Have you ever sought the approval of others or been obsessed with what others think about you?
No. Wait. I’m probably the only one.
Or am I? Maybe I’m wrong.
Do you think I’m wrong?
I wonder if you think this is a weak opening. Do you think it is?
Maybe it’s not good enough and I should start all [...]

Posted in Christian Lesbian Identity, Coming Out, Gifted by Otherness, Queering the Bible, Special Series 6 Comments »

When I wrote the other day that I believe we are who we are and we love who we love because it’s by God’s design and for God’s purpose that we’re GLBTQ people; when I called being gay a divine calling, a holy vocation and for the sake of the Gospel, I was saying I [...]

Posted in Christian Lesbian Identity, Coming Out, Gifted by Otherness, Queering the Bible, Special Series 12 Comments »

Oh. I forgot one widdle biddy piece of the story. In John 11 the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead plays all the way out from sickness to death to grave to new life. The chapter ends with the Sanhedrin gathering to discuss the problem of Jesus and ultimately determining to take his [...]

Posted in Christian Lesbian Identity, Coming Out, Queering the Bible 3 Comments »

I know. I know.
It took Jesus less time to raise Lazarus from the dead that it’s taking me to write about it. Brevity has never been a gift of mine, but we’ll get to the end eventually.
Lazarus has been dead four days and it wasn’t forest-scented potpourri filling the air.

(vs. 39)
Without the benefit of the [...]

Posted in Christian Lesbian Identity, Coming Out, Queering the Bible 2 Comments »

Lazarus came out of the grave, not out of the closet. He was dead, not gay. I, on the other hand, am gay and when I read and reflect on the words of Scripture it becomes the living, breathing, inspiring word of God to the extent I find meaning in its pages that speak [...]

Posted in Christian Lesbian Identity, Coming Out, Queering the Bible 6 Comments »

Getting back to where I left off before life, laundry, and laziness intervened, here are some thoughts as I read the story of Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32 and how there might be some connecting points for those GLBTQ Christians who find themselves still struggling to reconcile their faith and sexuality. As the [...]

Posted in Coming Out, Queering the Bible 2 Comments »

I’m struggling. I don’t know why I waited so long to ask for help. It’s odd how growing up I felt so close to God. When no one knew I was a lesbian. Then when I came out it was as if I hadn’t believed in God at all. All the things I said about [...]

Posted in Christian Lesbian Identity, Email Outtakes, Queering the Bible, Questioning 4 Comments »

I’m struggling. I don’t know why I waited so long to ask for help. It’s odd how growing up I felt so close to God. When no one knew I was a lesbian. Then when I came out it was as if I hadn’t believed in God at all. All the things I said [...]

Posted in Christian Lesbian Identity, Email Outtakes, Queering the Bible, Questioning No Comments »

A Sermon by Jay Emerson Johnson, Programming and Development Director at the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry, presented on National Coming Out Day at Pacific School of Religion, 2005.
According to Genesis, the beauty and wonders of creation came out of a formless void.
Abraham, our ancient ancestor in faith, came out [...]

Posted in Coming Out, Queering the Bible, Theology No Comments »

This message was presented during a “Coming-Out” service at Pacific School of Religion in the Fall of 2002 by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS). Click here for the audio transcript.
My name is Anita. I’m a third year student here at Pacific School of Religion, seeking ordination in [...]

Posted in Christian Lesbian Identity, Opposing, Personal Stories, Public Homilies, Queering the Bible, Questioning No Comments »