Posts tagged ‘homosexuality’

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7 May, 2012

An empathetic understanding of homosexual attraction

by Andrew Rogers
Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill

Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

I’ve been reading various blogs today about Andy Stanley’s recent sermon illustration that included a homosexual couple (see part 5, beginning around 24:25) and Al Mohler’s response to that illustration.

All of this has got me thinking about Wesley Hill’s book Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality. (Hill has blogged for us before, and we also ran a blog tour for his book.) One of the unique benefits that comes with working in publishing is that publishers are constantly blessed with the opportunity to hear new ideas from thought leaders. Throughout the process of marketing Hill’s book I was blessed and challenged to consider what it might be like to struggle with same-sex attraction, yet want to remain celibate and honor God. It helped me gain what Hill calls an “empathetic understanding.” Watch the video below to learn more.

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2 March, 2012

Love is an Orientation blog tour is coming

by cubfann

We’re excited to announce the Love is an Orientation Blog Tour! During the week of March 12 Zondervan will be sharing blog posts of  reviews and thoughts on the new DVD curriculum from Andrew Marin, Love is an Orientation: Practical Ways to Build Bridges with the Gay Community.

Marin aims to equip Christian communities to find peaceful, productive ways to build bridges with the gay community. In the introduction, Marin writes:

 Rooted at or near the center of the constant social unrest and political culture wars that cover our landscape today seems to be the disconnect between the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, evangelicals, and conservatives in general. Each group has become subhuman to the other; a mere voting bloc that is preyed on and pressured by extreme activism tearing the fabric of our churches and government apart. It’s our time, right now, to step up and lead our culture forward by practicing what it means to build bridges among division, letting our surrounding world know that impact and authority are earned through those who know what it means to have love as their orientation.

It’s a topic that generates a lot of strong opinions on both sides. Marin has lived his message in his Chicago neighborhood, and his lessons are demonstrated in the DVD curriculum. The stories of lives that have been transformed by love are significant and the possibilities for further transformation in cities across the country are endless.

Keep an eye out for the blog tour coming in just a couple weeks. In the meantime, you can view a trailer for the curriculum here and watch the first session from the DVD below:

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15 March, 2011

“Online Coaching to Help Your Ministry” by W.P. Campbell

by Andrew Rogers

[Today's post is written by W.P. Campbell. You may remember his book from our blog tour or his older post. Enjoy! - AR]

William P. CampbellI am continually being asked, “How are people receiving your book, Turning Controversy into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality?”  Many offer this question with an anxious tone and a look of concern. One minister, in fact, looked me in the eyes and warned me, “Expect a firestorm to develop all around you, and to come against your church and family. Nobody can speak openly about this topic and not experience that kind of reaction.”

Surprisingly, the reception to the book and its adjoining resources has been very positive. Evangelical church leaders continually say things to me like “Now I get it,” or, “This is the most balanced book on this topic that I’ve read.”

Theologically liberal church leaders, and even many gay advocates have said things to me like, “Finally, a book that calls Christians to respond with compassion,” and, “this book is good for the church.” You can see reviews from various sides of the spectrum at http://www.amazon.com/Turning-Controversy-into-Church-Ministry/dp/0310321328 .

read more »

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14 March, 2011

Video: Wesley Hill discusses “Washed and Waiting”

by Andrew Rogers

Many of you recently participated in our blog tour for Washed and Waiting. The reception by all of you was incredible! Review after review highlighted what a blessing this book will be in future ministry to people struggling with homosexuality. I’m grateful for all of you support in getting the word out about this book, and for supporting Wesley Hill. Below is a clip from a recent interview. Perhaps as you tell others about Washed and Waiting you can show them this video as well.

We have more of our interview with Wesley to post later this week! Stay tuned.

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21 February, 2011

This Week: Washed and Waiting Blog Tour

by Andrew Rogers
Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill

Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

Look for reviews this week of Wesley Hill’s Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality. I’ll be keeping a list here of the reviews as I find them. If you are at all engaged in minstry with or to homosexuals you cannot miss this book!

-AR
Read a sample PDF
Read Wesley’s guest post on Engaging Church
Read Wesley’s Tumblr and follow @WesleyHill 

Reviews:
Chris Kidd – Applied Youth Ministry 
Till He Comes 
Peter Ould – An Exercise in the Fundamentals of Orthodoxy 
Can’t. Catch. My. Breath.
Blogging Theologically 
Ponderings by Andrea 
Simul Iustus et Peccator 
John Umland – the umbl0g
as I travel thru this Pilgrim Land 
Faith Reasonings 
Studium et Liturgica 
Chosen for Grace 
Methodist Justin 
Chris Blackstone 
Your Daily Strength 
Baker Book House Church Connection 
Against Nothingness 
Searching for Meaning and Purpose 
Fundamentally Reformed and a giveaway! 
Borrowed Light 
The THE Family 
Growing for Christ

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18 January, 2011

Washed and Waiting Blog Tour sign up

by Andrew Rogers

Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality is Wesley Hill’s debut book and it’s a powerful one at that. Here’s a brief descriptor:

In Washed and Waiting, Wesley Hill writes for gay Christians and those who love them. Part-memoir, part theological reflection, Hill shares the struggles that gay Christians face as they seek to live faithful to God’s “no” to homosexuality.

Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill

Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

If you google “Washed and Waiting” you might find reviews of Washed and Waiting in Relevant, The Harvard Ichthus, Between Two Worlds, Challies.com, plenty on Goodreads and Amazon, and Wesley’s guest post for EngagingChurch.

I encourage you to read those reviews and then sign up for our blog tour [Sorry! This blog tour sign up is now closed]. It’s clear that homosexuality will be a critical topic to the post-modern generation. Our culture seems to be (generally speaking) in the midst of a shift of beliefs and practices regarding homosexuality.

This book – perhaps more than any other available right now – can give Christians an incredible inside look at what it’s like to be a follower of Jesus that struggles with same-sex attraction. Pastors and church leaders simply can’t miss it. You will be able to understand, and minister to, homosexuals better.

Our blog tour wll be the week of February 21-25. You agree to post your review on your blog and on Amazon (or a similar site) and we’ll send you the book for free.

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25 September, 2010

10 Ministry Essentials and a recap of the Blog Tour

by Andrew Rogers
Turning Controversy into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality by W.P. Campbell

Turning Controversy into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality

I really enjoyed our recent blog tour supporting Turning Controversy into Church Ministry. I use the word “enjoyed” because throughtout the blog tour I sensed a genuine desire by all participants to approach the topic of homosexuality with love, respect, and general civility. Truly, that’s a step in the right direction for church ministry to those struggling with same-sex attraction - regardless of your belief on the matter. Thank you all.

On page 17 of Turning Controversy into Church Ministry W.P. Campbell offers us “Ten Ministry Essentials” that set the tone for how to minister to people struggling with same-sex attraction:

1. The best way to avoid extremes is to follow Christ’s example.

2. Churches that blend uncompromised grace and truth are positioned for dynamic ministry.

3. Ministry begins when we connect brokenness in our hearts with brokenness in others.

4. Church leadership is about godly role models, not rights.

read more »

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15 September, 2010

A Christlike Response to Homosexuality by W.P. Campbell

by Andrew Rogers

William P. Campbell

(Enjoy today’s guest blogger, W.P. Campbell.)

An author of several books related to the contemporary church recently told me, “Homosexuality will be the number one social issue to face the church for the next fifty years.” Whether or not he is right, of this I am certain: the church at large has failed to adequately address this issue in the fifty years now past.

As a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), I have been researching and teaching on this topic for over twenty years, and I have come to believe that the debates and conflicts related to homosexuality have done more harm than good to our congregations and denominations. Perhaps the greatest harm has been inflicted on those who suffer quietly with unwanted same-sex attractions and who struggle to locate a church home where they can find support to live in purity and obedience to God.

When we face our greatest challenges, our lesser challenges become more manageable.

read more »

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13 September, 2010

Blog Tour This Week: “Turning Controversy into Church Ministry”

by Andrew Rogers
Turning Controversy into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality by W.P. Campbell

Turning Controversy into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality

This week bloggers will be discussing W.P. Campbell’s Turning Controversy into Church Ministry: A Christlike Response to Homosexuality. As always, I’ll be keeping a running list of the review links here. 

Also, you can order copies of this book for 40% OFF and FREE shipping Monday through Friday of this week (9/13 – 9/17) at www.zondervan.com. Use this source code 980761. 

See video. Read sample. 

Stops on the Blog Tour:
Your Daily Strength
Searching for Meaning and Purpose
Christ Glory Alone
Against Nothingness 
Simul Iustus et Peccator 
Faith Reasonings 
The Squirrel Factor 
Ponderings by Andrea 
The Burner 
In Defense of Orthodoxy 
Baker Book House Church Connection 
Borrowed Light

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7 September, 2010

Washed and Waiting: Wesley Hill blogs on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

by Andrew Rogers
 
 

Wesley Hill, author of Washed and Waiting

Wesley Hill

Today’s post is by Wesley Hill, author of the new book, Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

When I began to wrestle with my homosexuality in a serious way, I was a Christian and a committed church member. The first people with whom I wanted to talk about my experience of same-sex desires were the pastors and elders at my church. Compassionate and understanding people that they were, these leaders looked for books and resources to help me grapple with what I was facing.

Disappointingly, however, we all came up short. There just didn’t seem to be any books we could find that described what it felt like to wrestle with homosexuality from the inside, as it were—as a Christian. There were plenty of books that talked about the causes and the results of homosexuality in individuals and families. There were also lots of books that talked about the “culture wars” and the relevant biblical passages and the governmental legislation about homosexuality and marriage. But, unfortunately, it was hard to find a personal, pastoral book that said, “Here is what it looks like to be a Christian and experience the reality of homosexuality firsthand. Here is my story…”

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