Download or read book A Theology of Gay and Lesbian Inclusion written by Donald G Hanway and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Encourage the Church to address the gift of human sexuality—how to view it, how to deal with it, and how it relates to spirituality A Theology of Gay and Lesbian Inclusion: Love Letters to the Church challenges traditional church teachings that brand homosexuality as immoral, using pertinent scripture from the central Gospel to promote a full acceptance of gay and lesbian Christians. This powerful book questions the assumption that gay Christians are morally inferior, presenting testimony from gay men and lesbians about prejudice they’ve experienced at the hands of the Church—and its straight members. Written as a series of ten letters, the book addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the church and appeals for a new understanding and commitment to the acceptance of its gay members. From the author: The purpose of this book is to equip you, Christian warrior of the Gospel of peace, to stand against those who use the Bible to resist change—even that change of which our Lord would approve. In one sense, there is nothing revolutionary about this book. It is a book that respects tradition—but only up to a point: that point where tradition has to change, to give way to what the Holy Spirit is showing us in our day of the mind of Christ. And this is not revolutionary, because tradition has had to change before; it is a developing truth, born of the corporate experience of the children of God, and open to our claiming the exercise of our God-given gift of reason. A Theology of Gay and Lesbian Inclusion includes a series of letters that progress from establishing the purpose and credibility of the author, to developing grounding in Scripture and experience, to appealing to the reader to act as an ally of gay and lesbian Christians. The letters include: “Dear Christian Believer,” which aims for the “bull’s-eye” of the reader’s faith “Dear Sexual Being,” which offers a fresh look at a sensitive topic “Dear Confused Church Member,” which discusses what gay people are “really” like “Dear Concerned Church Member,” which discusses what gay people really want “Dear Bible Explorer,” which discusses what the Bible really says “Dear Person Trying to Do the Right Thing,” from “being” to “doing” and much more A Theology of Gay and Lesbian Inclusion provides a friendly and informal Biblical rationale for alternatives to traditional church teachings, encouraging the acceptance of gay and lesbian people as fully moral and fully Christian.
Download or read book God and the Gay Christian written by Matthew Vines and published by Convergent. This book was released on 2014 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reinterpretations of key Bible texts related to sexual orientation, written by a Harvard student, present an accessible case for a modern Christian conservative acceptance of sexual diversity.
Download or read book Gay and Lesbian Theologies written by Elizabeth Stuart and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-08 with total page 229 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gay and lesbian theology has been one of the most distinctive voices to have emerged in Christian theology in the last 30 years. It has placed lesbian and gay experience at the heart of the theological process. Elizabeth Stuart, one of the most prominent theologians in this field, presents the first critical survey of gay and lesbian theology arguing that its emergence was nothing short of miraculous. Gay and lesbian theologians managed to take a dominant Christian discourse which rendered them sinful, sick and harmful to the common good and transform it into a theology which argued that a person’s sexuality provided the point of contact between God and themselves. Stuart argues that, miraculous though this was, gay and lesbian theology has revealed itself to be 'bankrupt' - incapable of providing universally convincing reasons for the inclusion of lesbian and gay people and their relationships in the Church and unable to deal with the defining experience of lesbian and gay communities in the late twentieth-century - AIDS. Stuart concludes that lesbian and gay people and their opponents in the Church have too easily bought into modern constructions of sexual identity and cut themselves off from a Christian tradition which is far more ’queer’ in that it refuses to accept the stability of gender and sexual desire. Stuart argues that the only way out of the current deadlock on the issue of homosexuality in the Churches is for both sides to embrace this ancient queer tradition - a Christian tradition which teaches that in the end gender and sexual identities have no ultimate importance.
Download or read book Struggling in Good Faith written by Mychal Copeland, MTS and published by SkyLight Paths Publishing. This book was released on 2015-11-20 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive sourcebook telling the story of the religious struggles—and celebrations—for LGBTQI inclusion across the American religious landscape.
