Generous Spaciousness: Responding to Gay Christians in the Church

by Wendy Vanderwal-Gritter

Committed Christians may respond differently to gay and lesbian Christians. How can we engage those with whom we might disagree and navigate our journey together in a way that nurtures unity, hospitality, humility, and justice?

Through her extensive experience in ministering to gay and lesbian Christians, Wendy VanderWal-Gritter has come to believe we need a new paradigm for how the church engages those in the sexual minority. She encourages generous spaciousness, a hope-filled, relational way forward for those in turmoil regarding a response to gay and lesbian Christians. This book offers a framework for discussing diversity in a gracious way, showing that the church can be a place that welcomes a variety of perspectives on the complex matter of human sexuality. It also offers practical advice for implementing generous spaciousness in churches and organizations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sexuality, Theology, Church, Religion, LGBT, Christian

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 13, 2014

About the author

Wendy VanderWal-Gritter (MDiv, Tyndale Seminary) has been executive director of New Direction Ministries of Canada in Mississauga, Ontario, for over a decade. She is an internationally recognized contributor to conversations about faith and sexuality and is an active speaker. She is currently completing her doctoral dissertation on the theme of generous spaciousness at Knox College, University of Toronto.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read quite a few books by now on the intersections of faith and sexual orientation, and this one is solidly middle-of-the-road. Unlike some authors, VanderWal-Gritter's goal is not to convince the reader of any particular theological position, but rather to argue for how to create faith communities that allow for true differences of opinion on issues surrounding sexual orientation and same-sex relationships. As I did with Walking the Bridgeless Canyon, I'll share the strengths and weaknesses of this book in relationship to the larger conversation it has entered.

Strengths:
-The author has not only made a personal transformation in her own belief system, from promoting ex-gay ministry to becoming far more affirming, but she has led an entire organization, previously affiliated with Exodus International, to do the same. Her own personal journey, and her experiences talking with hundreds of people who have sought out New Direction's guidance, provide her with the credibility to have this kind of conversation.
-Because of her personal experiences, she knows the ins and outs of this conversation, both the arguments and the responses from each side. This is not someone who is going to pull out a well-worn "gotcha" line and think that it addresses every thought or objection.
-The writing, overall, is great. I pulled out a lot of great passages to save, and she has an excellent way with words when explaining various concepts. This is a book I could see other writers using as a resource to pull out quotes that succinctly capture a particular point.
-She does a nice job of clearly explaining what she's not advocating — that is, grudging tolerance of others or capitulation to a particular person or side's viewpoint. She emphasizes this throughout to prevent anyone from drawing up a strawman argument against something she's not actually recommending.
-One constant focus of this book is the importance of supporting individuals where they are on their faith journeys, rather than trying to steer anyone toward a particular conclusion or life decision. She reminds the reader that if they trust God and they recognize that everyone's faith looks different, they should be able to work solely on being a support and encouragement to others in their individual journeys without feeling a need to control the outcome of that journey.

Weaknesses:
-I would have appreciated a clearer definition of "generous spaciousness" upfront. She uses the term frequently before she really explains what it means, and even then it's generally defined in terms of what it's not (see above: tolerance, compromise, relinquishment of one's own beliefs). For too much of the book, this concept was too theoretical and "fluffy" to grasp what her advice meant in practice.
-Occasionally she refers to "Christians" and "gay people" when who she actually means is "conservative straight Christians" and "gay Christians." The lack of clarity, and the implication that these are two separate groups, is confusing at best and undermines her very message at worst.
-Although she speaks frequently of bridging the gap between these two groups, her focus is heavily on bringing conservative straight Christians into the conversation, and she is too concerned with minimizing the "distress of the privileged" for my taste. She seems overly fixated on consoling traditionalists about entering into this conversation, and spends very little time addressing the pain of gay Christians and the risk they take upon bestowing generous spaciousness on those who have typically viewed them negatively and possibly even hurt them. Gay Christians are largely Otherized as not being the intended audience of the book, notwithstanding her special chapter addressed to them near the end; even as a straight ally, I found it difficult to apply much of her advice about gracious conversational practices when they were so clearly directed at one side of the conversation.
-There was no acknowledgement (that I saw) of the existence of bisexual individuals, and trans* individuals were mentioned only a handful of times, more as an afterthought than as a serious focus of the book.
-At one point, if I understood correctly, she says that where there is disagreement within a congregation about same-sex relationships, partnered gay people should refrain from serving in leadership positions because of the discomfort this would cause to those who disagree with them. However, a few pages later she seems to condemn a pastor who told a gay couple they were welcome at church but would not be allowed to serve in leadership positions. She seems to steer gay Christians toward fully affirming churches at some points and encourage them to create dialogue within non-affirming churches at other points. I found this to be more confusing than anything else.

