Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community

2010 Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year Award winner: culture category2010 Golden CanonLeadershipBook Award winnerRelevant Magazine: Top 20 Best Overall Books of 2009 winnerEnglewood Review of Books: Top 20 Best Overall Books of 2009 winnerChristian Manifesto 2009 Lime Award winnerAndrew Marin's life changed forever when his three best friends came out to him in three consecutive months. Suddenly he was confronted with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community (GLBT) firsthand. And he was compelled to understand how he could reconcile his friends to his faith.In an attempt to answer that question, he and his wife relocated to Boystown, a predominantly GLBT community in Chicago. And from his experience and wrestling has come his book,Love Is an Orientation,a work which elevates the conversation between Christianity and the GLBT community, moving the focus from genetics to gospel, where it really belongs. Why are so many people who are gay wary of people who are Christians? Do GLBT people need to change who they are? Do Christians need to change what they believe?Love Is an Orientationis changing the conversation about sexuality and spirituality, and building bridges from the GLBT community to the Christian community and, more importantly, to the good news of Jesus Christ.

When my friends came out — We don't need your God! — We are not your project : sexual behavior is gay identity — Stigma, shame, and politics : the GLBT experience in the broader culture — Gay versus Christian and gay Christians — Who are we looking to for validation? : the GLBT quest for good news from God — Reclaiming the word love : measurable unconditional behaviors — The Big 5 : principles for a more constructive conversation — Laying the foundation : commitment, boldness, and the Big 5 — Building the bridge : asking the right questions — Crossing a bridge : the world reads Christians, not the bible — Testimonies from the gay community.