Download or read book Changing Our Mind written by David P. Gushee and published by Read the Spirit Books. This book was released on 2017-05-31 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Every generation has its hot-button issue,” writes David P. Gushee, “For us, it’s the LGBT issue.” In Changing Our Mind, Gushee takes the reader along his personal and theological journey as he changes his mind about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender inclusion in the Church. With 19 books to his name, Gushee is no stranger to the public arena. He is the author of the “Evangelical Declaration Against Torture” and drafted the “Evangelical Climate Initiative. “For decades now, David Gushee has earned the reputation as America's leading evangelical ethicist. In this book, he admits that he has been wrong on the LGBT issue.” writes Brian D. McLaren, author and theologian. In the definitive third edition of this book, David Gushee issues a scholarly response to his critics. Brian D. McLaren says it best: “Not only is David Gushee's work deep, thoughtful and brilliant; and not only is David philosophically and theologically careful and astute; he is also refreshingly clear and understandable by ‘common people’ who know neither philosophical nor theological mumbo jumbo.”
Download or read book Open Wide the Gates written by Brian D. Cunnington and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2023-10-13 with total page 498 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The culture wars show no sign of abating. Same-sex sexuality continues to be one of the most brutal and bloody fronts in those wars and Christians, the fiercest combatants. Friendships, families, churches, and denominations continue to draw their lines-in-the-sand, split, and go their separate ways. Meanwhile, the lives of many, young and old, are deeply scarred and some even lost in the crossfire. It doesn’t have to be that way! Challenging the arguments that perpetuate that conflict, Open Wide the Gates presents a carefully developed biblical, theological, and ethical argument for the welcome, affirmation, and inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life and ministry of the local church. Its irenic tone and clearly articulated presentation provides pastors, denominational leaders, and concerned laypeople with a reliable guide for navigating these often-turbulent waters. In this comprehensive study, Brian D. Cunnington points to a path forward, a path for following Jesus in the twenty-first century characterized by grace, love, and hope; a path that demonstrates the radical presence of God’s kingdom here on earth for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Download or read book Love Lost in Translation written by K. Renato Lings and published by Trafford Publishing. This book was released on 2013 with total page 789 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Love Lost in Translation systematically examines the biblical stories and passages that are generally assumed to deal with, or comment on, homoerotic relationships: Noah and Ham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Leviticus 18:22, Deuteronomy 23:17-18, Judges 19, Romans 1:26-27, and 1 Corinthians 6:9. K. Renato Lings convincingly demonstrates that mistranslations of these texts into Greek, Latin and other languages occurred early, and that serious errors continue to be committed by translators today. This explains the painful controversy about same-sex relationships, which has rocked Christian churches for decades.
Download or read book Towards a Theology of Same Sex Marriage written by Clare Herbert and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This book was released on 2020-12-21 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A transformative exploration of queer theology and the debate around same-sex marriage within the Church. Clare Herbert draws on her experience as a priest within the Church of England in a committed same-sex relationship and considers the questions that have shaped religious debate for many years. This book explores the concept of same-sex marriage in relation to the heteronormative definition of marriage, and its effect on past understandings of the sacrament. Interweaving stories from Christians struggling to reconcile their faith with their sexuality alongside wider queer theology and the theology of marriage, Herbert explores the unique understanding of God provided by the experience of committed same-sex love , and lays the groundwork for redefining the traditional definition of marriage.
Download or read book True Inclusion written by Brandan Robertson and published by Chalice Press. This book was released on 2018-09-11 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: So your church website says you're welcoming, a rainbow flag flies out front, worship uses gender-inclusive language, and you make sure you greet the stranger next to you on Sunday mornings. But is all of that really enough? And what if those welcoming gestures actually keep visitors from returning and exclude dozens of other groups or people in your community? In True Inclusion, public theologian and pastor Brandan Robertson shares how to move your church from mere welcome to radical embrace. Pointing to a clear biblical imperative for radical inclusivity in the sanctuary and in the public square, Robertson presents a paradigm-shifting vision of community, "where nothing is simple, nothing is easy, but everything is beautiful." Learn practical, step-by-step approaches to becoming deeply, robustly, and richly inclusive of all people regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and socioeconomic status. Written for people and communities at every stage of the journey, True Inclusion will challenge and inspire you to embody a gospel of radical embrace for all.
