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.Gay...

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.

Gay and lesbian Christians are in the awkward position of trying to explain themselves to two mutually hostile audiences. On the one side, the gay-lesbian community is often deeply suspicious of anyone connected with Christianity. On the other side sits the church, which often wishes that gays and lesbians would go away, or at least disappear into the woodwork quietly. But the gay and lesbian community has a unique vocation in today's church, one of challenging the church's to be inclusive of all God's children-the central message of the Gospel.

Based on retreats they have presented to churches and seminaries, authors L. William Countryman and M. R. Ritley explore what it means to affirm, not merely accept, being gay and lesbian, as well as being Christian. This pro-active and self-affirming book provides new hope for the LGBT community, their families, and confidently appropriating and retelling the Biblical story of this unique and gifted minority's spiritual journey.

"[A] powerful Magna Carta for gay and lesbian Christians and a compelling call to the church not to stand in the way of Jesus's unconditional love."-Malcolm Boyd, author of Are You Running with Me, Jesus?

Author: M. R. Ritley, L. William Countryman
Publisher: Morehouse Publishing
Published: 09/01/2001
Pages: 176
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.61lbs
Size: 9.04h x 6.00w x 0.46d
ISBN: 9780819218865


Award: Lambda Literary Awards - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 08/13/2001 pg. 308

About the Author
Ritley, M. R.: - The late M. R. Ritley, was an Episcopal priest, a teacher, writer, and historian with a deep interest in spiritual narrative and the ways story shapes our inner lives.Countryman, L. William: - L. William Countryman has authored numerous books for scholars and laity. He is a retired professor of New Testament from Church Divinity School of the Pacific.