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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Without apology and with an honest chutzpah, Countryman, a New Testament professor, and Ritley, an Episcopal priest, explore the vocation and journey gay Christians have in the church. The writers see themselves as ministering to the church; they clarify that their task is not to justify the presence of gays there. That presence is simply a fact. But they also note that it is normal and healthy for the church to struggle with homosexuality, since the church is not a monolithic entity of likeminded people but a richly textured community of contradictory and diverse individuals. The authors declare that gay Christians have specific gifts to offer the church; they can serve the priesthood of believers as "icons," which the authors describe as windows that show a facet of God. In particular, gays who have experienced "wilderness times" in coming out and living as homosexual Christians can teach others about God's sustaining grace. And while the church is often afraid to face death, the AIDS epidemic has taught the gay community to deal with it as a part of life. On a lighter note, the authors say that the church needs the campiness of gay humor, since Christians forget too often that humor is a gift from God. Ritley and Countryman have written a thoughtful and provocative book for anyone who has struggled with what it means when gays are a part of the church.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Product Description
In the past two decades or so the issue of homosexuality has taken center stage at national and regional denominational meetings and in local church communities. The response of the majority of churches ranges from condemnation to toleration of the gay and lesbian community, neither of which offers much hope for homosexual Christians. In Gifted by Otherness L. William Countryman and M. R. Ritley conclude that being gay or lesbian is not actually a problem at all; rather it is a vocation, and, in fact, a gift to today's church.
As "outsiders" gay men and lesbians challenge the church to be inclusive of all God's children-the central message of the gospel. "God has drawn us to this difficult place," they write, "in order to reveal God's grace to us and in us and through us." Basing their book on retreats they have presented to churches and seminaries, Countryman and Ritley explore what it means to affirm, not merely accept, being gay or lesbian, as well as Christian. Written primarily for the lesbigay community, they explore the ways in which the gay and lesbian community can appropriate and re-tell the biblical story, and find confidence in their unique spiritual journey and gifts. This pro-active and self-affirming book provides new hope for those who feel that it is impossible to be gay or lesbian, as well as Christian.
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› Visit Amazon's Louis William Countryman Page
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
M. R.: Several years ago, a friend who knows my sense of humor very well sent me a card tor no occasion in particular, just on the assumption that (a) I would get a good laugh out of it, and (b) I probably needed one. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
gay tribe, gay spirituality, lesbian people, desert journey, gay woman Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Testament, Song of Songs, Master of the Caravan, Middle Ages, United States, Episcopal Church, Good Shepherd, Gospel of John, Old Testament, African American, Hashad the Fool, Lord God, Roman Catholic, Andre Fikri, Henry Vaughan, Son of Man, Song of Solomon New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
M. R.: Several years ago, a friend who knows my sense of humor very well sent me a card tor no occasion in particular, just on the assumption that (a) I would get a good laugh out of it, and (b) I probably needed one. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
gay tribe, gay spirituality, lesbian people, desert journey, gay woman Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Testament, Song of Songs, Master of the Caravan, Middle Ages, United States, Episcopal Church, Good Shepherd, Gospel of John, Old Testament, African American, Hashad the Fool, Lord God, Roman Catholic, Andre Fikri, Henry Vaughan, Son of Man, Song of Solomon New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
3
books
cite this book:
- Emerging Word: A Creation Spirituality Lectionary: Scripture Readings and Commentary for the Church Year by Donald Schmidt on page 91, and Back Matter
- Disclosures: Conversations Gay and Spiritual by Michael Ford in Back Matter
- Hearing with the Heart: A Gentle Guide to Discerning God's Will for Your Life by Debra K. Farrington in Back Matter
What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?
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75% buy the item featured on this page: Gifted by Otherness: Gay and Lesbian Christians in the Church $15.39 |
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9% buy Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians $12.21 |
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6% buy The Children Are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships $9.32 |
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5% buy Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America $11.56 |
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