This isn't the first book I would point someone to if they were wanting to explore the intersections of Christianity and sexual orientation, but for a particular audience (conservative straight Christian leaders wanting to create a more welcoming space for gay Christians in their churches) it's a good starting point.

[Logan Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the phrase “responding to gay Christians in the church” is uttered, the question must be, “which church?” For Wendy VanderWal-Gritter, author of [Generous Spaciousness](Link), that church is the Evangelical church in America. VanderWal-Gritter attempts to locate small ‘e’ evangelicalism as a cross denominational movement within mainline Protestant Christianity in America. While evangelicalism may cross denominational lines, it is a form of religiosity all it's own to the extent that the broad audience VaderWal-Gritter seeks may not find her book to be as accessible as she might wish.

That said, for those seeking an introduction to an open and welcoming Evangelical perspective on LGBT issues in the church, Generous Spaciousness will do very well. While introducing readers to the range of sexualities within the alphabet soup of the LGBTQIA movement, VaderWal-Gritter also surveys the various forms of response in the Protestant Christian church generally. At the same time, VaderWal-Gritter argues throughout the book for a loving, theological space within the church that makes room for every voice, and especially those people who carry with them sexualities historically out of favor in Christian circles.

Readers coming from a conservative American Evangelical background seeking a more inclusive stance toward LGBT Christians and seekers will find a broad survey of the issue and a way of loving response toward their LGBT brothers and sisters. A progressive Christian who values the full inclusion and full standing of LGBT people within the church will find an interesting read and a way of engaging conservative Evangelical attitudes toward LGBT people. However, having already resolved many of the issues VaderWal-Gritter brings forward, they may feel they are reading down a level, as I did.

[Danny Theurer · Rating 1 out of 5]

One star sounds harsh and it is certainly not intended in this way. Fresh, new perspectives on this important subject are needed in the Church world, so this book was picked and and read with this gratitude in mind. Individuals struggling with sexual identity deserve our best as they matter greatly to our God.

I'm afraid that Vanderwal-Gritter's heartfelt intentions go a bit awry in two key ways. First, V-G's attempt to reinterpret properly interpreted Scriptures concerning homosexuality immediately puts all other conclusions she comes to on quicksand. When we practice proper hermeneutics, we look at a passage through cultural context, literary context, and also through historical context - if these contextual lenses agree in our need to come to a different conclusion, we must. V-G does not make a solid case in any of these areas.

Secondly, the title of her book encapsulates what I feel to be her second major error in this book: In a Christ-woven community of faith, we should not leave an individual in a corner and not approach them concerning their greatest of struggles. If individuals are not influenced by their God-given support system of believers, they will be influenced by the voices coming from our fallen world. Respectful and even honorable non-self-righteous non-pushiness is so needed for these precious individuals, but indefinite "generous spaciousness" is not.

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Brazos Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book offers a non-conventional message about the Christian community acceptance of gay and lesbian Christians. It is an honest conversation on how the church has missed the mark with regards to being God's extended hands towards all our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is also a refreshing outlook on how there are positive changes happening among the Christian community.

To say that we understand fully God's will and plan would be pretentious. You cannot put God in a box to serve your agenda. More and more, the Christian community is getting glimpses of God's true plan for His church. We need to drop our pretenses and listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say; if not, He will not be able to change the misconceptions that are deeply anchored in our imperfect hearts.

