Queering Christianity
Finding a Place at the Table for LGBTQI Christians
Published on 25. June 2013
Book
Hardback
432 pages
978-1-4408-2965-9 (ISBN)
Description
A fascinating read for anyone seeking to understand the conflict between Christianity and LGBTQI individuals, this book is, as its editors proclaim, "a fearlessly wide vision of queer Christians finding a place within Christianity-and claiming their authentic experience and voice."
Through essays by noted lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) religion scholars, this important compilation summarizes the history and current status of LGBTQI theology, exploring its relationship to the policies, practices, and theology of traditional Christianity. Contributors contrast the "radically inclusive" thinking of LGBTQI theology with the "exclusivity" practiced by many Christian churches, explaining the reasoning of each and clarifying contentious issues. At the same time, the book highlights ways in which "queer" theology and practice benefit Christian congregations.
Writing from the perspective of grassroots Christian LGBTQI movements, many of the contributors draw upon their own experiences. They provide graphic examples of the effects exclusion has on individuals, congregations, and denominations, and also share examples of inclusion and its effects. Equally important, the work creates the basis for dialogue between traditional churches and followers of LGBTQI theology, offering practical suggestions for Christian congregations that wish to put aside exclusionary policies and practices.
Through essays by noted lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) religion scholars, this important compilation summarizes the history and current status of LGBTQI theology, exploring its relationship to the policies, practices, and theology of traditional Christianity. Contributors contrast the "radically inclusive" thinking of LGBTQI theology with the "exclusivity" practiced by many Christian churches, explaining the reasoning of each and clarifying contentious issues. At the same time, the book highlights ways in which "queer" theology and practice benefit Christian congregations.
Writing from the perspective of grassroots Christian LGBTQI movements, many of the contributors draw upon their own experiences. They provide graphic examples of the effects exclusion has on individuals, congregations, and denominations, and also share examples of inclusion and its effects. Equally important, the work creates the basis for dialogue between traditional churches and followers of LGBTQI theology, offering practical suggestions for Christian congregations that wish to put aside exclusionary policies and practices.
Reviews / Votes
The book demonstrates the intellectual and spiritual creativity that some LGBT Christians have brought to bear in their efforts to reclaim Christianity and to simultaneously transform many of the traditional elements of Christianity. * American Psychological Association *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
813 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4408-2965-9 (9781440829659)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Robert E. Shore-Goss | Thomas Bohache | Patrick S. Cheng
Queering Christianity
Finding a Place at the Table for Lgbtqi Christians
E-Book
06/2013
1st Edition
Praeger Publishers Inc
€65.99
Available for download
Robert E. Shore-Goss | Thomas Bohache | Patrick S. Cheng
Queering Christianity
Finding a Place at the Table for Lgbtqi Christians
E-Book
06/2013
1st Edition
Praeger Publishers Inc
€65.99
Available for download
Persons
Robert E. Shore-Goss, ThD, is pastor of Metropolitan Community Church in the Valley, North Hollywood, CA. He received his doctorate from Harvard University in theology and comparative religions with a specialization in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Christianity.
Reverend Thomas Bohache, DMin, has been a pastor in the Metropolitan Community Churches for 25 years. He holds a doctorate in feminist liberation theologies from the Episcopal Divinity School.
Patrick S. Cheng, PhD, JD, is associate professor of historical and systematic theology at the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA. Cheng holds a doctorate in systematic theology from Union Theological Seminary and a juris doctor from Harvard Law School.
Reverend Mona West, PhD, is director of formation and leadership development for Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) and was affirmed as an Elder in MCC in 2012. She earned a doctorate in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament from Southern Seminary and also holds a certificate in spiritual formation from Columbia Seminary.
Reverend Thomas Bohache, DMin, has been a pastor in the Metropolitan Community Churches for 25 years. He holds a doctorate in feminist liberation theologies from the Episcopal Divinity School.
Patrick S. Cheng, PhD, JD, is associate professor of historical and systematic theology at the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA. Cheng holds a doctorate in systematic theology from Union Theological Seminary and a juris doctor from Harvard Law School.
Reverend Mona West, PhD, is director of formation and leadership development for Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) and was affirmed as an Elder in MCC in 2012. She earned a doctorate in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament from Southern Seminary and also holds a certificate in spiritual formation from Columbia Seminary.
