Coming Out as Sacrament [Paperback]

Chris Glaser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1998

Gay Christian author and activist Chris Glaser believes that sexual minorities, often denied their churches' traditional sacraments, have found unique access to the sacred in their lives: coming out of the closet. Glaser persuasively argues that coming out--as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered--has biblical precedence and sacramental dimensions. Using personal and biblical illustrations, he discusses coming out as an act of vulnerability, much like a sacrificial offering of ancient times, that invokes God's presence and effects atonement, or reconciliation. In this engaging book he shows how coming out, like other sacraments, may serve as a means of grace--that is, an experience of God's unconditional love.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Well-known Christian gay activist Glaser (Uncommon Calling, John Knox, 1996) asserts that the Christian Scriptures themselves defend the self-affirmation of gays and lesbians in the Church and provide pertinent examples of courage and opennness toward outcasts from the lives and teachings of Moses, Jesus, the Psalmist, and others. He also provides seven sample rituals of commitment and celebration (not including, it should be noted, marriage) for the Church's rejected children. Likely to become indispensable for gay and lesbian Christians, Glaser's book will be widely discussed. For most collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Chris Glaser is the interim Pastor of Virginia Highland Church, a United Church of Christ and progressive Baptist congregation in the Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. He is an author, lecturer, theologian, and minister. He has authored many books, including Uncommon Calling: A Gay Man's Struggle to Serve the Church, Come Home! Reclaiming Spirituality and Community as Gay Men and Lesbians, and Coming Out as Sacrament.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; 1st edition (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664257488
• ISBN-13: 978-0664257484
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,163,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh Biblical insights to an event many have experienced, January 19, 1999

By 

Robert Lodwick ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coming Out as Sacrament (Paperback)

I heartily commend to you Chris Glaser's newest book, "Coming Out as Sacrament." I have just finished reading it and wished this book had been written three decades ago when I began my own laborious "coming out" process. Chris affirms that "Coming Out is our unique sacrament, a rite of vulnerability that reveals the sacred in our lives--our worth, our love, our love-making, our beloved, our community, our context of meaning, and our God."

Coming out from the confines of the closet, whatever it may be, should be a freeing and transforming experience for everyone in the lesbigay and transgendered community. In his own unique and creative style, Chris brings fresh insights to an event we have all faced and one which has affected our families and our friends as well.

I am impressed by Chris' Biblical scholarship and the way this informs all of his writings. The chapters on "Coming Out in the Bible" and "God Comes Out" are exciting and extremely insightful.

A unique feature of this book are seven "Rites of the Soul" which Chris offers to us in our journey to wholeness -- affirmations of our belovedness, commitment to justice, and the "celebration of glimpses of the inbreaking of God's victory and vision of a common spiritual wealth for us all". This will be a book you will want to share with others in and out of the closet, including parents and allies. 

Chris Glaser, Coming Out as Sacrament, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY ISBN 0-664-25748-8

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coming Out with God, May 22, 2000

By 

James Hiller (Beaverton, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Coming Out as Sacrament (Paperback)

Chris Glaser's finely tuned and wonderfully supportive book, "Coming Out as Sacrament" bridges the gap between homosexuality and the Church in a kind and gentle demeanor. I appreciated Glaser's straightforward (no pun intended) approach to spirtuality, and found many spots for self-reflection throughout this book.

Especially powerful for me was Glaser's recounting of Biblical stories that support "coming out". His assertion that a central theme in life is "coming out" is very true, and shown time and time again through Biblical stories, from Adam and Eve to Paul. His point that God, through the Old Testament, is virtually unknowable to us mere humans, and that he himself "comes out" through the personage of Jesus Christ is both revelationary and comforting to me.

It continouslly impressed me that as Glaser was writing this book, he himself was falling under scrunity and controversy from his congregation and religion, who were struggling with gay issues. Yet, he maintains his composure, his focus, and his desire to show that being gay and being Christian are very compatable, despite the gross misinterpretation and societal pressure plays in those roles.

Three cheers for "Coming Out as Sacrament", a must read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the re-read, June 13, 2011

By 

Trudie Barreras - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Coming Out as Sacrament (Paperback)

Having read most of Chris Glaser's books, I want to say that any one of them is well worth a re-read. This book in particular, however, was brought back to my awareness as I prepared to participate in a workshop on Spirituality and Sexuality presented by Glaser at our church, First MCC of Atlanta, this past weekend.

My own perception is that one of the greatest problems in our culture is the rampant dishonesty which colors our entire world-view, but most specifically aspects of sexuality and sexual orientation. I believe most profoundly that the only way to sanity and wholeness in any individual's life is the integration of personality that includes all of who they are. In our interactions with other humans, we will not have any true love or authenticity until we do in fact bring our personal reality to the encounter.

Glaser's book thoroughly investigates the process of becoming whole and wholesome from the perspective of God's Coming-Out to humankind, culminating, of course, in the reality of Jesus. It is powerful, inspiring, and combined with the other insights that Glaser has shared in his other writing, something I will continue to revisit as the opportunities arise.