Generous Spaciousness is not the all in all solution to this challenge in the Christian community, but it offers sound theology which gives me hope that there can be positive changes.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a very good discussion on the matter that is most dividing the church today. While it feels a bit bloated at points, this is a very helpful guide to bettering what is too often a bitter and immature dialogue in the church. The real strength lies in the emphasis on changing posture rather than position, and the plethora of personal experiences that the author brings to the table. Recommended highly! Thanks to Brazos for the chance to review this great book.

Full review here: http://pastormack.wordpress.com/2014/...

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Christian witness never benefits when Christian organizations are known more for what they are against than what they are for.”

“I believe that hospitality is central to the heart and ministry of Jesus and that to the extent we fail to extend this hospitality to gay people, the church will fail to walk in the way of Jesus.”

“I want to remind pastors and leaders that we do not own the church—God does. We aren't called to serve the church from a place of fear with our primary focus on protecting our boundaries. We are called to fling wide the doors, to invite to the banquet those on the margins, those who will challenge our comfort and our aversion to getting our hands dirty. Announcing the kingdom is risky business. When our experience of church becomes so predictable and so controlled, one has to wonder how far we've strayed from the calling to be ambassadors of reconciliation to those far beyond the walls of the church.”

“Many of the gay Christians I was in conversation with were not demanding wholesale movement to a fully affirming and inclusive stance. There were those who were uncertain of such a stance even for themselves. What they did desire was space, a safe space without judgment, accusation, condemnation, assumption, and rejection. They desired a generous spaciousness to embrace authentic faith while engaging the quest for an honest, godly, and fulfilling life as a gay person.”

“One retired pastor, who felt that he was being called to write a book about homosexuality, interviewed me. He said he wanted his book to be pastorally compassionate toward gay people while exhorting the church to remain firm in holding to a traditional, biblical sexual ethic. He said, "You have to be careful to not love people too much. Loving people changes you." Indeed, loving people does change you. Loving people who are different than you changes you. But it seems to me that such change is consistent with the call of Christ. Allowing your heart to enter the beauty and brokenness of another's life (which really isn't so different from your own), to hear hopes and dreams and disappointments, fears and hurts and joys does change you. One ought not be afraid of that.”

Committed Christians may respond differently to gay and lesbian Christians. How can we engage those with whom we might disagree and navigate our journey together in a way that nurtures unity, hospitality, humility, and justice?

Through her extensive experience in ministering to gay and lesbian Christians, Wendy VanderWal-Gritter has come to believe we need a new paradigm for how the church engages those in the sexual minority. She encourages generous spaciousness, a hope-filled, relational way forward for those in turmoil regarding a response to gay and lesbian Christians. This book offers a framework for discussing diversity in a gracious way, showing that the church can be a place that welcomes a variety of perspectives on the complex matter of human sexuality. It also offers practical advice for implementing generous spaciousness in churches and organizations.

This topic is one that is fraught with land mines in Christian circles - and for different reasons depending on who you're speaking with. I found Wendy to be gracious and open when wrestling with this challenging topic. While I don't necessarily agree with her stance (I tend to lean more towards being openly affirming), I felt as though my perspective was welcomed. Generous Spaciousness is a challenging call. It calls the church to UNITY without UNIFORMITY. Honest and good people who desire obedience to God's word - which includes loving our neighbour - have very different perspectives. I applaud Vanderwal-Gritter for her commitment to offering a generous space in which people feel safe to wrestle with these challenging topics and for creating a space that's big enough for different conclusions that still involve love of neighbour. Some may find this lack of uniformity unsettling - but life is often so gray. So while unsettling and even a little messy, at least it feels honest.

[Randy Rasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of generous spaciousness, that attitudes towards LGBT people in the church can be a disputable matter, one in which people of good conscience can hold differing opinions and yet still be true to their conscience and faith, is appealing to me. But I'm still not sure if that can actually work in real life, or maybe that's just my own biases at work. I found much of this book to be pretty vague, often talking around different aspects of the issue but never quite confronting them head-on. But there were a few passages that I found interesting:

There is an irony in how Christians talk about and understand sexuality. Christians often lament the world’s reductionism of sex to genital interaction and raw physical pleasures, but then they typically reduce a gay person’s sexuality to just that.

