Walking the Bridgeless Canyon: Repairing the breach between the Church and the LGBT community

by Kathy Baldock

In 2001, Kathy Baldock, a straight conservative evangelical Christian, met Netto Montoya, a lesbian Native American, on the local hiking trails near her home in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Their friendship challenged Baldock's cultural and religious beliefs about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. In "Walking the Bridgeless Repairing the Breach between the Church and the LGBTQ Community," Baldock uncovers the historical, cultural, medical, and political filters of discrimination through which the LGBTQ community is seen. With a foundational context firmly established, she examines the most controversial filter of what the Bible says about same-sex behavior. Ten years of research, as well as relationships with thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, led to answering important How did history, culture, science, and politics intertwine to create social discrimination against the gay and transgender communities? When and why did the conservative Christian community turn their focus on the gay and transgender communities? Should Christian fellowship be extended to gay and transgender people? Should Christian marriages, be granted to same-sex couples? What is happening within the LGBTQ Christian movement today? Baldock carefully constructs a historical timeline narrative as she untangles the details of various influences and influencers. Along the way, she shares fascinating stories and testimonies enriching the journey. Finally, for those who are wondering how they might enter into productive and respectful conversations about the intersection of faith and sexual orientation or gender identity, this book offers the resources and tools needed to make informed, wise, and Christ-centered choices.This book has a companion Discussion Guide intended for personal, group, or Bible study use.*****As a biblical scholar and a gay man, I sometimes have people ask me for reading suggestions on LGBTQ issues and Christianity. I can usually recommend a book on some aspect of the topic, and another on another aspect. But Kathy Baldock’s book is the best I know right now for covering many of the relevant history, science, scripture, politics, and even “self-help” suggestions at the end. I’ll be recommending this book as the number one place to start for many people in the future. —Dale B. Martin, Woolsey Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, Yale University*****Kathy Baldock is one of the most tireless, dedicated, and influential advocates for LGBT Christians in the evangelical church. Her work has helped to transform the lives of thousands of people, and her ministry is a model of the kind of effective, conciliatory bridge-building work the church desperately needs. In Walking the Bridgeless Canyon, Baldock guides the reader on a fascinating journey of how the church has responded to the LGBT community--and how we all can and should do better. Brilliantly researched, accessibly written, and lovingly expressed, this book is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the intersection between the conservative church and the LGBT community. I highly recommend it--and its remarkable author.--Matthew Vines, president of The Reformation Project, author of the book God and the Gay Christian, Random House

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction, Religion

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 6, 2019

Reviews

[Suzanne Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only problem with this book is that I didn’t learn about it sooner. Based on a mention during a recent sermon, I ordered it and couldn’t put it down. After spending much of my life unquestioningly believing what I heard from pulpits, the past four years have shown me the need to be a more critical consumer of religious doctrine. My understandings of Jesus’ dispositions and commands haven’t lined up with mainstream church practices and stances on several issues of late, and this book’s deep dive into scriptural translations and the science of gender-related issues now have me understanding why. I still love Jesus, maybe even more now, but my disappointment in discriminatory and judgmental church practices has me sad and embarrassed about Christianity.

[Nancy Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastically researched and presented book. I can't recommend it highly enough for any Christian. Deep moments of conviction and moments of outrage that our brothers and sisters have been treated this way. I definitely left the book with a renewed vigor to let ALL of our LGBTQIA brothers and sisters know we are sorry for what has been done in the name of Christ, and I, for one, will work to right these grievous wrongs.

[Adafrog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very well researched and cited. It does, however, read like someone's PhD thesis +-someone who is trying to punish themselves for a wrong they've done. Very dense, and unrelenting. Both of these are difficult for me since I already know a lot of the material, so I'm really seeing the negative energy.
By all means, read this book, but in small pieces, probably with discussion. And don't forget the self care.

(Didn't finish it due to the above)

[Erin Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of books on this topic but this is by far the most comprehensive and well-researched. I appreciated how she detailed the political and social history of the topic and then tackled Scripture. The last chapter of personal stories by people she has met was heart-breaking. Definitely worth reading.

[Katriona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal reference book and does such a good job explaining how things came to be the way they are, and then connecting the threads of different aspects all together. It is very dense, and in the beginning I was struggling, but I love this book. The author does a great job of making the book easy to reference (since each chapter is about the history from a particular aspect, like slang, psychology/psychoanalysis, etc.), but then the later chapters connect to previous ones.

Ex (in much less formal words): you know all this crazy stuff currently being described? Remember that last chapter when X thing was happening? All of that was happening at the same time!

[Steven Colkmire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for church leaders or for those LGBTQ+ persons who have been hurt.

A long title, but it sums up who should read this book. You WILL learn something. I first found Ms. Baldock on YouTube, then on her web site. She helped a 68-70 year old queer man to be able to reconcile his faith and sexuality. I’m truly grateful for her witness.

[Aaron Crowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking the Bridgeless Canyon is the MOST thorough book on the subject of LGBT+ people in the Bible that I have ever come across. It not only addresses the Bible, but it also tackles the political and scientific contexts that eventually led to anti-gay theology.

[Tami Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book. I love that she backs up all her information with personal stories that really being the details to life. This is such an important topic, and the learning from it can truly be life saving.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read.