Download or read book A Thorn in the Flesh written by Caroline J. Addington Hall and published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. This book was released on 2013-03-22 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the vote to bless same-sex marriages, the Episcopal Church becomes the largest U.S. denomination to officially sanction same-sex relationships. Homosexuality has become a flashpoint at the intersection of religion, family, and politics. A Thorn in the Flesh: How Gay Sexuality is Changing the Episcopal Church tells the story of how homosexuality has been used to further conservative political agendas, both here and abroad. It describes how African and Asian churches have been drawn into a conflict that began in the United States in the Episcopal Church, and raises vital questions of whether people with different understandings of authority and truth can live in harmony. This provocative book is not a history of the movement for gay inclusion, nor a history of the movement for a new, conservative Anglican church in the Americas. Instead, it is a comparison of the conservative and the liberal parts of the church. There are those, such as the Church of England, who have conservative theological orientation and are most likely to oppose fully including gays and lesbians in the church. Hall, also, explores the rapid changes that have happened in Western society in the past fifty years that have led to the acceptance of same-sex marriage and homosexuality. This change has not come easily and even after nearly four decades, gay marriage remains a politically divisive issue in the United States and England.
Download or read book Oriented to Faith written by Tim Otto and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2014-07-07 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rather than embracing the conflict around gay relationships as an opportunity for the church to talk honestly about human sexuality, Christians continue to hurt one another with the same tired arguments that divide us along predictable political battle lines. If the world is to "know that we are Christians by our love," the church needs to discover better ways to live out the deep unity we share in Christ as we engage with politics and our world. In Oriented to Faith, Tim Otto tells the story of his struggle with being gay and what that taught him about the gospel. With an authentic and compelling personal voice, Tim invites us to explore how God is at work in the world, even amidst the most difficult circumstances, redeeming and transforming the church through this difficult debate. With gentle wisdom and compassionate insight, Tim invites all followers of Jesus to consider how we might work with God through these tensions so that all can be transformed by God's good news in and through Christ. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
Download or read book Gay on God s Campus written by Jonathan S. Coley and published by UNC Press Books. This book was released on 2018-02-02 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although the LGBT movement has made rapid gains in the United States, LGBT people continue to face discrimination in faith communities. In this book, sociologist Jonathan S. Coley documents why and how student activists mobilize for greater inclusion at Christian colleges and universities. Drawing on interviews with student activists at a range of Christian institutions of higher learning, Coley shows that students, initially drawn to activism because of their own political, religious, or LGBT identities, are forming direct action groups that transform university policies, educational groups that open up campus dialogue, and solidarity groups that facilitate their members' personal growth. He also shows how these LGBT activists apply their skills and values after graduation in subsequent political campaigns, careers, and family lives, potentially serving as change agents in their faith communities for years to come. Coley's findings shed light on a new frontier of LGBT activism and challenge prevailing wisdom about the characteristics of activists, the purpose of activist groups, and ultimately the nature of activism itself. For more information about this project's research methodology and theoretical grounding, please visit http://jonathancoley.com/book
Download or read book Just Good Friends written by Elizabeth Stuart and published by Bloomsbury Academic. This book was released on 1995 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A great deal has been written about homosexuality and Christianity. Although generally there is a conscious move towards understanding and incorporating the experiences of gay men and women, the Church's response has been to treat homosexuality as a problem within sexual ethics. However, a growing number of gay and lesbian Christians, influenced by liberation movements within and outside the Church, are claiming a place in the Church and finding a voice in theological and ecclesiastical discourse. Elizabeth Stuart suggests that gay people may have some important insights to contribute to theological reflection about sexuality, marriage and celibacy - most notably in the understanding of friendship to include our most intimate and committed relationships. This is not a book about whether Christians should accept or affirm gay people and their relationships. That debate goes on. Dr Stuart's concern here is to ask: supposing lesbian and gay people were equal in the sight of God, what then might heterosexual people learn from them? What new and creative ways of relating might emerge to the benefit of the whole community?