To those outside the church, the battles over gay marriage in the church seem completely incompatible with the idea that Christianity is about serving the God of love. Their perception of the church using the Bible to exclude or deprive a group of people of love and family is a stench rather than a beautiful fragrance of Christ. One has to consider that when 91 percent of 16- to 29-year-olds perceive Christians to be antigay, our ability to reach this generation with the good news of the gospel is significantly hindered.

A common checklist for heterosexual privilege considers that on an ongoing basis as a straight person: [long list] Some people when reading this list may feel twinges of defensiveness. Perhaps many straight people have never really thought about the status, privilege, and reputation they enjoy simply because of being in the sexual majority.

I found that checklist to be particularly spot-on, and neatly sums up the way that many churches simply refuse to seriously engage in the discussion.

Published in 2014, some of the terminology in this book feels a bit dated, and its obviously missing some subsequent events, but I think the discussion has otherwise held up rather well (other than the lack of any information at all about transgender issues, which feels like a large omission). I think this book is a worthy entry to the ongoing conversation.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wendy has worked in ministry to LGBTQ people for many years and has herself shifted from a traditional “ex-gay” ministry to affirming same-sex marriage. She calls people to doubt their certainties and open up space for love and hospitality. She champions Rom. 14:1: “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with…” That's an interesting proposal, and the question of whether affirming and traditional Christians can do ministry together is something worth pursuing. Is "generous space" possible, or an ideal without practical application except on a small-scale?

I’m sympathetic to Wendy as a fellow Reformed Christian, and the book provoked lots of internal dialogue for me. The call to doubt at some point has to give way, as even doubt rests on a foundation of some conviction (Newbigin explains this quite well).

Former Redeemer University professor Gene Haas has published a review that is highly critical of this book's Biblical exegesis and theological turns (to put it mildly, and sexual ethics is his specialty). I wouldn't be as critical, but there were many places where I couldn't follow her.

She is now "marrying" gay couples, contrary to her denomination’s stance on the issue. She was ordained in the Christian Reformed Church, so that is an ethical issue as well. I'm not sure what to make of it all, to be honest.

The book is quite readable, and will certainly prove provocative for a small group discussion.

[Jason Baskerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one took a long time to read... a lot of emotional investment and new neural pathways to establish in how I think about things. It was interesting to note that, sometimes, when I got to the end of a chapter, I'd just need to put the book down and do something else because I was just emotionally or mentally exhausted from reading that chapter or section.

I really appreciate the fact that this book is written by someone who has headed up an ex-gay ministry and has been part of leadership to turn an ex-gay perspective that offers the only true and righteous path (unhelpful) into an organization that offers space for people to figure out the walking out of their faith, no matter their sexual orientation (much more helpful). It offers me hope that churches who don't "affirm" can still grow to become a space where hospitality trumps doctrine and dogma; where generous spaciousness overcomes declaration of sin and unworthiness, and where willingness to get dirty with others in our community who don't see eye-to-eye will foster an increased ability to dialogue and understand instead of divide. Books like this prove that it's happening in some corners of our Body, and that's good news.

[Chris Joines · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give a 0, I would. I want to first say that I appreciate the different approach. And while I value learning new perspectives, I draw the line when it goes against what Scripture clearly says. The church is never called to affirm sin. Yes, we should allow them to struggle and wrestle with sin, I do that constantly. It’s a daily fight against my flesh. But we can’t encourage them and celebrate their sin. It’s wrong. I had high hopes for the book but came away disappointed and frustrated the more and more I read the book. My copy is going in the trash because this shouldn’t be available to read. I am very concerned on theology in books, and this book is full of terrible exegesis and logical fallacies.

[Terra-Lee Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read. The concern is real for me - personal - far too many churches and Christian circles refuse to discuss sexualtity in some perverse thinking that even opening a conversation is sinful.
It's insanity.

I loved this authors genuine and sincere discussion and heart posture.

Overall wonderful resource for any Christ follower out there really struggling with the polarizing, cold, unloving posture of some many fellow believers. This book gave me REAL meat and potatoes on how to navigate relationships and conversations, as well as how to posture my own confused heart to a place of spaciousness towards others - like minded and not.

