Evangelical Free Church Chicago

“When I came out 20 years ago my very religious Mom cast me off and we have not spoken since. When I heard Andrew Marin getting interviewed on the radio I decided to check it out. After the first time I spoke with Andrew I had hope. I called my Mom that day and she didn’t answer, as usual. However, I left a message telling her about The Marin Foundation and she ended up speaking to Andrew quite a bit. After she got involved she began to not only talk to me, but invite me back into her life! I can never thank Andrew and The Marin Foundation enough for what they have done for life and for my relationship with my Mom.
                                                                                                                      
2006 Participant

“The scope of the study is well defined and everything was extremely clear. My whole life I have dealt with trying to listen to one side or the other and conform to what they thought was best. That has gotten me more lost and confused than anything else. The quality, well thought out experience that you have provided me is something that has changed my life forever. Your impact lasts an eternity.”  

“Has anyone else ever told you how strange it is that a straight guy has been given this unbelievable insight that actually is able to make a huge impact IN and WITH the gay community? I have never met anyone like you or your organization. Let me tell you that everyone I know, including myself (37 years old), believe that the same old rhetoric from the very well known GLBT organizations is tired. The same is true for the well known Christian organizations. I am telling you this honestly, every person, straight and gay, needs to believe in you, your organization, and get involved because this stuff could only come from above. It’s not stale; it’s fresh and provides true hope.”   

“I learned so much about my stereotypes (some that I didn’t even know I had) and viewpoints on the gay community that I now know how gay people have looked at me all these years. I know what I need to change in order to be a bridge builder.”

“I loved the first part of the class, Building Bridges within the GLBT Community. It is a much different way to think about relational “bridge building”, and it has given me a lot to think and pray about regarding where my heart is. You have opened my eyes to what the Lord is really asking us to do more than I even asked for.”