Queer Theology

For my day job I work at a mainline church with a mostly older, wealthy, white, congregation. It’s a place that has been good to me, but where I sometimes feel out of step. This year I was asked to be the guest preacher for our annual Pride Sunday. I don’t get to preach at this church very often and so I wanted to make this one count. But I was nervous. Actually, I was more than nervous; I was terrified! I wanted to be bold but I was afraid it would make people mad. I wanted to be prophetic but I was afraid I would be dismissed because of my age. I didn’t know what to do. I thought about playing it safe. I could easily preach a “nice” sermon that would make people feel good and allow them to pat themselves on the back for all the good work done but I knew that if I did that I wouldn’t feel good about it. After weeks of going back and forth and warring with myself I decided that I was going to preach what I felt called to preach and let the chips fall where they may (even if it meant that I would be looking for a new job come Monday). The result is this sermon, titled after a poem of Audre Lorde’s called “We Were Never Meant To Survive”. I hope that this sermon inspires you to take action, to be bold, and to tell the truth even if it might cost you. The post “We Were Never Meant to Survive” appeared first on Queer Theology.

What does it mean that God is on our side? How can this passage be a comfort to queer and trans* people of faith? Brian and Fr. Shay talk about persecution, feeling oppressed, and how this passage gives them hope. The post God is On Our Side – Jeremiah 20:10-13 appeared first on Queer Theology.

  The Genesis Creation story is often used to condemn queer folks for their sexuality and transgender people for their gender identities. In this week’s podcast Brian offers an imaginative retelling of the Genesis story and offers us a new window into how to be imaginative with the text. Read the transcript (PDF) The post God Is Your Wingman – Genesis 1:1-2:4 appeared first on Queer Theology.

It’s Pentecost 2014 and Brian and Fr. Shay are talking about dreaming dreams and having visions! What does this text have to say to our modern church and the modern queer and trans movement? How have our visions become narrow as we’ve seen success? How can we dream new dreams and new visions to create a new world? All this and more on this week’s podcast! The post Get A Bigger Vision – Acts 2:1-21 appeared first on Queer Theology.

This week Brian and Fr. Shay base an entire podcast on three verses. What in the world do these verses have to say to us today? How do we deal with our families and our queer identities? What do Mary and Jesus’ Brothers have to do with queer activism? All this and more on this week’s podcast. The post Mary Was With Them – Acts 1:12-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Fr. Shay talk about the Gospel reading for May 25th. What does it mean that a Comforter will come to us? How does this passage speak comfort to queer and transgender Christians? What does it mean to keep the commandments of Jesus? All this and more on this week’s podcast. The post A Comforter Will Come – John 14:15-21 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Fr. Shay talk about Peter’s altar call and what it has to say to queer and trans Christians today. What do we need to repent of? What does it mean that death no longer has a hold on us? What does all of this mean in our movement for liberation? Listen in! The post Repent & Be Saved! – Acts 2:14-41 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Brian and Fr. Shay talk about the disciples on the road to Emmaus who have an encounter with Jesus. What do we do with these post-resurrection stories? How do grapple with what is “true” and what is “real”? What can the encounter on the road to Emmaus teach us as queer and trans Christians today? Luke 24:13-35 On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from recognizing him. He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, their faces downcast. The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?” He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago. But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.” Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about. Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets. When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?” They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread. Photo by BMcIvr The post When the Work Begins – Luke 24:13-35 appeared first on Queer Theology.

The Queer Lectionary Podcast turns ONE! Brian and Fr. Shay celebrate the one year anniversary of the podcast! What can the queer community learn from the early church in the book of Acts? What can the church learn from the queer community? We tackle a popular passage and share how we think it can be lived out today. Photo by Alex E. Proimos The post And There Were No Needy Among Them – Acts 2:42-47 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Happy Easter! Brian and Fr. Shay queer the resurrection. What does it mean that Jesus first appears to women? How can we read this story as inspiration for queer and trans people? Tackle these questions and more on this week’s podcast! Photo Credit: Mike_tn The post Unlikely Witnesses – Matthew 28:1-10 appeared first on Queer Theology.