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that unlike most concerning the topic comes primarily from a pastoral approach, focusing on having Christ-like posture. It provides an insightful model of creating safe spaces for dialouge, showing how people can engage in reconciliation within Christian communities that are deeply divided over how to relate to gays and lesbians. The book does briefly touch on the different theological stances but it is focused on the applied with many antecdotes from the author's personal experience in the ministry of New Direction.

[Stephen Bedard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, even though I didn't agree with all of the author's conclusions. She correctly points out the problems with ex-gay ministries, something she knows from experience. I appreciated her vulnerability in sharing her questions and struggles. The weakest part was her examination of the relevant biblical passages. Still it is a good book for any church trying to understand how to welcome LGBTQ people into their congregation.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could give this 4.5 stars, I would. I really enjoyed the provocative openness to asking questions in this book. The themes of wrestling with God, humility, and trust in the bigness of God are emphasized throughout. I can't say I agree with everything she says, but I'm certainly willing (and now more prepared) to engage in the conversation.

[Mark Edlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-Fiction - a gracious and thorough examination of how churches welcome or shun members of the LGBTQ community. The author thoroughly examines her experiences in trying to develop a welcoming space for same sex attracted individuals. My church has a long way to go.
No pharmacy references.
Canadian references - author is Canadian and uses several Canadian examples.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great springboard for wrestling with traditional readings of scripture in a world where Christian and gay are not necessarily antonyms. Wendy VanderWal-Gritter doesn’t make pronouncements, but asks thought provoking questions to facilitate thoughtful consideration.

[Philip Zoutendam · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Read the full review here.)

An enlightening read and a valuable, though limited, contribution to the central controversy in the modern church. The author, a former leader in the ex-gay ministry movement, writes with compassion and insight, illuminating the struggle facing gay Christians as they try to reconcile earnest faith with sexual orientation.

With the idea of “generous spaciousness,” VanderWal-Gritter tries to establish a way for all churches to welcome and integrate these gay believers. “Generous spaciousness” means giving them grace “to navigate making sense of [the] experience of same-sex attraction” (53).

The message here is consummately evangelical, privileging individuals and their need to work out their own faith through personal revelation: “The individual needs to follow their own path. God is more than able, through his Holy Spirit, to lead, guide, correct, and convict. Your role is to . . . help the individual better discern what God is showing them” (97).

The book’s defining strength — its call to love individual persons above abstract ideas — is also the central limitation. Personal experience is given the respect it deserves, but tradition and philosophy are neglected and almost dismissed as legitimate authorities.

The book is, therefore, a good place to start on this issue but not a good place to finish. Its scope is too narrow, and it leaves too many questions and objections unanswered, to give it the final word.

[Ryan Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a few great books about same-sex marriage, one of the biggest issues in the church right now. The priority of most are to establish either that it is condemned by God (traditionalists/non-affirming) or blessed by God like any other marriage (affirming). Those books definitely have their place. This book, however, offers something that is more important at least for the majority of us in the church who do not experience substantial same-sex attraction.

The focus of the book is on our posture rather than our position, which seems like a very Jesus-like approach to take. The concern over and over again throughout the book is a posture of love no matter which side of the debate you fall on. She also does a great job of making it clear that it applies in both directions - non-affirming and affirming Christians can both be equally judgemental of the other, forsaking love in the name of being right.

In pushing for a better posture, it is remarkably practical. That shouldn't have surprised me since Wendy has been doing practical ministry in this area for a long time, but it still did surprise me simply because I've never read anything like it. It comes from a place of actually knowing a large number of LGBTQ people, hearing their stories, learning what is helpful to them and what is not. From things like responding to your child coming out to responding to a gay couple who wants to know if they would be welcome at your church, she does a fantastic job of offering practical advice.

[R.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second time reading through this powerful book.

Gritter argues for a posture that she calls “generous spaciousness” in the Body of Christ about the lives of gay Christians and the appropriateness of faithful same-sex relationships. The result is a theologically rich exploration of the ministry of the Triune God in the lives of gay and lesbian people that encourages Christians to cultivate deep trust in the reconciliation of all things in Christ. Living with the tensions of our complex realities, for Gritter, is an ideal place for robust spiritual formation.

