Coming Out in Christianity: Religion, Identity, and Community

For many Christians, "homosexuality" is an issue. It is often considered a matter of "us" versus "them," or worse, for gay men and women, a question of their behavior, not something intrinsic to their identity. Coming Out in Christianity examines this conflict from the point of view of a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians. It focuses on current and former members of two Metropolitan Community Churches in California that serve predominantly LGBT Christians. Based on original research, including more than 70 in-depth interviews, the book explores life histories, current beliefs, cultural settings, and community influences to learn what helped each forge an identity as both gay and Christian. These powerful case studies will help to deepen our understanding of both religion and personal identity.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [205]-213) and index.

Melissa M. Wilcox is Visiting Johnston Professor of Religion at Whitman College. The author of several articles on various aspects of LGBT religiosity and on religious responses to violence, she is also co-editor of Sexuality and the World's Religions and is a member of the advisory committee for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Religious Archives Network.

Preliminary Table of Contents:

Preface

Prologue: A Tale of Two Communions

I. Identity

1. Converging and Diverging Roads

2. Christians Coming Out

II. Community

3. Creating a Space

4. Creating New Worlds

5. Re-Creating the World

III. Identity in Community

6. We Took the One Less Traveled

Epilogue: Roads Less Traveled

Appendix A. Index of Participants

Appendix B. UFMCC Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and Doctrine

Appendix C. Survey Demographics

Notes

Selected Bibliography

Index