Content
Introduction: Queering the Table
Robert E. Shore-Goss
At the Open Table Cafe
Douglas Smith
Part I. Radically Inclusive Models of God
Patrick S. Cheng
1. Faithful to a Very Queer-Acting God, Who Is Always Up to Something New
Robin H. Gorsline
2. Cur Deus Homo[sexual]: The Queer Incarnation
Patrick S. Cheng
3. Grace Is Green: Green Incarnational Inclusivities
Robert E. Shore-Goss
4. The Transgendered Christ
Megan More
5. The Holy Spirit as Mischief-Maker
Robert E. Shore-Goss
Part II. Opening the Body of Christ
Thomas Bohache
6. Can We Sex This? Eroticizing Divinity and Humanity
Thomas Bohache
7. Reinterpreting Baptism: An Ongoing Dialogue
Bryce E. Rich
8. Toward a Church of Radical Christmas: The Open Communion in MCC and Its Ecclesiological Consequences
Axel Schwaigert
9. Beyond the Open Table: Queering Holy Communion
Rachelle Brown
10. Innovations in Queer Theology: Embodying MCC's Open Communion through Theatre of the Oppressed
Kerri Mesner
11. Communion: Playing with Redemption
Nic Arnzen with the Cast and Friends of Corpus Christi
12. Bodhisattva Christianity: A Case of Multiple Religious Belonging
Robert E. Shore-Goss
13. Unzipping Church: Is There Room for Everyone?
Thomas Bohache
Part III. Opening the Table Pastorally
Mona West
14. Pastoral Care of Transgendered Youth
Joseph Shore-Goss
15. Putting on Wedding Drag: Pastoral Care for Healing and Wholeness in the Queer Congregation
Joan M. Saniuk
16. An Inclusive Table: Same-Sex Marriage
Neil Thomas
17. Coming to the Table in Leather
Lea Brown
18. Queer Lectio Divina
Mona West
19. Spiritual Companioning: The Art of Being Present to the Spiritual Traveler and Lighting the Path
Joseph Shore-Goss
20. Queer Hymnody: Celebrating Lesbian and Gay Poets and Composers
Jim Mitulski, Donna Hamilton, and Nancy Hall
About the Editors and Contributors
Index
Robert E. Shore-Goss
At the Open Table Cafe
Douglas Smith
Part I. Radically Inclusive Models of God
Patrick S. Cheng
1. Faithful to a Very Queer-Acting God, Who Is Always Up to Something New
Robin H. Gorsline
2. Cur Deus Homo[sexual]: The Queer Incarnation
Patrick S. Cheng
3. Grace Is Green: Green Incarnational Inclusivities
Robert E. Shore-Goss
4. The Transgendered Christ
Megan More
5. The Holy Spirit as Mischief-Maker
Robert E. Shore-Goss
Part II. Opening the Body of Christ
Thomas Bohache
6. Can We Sex This? Eroticizing Divinity and Humanity
Thomas Bohache
7. Reinterpreting Baptism: An Ongoing Dialogue
Bryce E. Rich
8. Toward a Church of Radical Christmas: The Open Communion in MCC and Its Ecclesiological Consequences
Axel Schwaigert
9. Beyond the Open Table: Queering Holy Communion
Rachelle Brown
10. Innovations in Queer Theology: Embodying MCC's Open Communion through Theatre of the Oppressed
Kerri Mesner
11. Communion: Playing with Redemption
Nic Arnzen with the Cast and Friends of Corpus Christi
12. Bodhisattva Christianity: A Case of Multiple Religious Belonging
Robert E. Shore-Goss
13. Unzipping Church: Is There Room for Everyone?
Thomas Bohache
Part III. Opening the Table Pastorally
Mona West
14. Pastoral Care of Transgendered Youth
Joseph Shore-Goss
15. Putting on Wedding Drag: Pastoral Care for Healing and Wholeness in the Queer Congregation
Joan M. Saniuk
16. An Inclusive Table: Same-Sex Marriage
Neil Thomas
17. Coming to the Table in Leather
Lea Brown
18. Queer Lectio Divina
Mona West
19. Spiritual Companioning: The Art of Being Present to the Spiritual Traveler and Lighting the Path
Joseph Shore-Goss
20. Queer Hymnody: Celebrating Lesbian and Gay Poets and Composers
Jim Mitulski, Donna Hamilton, and Nancy Hall
About the Editors and Contributors
Index