Download or read book Gifted by Otherness written by L. William Countryman and published by Church Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2001-09 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As "outsiders," gay men and lesbians challenge the church to be inclusive of all God's children--the central message of the gospel. "God has drawn us to this difficult place," they write, "in order to reveal God's grace to us and in us and through us." Basing their book on retreats they have presented to churches and seminaries, Countryman and Ritley explore what it means to affirm, not merely accept, being gay or lesbian, as well as Christian. Writing primarily for the lesbigay community, and for their families and communities, they explore the ways in which the gay and lesbian community can appropriate and re-tell the biblical story, and find confidence in their unique spiritual journey and gifts. This proactive and self-affirming book provides new hope for those who feel that it is impossible to be both gay or lesbian, as well as Christian.
Download or read book Undivided written by Vicky Beeching and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2018-06-12 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Vicky Beeching, called “arguably the most influential Christian of her generation” in The Guardian, began writing songs for the church in her teens. By the time she reached her early thirties, Vicky was a household name in churches on both sides of the pond. Recording multiple albums and singing in America’s largest megachurches, her music was used weekly around the globe and translated into numerous languages. But this poster girl for evangelical Christianity lived with a debilitating inner battle: she was gay. The tens of thousands of traditional Christians she sang in front of were unanimous in their view – they staunchly opposed same-sex relationships and saw homosexuality as a grievous sin. Vicky knew if she ever spoke up about her identity it would cost her everything. Faced with a major health crisis, at the age of thirty-five she decided to tell the world that she was gay. As a result, all hell broke loose. She lost her music career and livelihood, faced threats and vitriol from traditionalists, developed further health issues from the immense stress, and had to rebuild her life almost from scratch. But despite losing so much she gained far more: she was finally able to live from a place of wholeness, vulnerability, and authenticity. She finally found peace. What’s more, Vicky became a champion for others, fighting for LGBT equality in the church and in the corporate sector. Her courageous work is creating change in the US and the UK, as she urges people to celebrate diversity, live authentically, and become undivided.
Download or read book UnClobber Expanded Edition with Study Guide written by Colby Martin and published by Presbyterian Publishing Corp. This book was released on 2022-04-19 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Armed with only six passages in the Bible—often known as the "Clobber Passages"—the conservative Christian position has been one that stands against the full inclusion of our LGBTQ siblings. UnClobber reexamines each of those frequently quoted passages of Scripture, alternating with author Colby Martin's own story of being fired from an evangelical megachurch when they discovered his stance on sexuality. UnClobber reexamines what the Bible says (and does not say) about homosexuality in such a way that sheds divine light on outdated and inaccurate assumptions and interpretations. This new edition equips study groups and congregations with questions for discussion and a sermon series guide for preachers.
Download or read book Messy Grace written by Caleb Kaltenbach and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2015-10-20 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sometimes, grace gets messy. Caleb Kaltenbach was raised by LGBT parents, marched in gay pride parades as a youngster, and experienced firsthand the hatred and bitterness of some Christians toward his family. But then Caleb surprised everyone, including himself, by becoming a Christian…and a pastor. Very few issues in Christianity are as divisive as the acceptance of the LGBT community in the church. As a pastor and as a person with beloved family members living a gay lifestyle, Caleb had to face this issue with courage and grace. Messy Grace shows us that Jesus’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself” doesn’t have an exception clause for a gay “neighbor”—or for that matter, any other “neighbor” we might find it hard to relate to. Jesus was able to love these people and yet still hold on to his beliefs. So can you. Even when it’s messy. “Messy Grace is an important contribution to the conversation about sexual identity for churches and leaders. Caleb's story is surprising and unique, and he weaves it together compellingly. He states his views clearly, leaves room for disagreement, and champions love no matter where you are in this conversation.” —Jud Wilhite, Sr. Pastor, Central Christian Church