I have the honour of considering Gritter a friend, and so there are parts of this book that feel dated to me in 2020. New Direction is now called Generous Space, for a start. Bisexual and trans people are now “on the map” in the community, and there is a cohort of queer polyamourous people and Christians who find a generous space for their own discernment in the context of relational faithfulness and accountability.

I think Gritter’s understanding of dialogue—as an exercise in shared and equitable power—has deepened considerably since 2014, as has her understanding of how harm is perpetuated by serious power imbalances in favour of what she calls here “the heterosexual mainstream.” A follow-up e-book, Cultivating Generous Space, is available from Generous Space Ministries.

Wendy is a friend, but she did not ask me to write this review. I did that all by myself. :)

[Emily Serven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really challenging book for me. I have rated it 5 stars because it is well written and it raised some important questions for me personally, but not because I agree with all of the author's conclusions. I appreciate that the book is both culturally relevant and committed to Christian faithfulness, defined by Scripture. I think this will be a helpful book for many Christians who are humbly reconsidering their attitudes and assumptions related to same-sex attraction and how they engage with people personally wrestling with these questions.
In her concluding thoughts, the author states, "This book has never been about trying to convince you of a particular position on the matter of committed same-sex relationships. The intention throughout these pages has been to Kodak a posture that invites generous spaciousness into our own hearts, our relationships, and into our churches and Christian organizations. These postures my feel very risky, if you are accustomed to the safety and security of certainty. But my prayer is that these risks will seem more than worth it for the opportunity to move out of the house of fear and more fully into the house of love. My hope is that any initial sense that generous spaciousness is just a wishy-washy, weak compromise will have been replaced with a robust vision of living into the discipline of a deep, yet freeing trust in God."

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the Lord has raised up Wendy VanderWal-Gritter for this precise moment in history. The author understands the complexity of faith and sexuality in the Western world in the twenty-first century. She has followed Christ in her deep desire to provide an intentional space which embodies a generous and humble posture for all Christians. There are books from Christians on the conservative side and on the progressive side offering compelling answers for you to join them. Wendy's book is a book deeply bathed in love for both sides. Her posture is so rare in the midst of polemics and polarity--and needed. Her book is truly a game-changer. Her expansive and generous heart to see beauty in relationship within the church is attractive for those seeking a robust Christian posture in the midst of polarizing rhetoric and positioning. This book is going to be criticized by Christians who will adamantly insist the author has compromised the faith. On the other hand, it might disappoint some on the other side that she didn't clearly assert another kind of certainty. But she clearly understands what it means for Christians (both gay and straight) to walk together, listen together, and respect one another as we seek deeper unity in Christ with one another. I highly recommend this book.

[John Medendorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised. Through her extensive life experience working with GLBT Christians, Gritter advocates for a posturing of love in the church, offering people who experience same-sex attraction the space to wrestle with these issues of faith and sexuality in an environment that cares for and supports them. Rather than reacting out of fear, as though somehow the power of the gospel or the plan of God could be overturned by someone's behavior, Gritter advocates a profound trust in the power of God to work salvation in the lives of people who desire to follow him. She advocates that the church provide space for gay people to work out their salvation in a way that allows them to ask difficult questions and follow the prompting of the Spirit in their lives, trusting God to work in people, even if they come to hold different conclusions and convictions than we do. The concluding chapter on "posturing" was very good.
I didn't like that the book used endnotes. It always makes me feel like people are hiding something when they use endnotes.

[Gregg Koskela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book helpful and challenging. The author has experience leading what had been an ex-gay program in Canada, and led through a transition away from that when her experience showed her it wasn't effective. Written from a solidly Evangelical perspective, the book does not discuss biblical arguments about human sexuality. Rather, the focus is on being people and a church who make room for each other to pursue Christ and truth and to live with each other when our conclusions are different. She offers many stories and perspectives to lead toward understanding those who identify as GLBTQ. Her unique contribution is to offer a rationale for placing expression of human sexuality in the category of disputable matters, and uses Romans 14 to then guide how our actions should follow. Challenging words for people on whatever side of the "spectrum".

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect for our church

[Kim Messick · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE IT!

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned and thought about so much I had never considered. Grateful for this book and the growth it motivated in me.