Affirming took a lifetime to write.
Not really, but not until recently did I realize that the process I’ve gone through to become affirming actually started long before I was born.
My new book, Affirming, is a memoir about faith, sexuality, and staying in the church. It’s a book of stories about all the things throughout my lifetime that have influenced the way I interpret Scripture. It’s my way of explaining how I came to be affirming of same-sex marriage.
Affirming is a book for LGBTQ+ people who are still trying desperately to hold on to the faith of their youth. It’s for all my LGBTQ+ friends who have been made to feel there is no place for them in church, or with God. It’s for my dear friends who have given up on any faith at all. My hope and prayer is that this book will be an encouragement.
Affirming is a book for Christians who still wrestle with the thought of someone who is gay also being a faithful Christian. For Christians who are uncomfortable with the life of aloneness we have subjected LGBTQ+ Christians to, but can’t quite bring themselves to see Scripture differently. And it’s for those who can’t imagine anyone who calls herself a Christian thinking that marriage between two people of the same sex is okay with God.
Affirming is a book for anyone who loves an LGBTQ+ person and wants to help make a way for us to be fully embraced in our families and in our churches.
But more than anything, Affirming invites all of us to rethink the ways we’ve responded, and as a result, have driven LGBTQ+ people away from the church. It’s an invitation to learn new ways of nurturing LGBTQ+ youth, keeping them engaged in faith communities where they can continue to grow spiritually.
Affirming is not a debate case, carefully and strategically laying out arguments to move readers to accept a different interpretation of Scripture. Through the power of story, though, I hope that anyone who reads Affirming will become curious enough to study more on their own.
At the very least, I hope readers will come to see that devoutly faithful followers of Christ can reach different conclusions about Scripture and remain in close fellowship.
Next Tuesday, February 23, Affirming will be released into the world! Copies are available for pre-order on Amazon and other major booksellers.
AND please join us for an Online Launch Party on Tuesday, February 23, at 7 p.m. on the CenterPeace Facebook page! I’ll do readings from the book and we’ll have some guest appearances, along with questions from the audience. Sign up as “Going” on our Facebook page and you’ll be automatically registered for a free book give away! Don’t miss it!
Until then, friends, I’ll be posting more insights from the stories I share in Affirming here on the blog. Lots of good stuff coming your way!
I would love to win a free book! I have longed to learn more about this aspect of my faith and Christ’s response. Obviously loving LGBTQ+ is the obvious response, but what does love look like? What does support look like, especially when it’s a close family member? This would be a great opportunity to grow my faith❤️