There’s a lively debate that has been taking place in the church around the world for a good number of years now around the subject of sexuality, faith and the church’s response to those who identify as LGBTQ+. Increasingly, evangelical Christians are questioning the traditional interpretation of the teaching of the Bible on this difficult subject. To some even asking those questions feels like the church bowing to the spirit of the age, to others it feels like a long overdue re-evaluation of an area of theology which has been skewed by prejudice and pre-supposition. For many it is a highly personal and emotive subject. Without a doubt it is a complex and nuanced discussion. So what are we to make of the newer interpretations of Bible passages that we perhaps thought were cut and dried in their interpretation?
Over the next few months we will be having a monthly Sunday evening meeting where we can start to explore this subject. They will include some teaching, some Q&A and plenty of group discussion. This is a highly contentious subject and, doubtless, the “safe” thing to do would be to keep our heads down and avoid discussing it. But it is far too important a topic for us to ignore any longer. We want to invite anyone who is a regular part of the TBC church family to join us and to join the conversation. We may not all agree (let’s be real, we won’t all agree) but the condition of taking part is an absolute commitment to gentleness, kindness and respect as we explore a difficult subject in the presence of a loving God. Our first session will be Sunday 29th January but after that it will be the third Sunday of every month.
The title “Sexuality, Faith and the Art of Conversation” is one that I have borrowed from a book by a fellow Baptist Minister who has led his church through a similar process of listening to God and listening to each other. I borrowed the title (with permission) because it reflects my overriding hope for this series of discussions, which is that we will learn to listen well and respond graciously even when we do not see eye to eye.
Paul