Welcome to the work of David R. Weiss

Thanks for finding your way to my site. Besides hosting my blog, this site offers a sampling of my writing, a link to my CD of hymns and my book of essays, both titled, To the Tune of a Welcoming God, a calendar of my events, and ways to connect with me as a resource person for your area.

The latest scoops:

• WHEN GOD WAS A LITTLE GIRL – this picture book has now won five national awards and is due out in a Spanish edition by Pentecost 2018. Find it HERE.

• MY ALBUM OF WELCOME HYMNS IS OUT! YOU can order it HERE; read the blog about it HERE.
• MY COMPLETE UGANDA BLOGS (from my March 2013 trip) are available as a PDF file HERE.
• MY NEWEST RESOURCE: “HEARTS UNBOUND” (a series of Reader’s Theater play script about welcome) is available through the Institute for Welcoming Resources HERE.

• ALSO: I’ve created a free Reader’s Companion with book groups in mind; You can download it here. It’s a PDF file that is six pages long and all set up so that you can copy it double-sided on three pieces of paper and then either fold it in half as a little booklet or slice it down then middle and have six half-sheet handouts.

Testimonials of my work as a speaker:

“David was an invaluable resource helping us gather, wonder, and converse about our faith, our relationships with one another and God’s creation, and the biblical witness to God’s love in Christ Jesus. He preached, taught, and met with both student and community groups including GLBT college students and allies. He invited students, faculty, staff and guests to imagine and practice what it means to be reconciled to one another as God’s people. David’s ability to draw out the best in people and help them practice caring conversation and mutual reconciliation is truly amazing.”
– Rev. Ramona Bouzard, January 2010
Dean of the Chapel, Wartburg College

“David connected on an intellectual and personal level in his lecture to more than 100 members of our campus community. He was equally at home in a small classroom setting, where he met with students in courses on cross-cultural communication and LGBTQ studies. David opened an important dialogue on our campus between secular and Christian communities who all too often fail to talk to one another.”
– Dr. Jamie Ann Meyers, April 2010
Professor of Geoscience, Winona State University

“At a time when many in the church are given to polarization and anxiety over these questions of faith and life, David explores Scripture, theology and human sexuality with a clear mind and a non-anxious presence, inviting others to ask honestly where the Spirit is at work in the life of the church. In a manner both refreshing and welcome, David’s writing and presentations engage participants in deeper dialogue and in finding fruitful intersections between the Biblical story and contemporary stories and questions.”
– Rev. Mike Blair, February 2010
College Ministries, Luther College

“With a perfect balance of the witty and serious, David offered much-needed words of comfort and inspiration to our campus community. Too often, students like me who are both queer and religious feel that we have to forsake one identity in order to be whole people, or that our morality must be either strict and unyielding or practically nonexistent. By exploring the many ways that our bodies can be ground for knowing God, David reminded us that our sexuality and spirituality are complementary, not contradictory. His poetic words prompted me to reflect on how my own experiences have (or have not) helped me to better know God.”
– Teresa Wink (student), October 2010
Rainbow Alliance, St. Louis University

“As a passionate storyteller, David Weiss is spot-on with his interpretation of Scriptures that are widely used by faith communities as clobber passages, in speaking out against the welcoming of LGBT.  David eloquently weaves a tapestry of spoken word and encouraging song that clearly reflects his commitment and dedication to a global vision that is affirming and inclusive of ALL who are searching to renew their spiritual journey with Christ.”
– Hospitality Initiative of Servant Hearts, Bemidji, Minnesota, September 2011

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