What does the Bible say about sexuality and gender identity? What is it like growing up LGBTQ in the church? How might a parent or pastor best respond when a loved one comes out? At CenterPeace, we always encourage folks to prayerfully reflect on these questions. That's why we've compiled a list of recommended resources that we've found to be the most helpful, Some are written by scholars, delving into ancient texts and cultures. Others are by LGBTQ Christians sharing their stories. And some are the testimonies and insights of parents and church leaders.
Resources
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear."
1 John 4:18
It's always helpful to explore challenging subjects in community. Share what you're learning with a friend or a family member, or please reach out to us and we would be glad to connect with you.
Affirming: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality and Staying in the Church
CenterPeace is proud to present Affirming, written by our Executive Director Sally Gary
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In this deeply personal memoir, Sally traces the experiences, conversations, and scriptural reading that culminated in her seeing her sexuality as something that made sense within the context of her faith—not outside of it or in opposition to it. Along the way, she addresses specific aspects of her journey that will resonate with many other gay Christians: the loneliness and isolation of her previously celibate life, the futile attempts she made to resist or even “change” her sexual orientation, and the fear of intimacy that followed a lifetime of believing same-sex relationships were sinful.
Sally’s story—one of heritage, learning, courage, and love—is written especially for the generations of LGBTQ Christians after her who are questioning whether they can stay part of the church they call home. It’s a resounding reminder that, just like Sally’s own heart, things can change, and sometimes, when we earnestly search for the truth, we find it in the most unexpected places.
What's it like to be an LGBTQ Christian?
Blue Babies Pink
B. T. Harman​
Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gay-vs.-Christian Debate
Justin Lee
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Deeper Waters: Building Bridges Over Cultural Conflict
Amie Scott​
Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality
​Wesley Hill (celibate gay Christian)
CenterPeace Director, Sally Gary, has written two memoirs. The first one, Loves God, Likes Girls (2013) details her growing up years. This book covers the period when she held a traditionalist view of same-sex relationships. The second one, Affirming (2021) is a sequel and shares the story of how she eventually came to reconcile her faith and sexuality. Read them both to experience what it's like to take this journey.
How can churches and families respond in love?
Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community
Andrew Marin
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See also his book:
Us versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion and the LGBT Community
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Embracing the Journey: A Christian Parents' Blueprint to Loving Your LGBTQ Child
Greg & Lynn McDonald
Love Makes Room: And Other Things I Learned When My Daughter Came Out
Staci Frenes
Why Churches Need to Talk About Sexuality
Mark Wingfield
Stranger God: Meeting Jesus in Disguise
Richard Beck
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See also his book:
Unclean: Meditations on Purity, Hospitality, and Mortality
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Love First
Don McLaughlin
Unarmed Empire
Sean Palmer
Talking Across the Divide
Justin Lee
What does the Bible say about same-sex relationships?
Bible, Gender, Sexuality​
James Brownson
What about gender identity?
Sex Difference in Christian Theology: Male, Female, and Intersex in the Image of God
Megan DeFranza
Scripture, Ethics & the Possibility of Same-Sex Relationships
Karen R. Keen​
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Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians
​Austen Hartke
God and the Gay Christian
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Matthew Vines
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Understanding Gender Dysphoria
Mark Yarhouse
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Documentary:
Loves God, Likes Girls
What’s it like to grow up in a conservative Christian world and realize one is gay? Watch as filmmaker Jordan Bunch follows CenterPeace director, Sally Gary. Raised in the Church of Christ, a spiritual heritage she still cherishes, Sally tells us about the fears of coming out and what happened when she did. A powerful story of courage and faith.