Are you interested in learning about ways to better love (and create safer spiritual homes) for LGBTQ+ Christians?
In this episode, we’re honored to learn from Bridget Eileen Rivera about her journey growing up in Reformed Baptist church, coming out, and ways the church can better love and care for LGBTQ+ Christians.
In fact, this is the topic of her latest book entitled: “Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ. Christians Experience Harm in the Church,” where she addresses the pain, trauma and discrimination that many LGBTQ people have experienced in the church – and steps that churches (and all of us) need to take to create safe and inclusive spiritual homes.
Bridget Eileen Rivera is a sociologist completing her PhD at the City University of New York Graduate Center. Rivera has become a leading voice on gay celibacy in the church, helping Christians better grapple with gender and sexuality in a divided culture. She has worked with a number of faith-based organizations, including Revoice, Christians for Social Action, and Preston Sprinkle’s Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. Follow her on social media at @travelingnun.
You can download or listen to the conversation here:
You can also subscribe or download this episode on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or YouTube.
Here are some video clips from our conversation:
• Coming Out in a Reformed Baptist Church
• Christian Ignorance on LGBTQ+ Issues
• When You Realize You’re Gay & Christian
• Ways LGBTQ+ Christians May Struggle with Faith & Mental Health
• Dealing with Rumors That You’re Gay in the Church
• How Christians Should Respond When Someone Comes Out
You can catch the full video conversation with Bridget Eileen Rivera here.
And make sure to get your copy of “Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church,” which is published by BrazosPress, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
It’s a fantastic, well-researched book that has helped me better understand the struggle and pain that many LGBTQ Christians have felt (and ways the church can bring healing).
If you love books that will help you critically think about the Bible, the role of the church, and LGBTQ issues, you’ll appreciate this important resource. Bridget has a beautiful ability to take complex (and sometimes controversial LGBTQ issues) and make them understandable to Christians who may have never encountered these topics before. And – best of all — the insights from this outstanding book will give you more empathy and love for our LGBTQ+ Christian community.
