Beyond Heterosexism in the Pulpit

This book is not another volume attempting to persuade the reader of the rights of gays and lesbians in society and in the church. Instead it assumes the reader is a minister or student of ministry who already has a passion for this issue and is looking for better strategies to speak out of this passion in the pulpit. Too often progressive preachers avoid speaking about issues related to sexual orientation out of fear of rejection from the congregation, or address them in ways that unintentionally alienates either gay or straight hearers. Askew and Allen offer preachers tools for recognizing and prophetically countering heterosexism in the pulpit while being pastoral toward those in the pews who may not hold the same view as the preacher. The range of issues found at the intersection of homosexuality and the proclamation of the Christian gospel in light of the church's division and the changing landscape of society's attitudes is diverse and complex. Allen and Askew represent the combination of critical theology and contemporary homiletics needed to offer preachers new strategies for advocating against social and ecclesial discrimination directed at homosexuals and for the full inclusion of all in the church.You hold in your hands a book that's going to help you learn how to modify your language in order to welcome a new liberation with your preaching as well as your personal conversation. . . . Askew and Allen help us understand and welcome an unacknowledged group within every parish and culture. . . . [They] help us adapt, consider, and express a welcoming sensitivity for still another social group that has long waited for God's liberation to be offered to them. I am honored to celebrate their work.--David G. Buttrick, from the ForewordIf you are a progressive minister called to bring issues of sexuality into the pulpit and into wider conversation in the congregation, this book is for you. Beyond Heterosexism in the Pulpit offers practical guidance on how a preacher can make a liberating prophetic witness in solidarity with the LGBTQI community while communicating pastorally and compassionately with listeners who are undecided or who do not agree.--Ronald J. Allen, Professor of Preaching and Gospels and Letters, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, INEmily Askew is Associate Professor of Theology at Lexington Theological Seminary.O. Wesley Allen, Jr. is Professor of Homiletics and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books on preaching, including The Homiletic of All Believers (2005), Preaching and Reading the Lectionary (2007), and Matthew (2013).