Queer Theology

Brian and Shay talk about the gift of queer testimony and making space for queer and trans* people to tell their stories. Check out this year's Queer Theology Synchroblog!

Brian and Shay talk about the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man in this week's podcast. What are the importance of names in the story? What are the importance of names in the queer community? Tackling issues of Transgender Day of Remembrance and more, Brian and Shay queer this familiar story.

What is the role of negative emotion in the life of a Christian? Is it ever okay to be angry and rage? What is the role of a preacher in creating space for anger? Brian and Shay tackle a passage from Jeremiah.   Photo credit: Original by Moyan Brenn, modified under Creative Commons

Jesus tells two parables about lost things and Brian and Shay wonder about where we find ourselves in Jesus' stories. Are you the shepherd or the sheep? The widow or the coin? Or are you one of the legal experts listening? How does our social location determine how we hear Jesus' stories?

Brian and Shay tackle a tough discipleship passage in Luke. What is required of us when we follow Jesus? How does this passage speak to people who consider themselves allies of the queer and/or trans* community? We think the call to discipleship is harder and more exciting than we've been taught as of late.

Brian and Shay tackle a passage that talks about marriage and sexual immorality! We talk about overcoming our own fear in reclaiming this text and also about the propensity of people to miss the point of this passage. With a dash of queer sexual ethics thrown in and a shifting of focus to radical politics, we're turning this passage on its head! 8:52

This week we talk about how the prevalence of texts about justice and how much that means to us as people of faith. We also ask questions about what our communities think of us and if we're really making a difference.

What does it mean to have faith? Who belongs in our "great cloud of witnesses"? Brian and Shay talk about the lectionary texts for August 18, 2013; Hebrews 11:29-12:2 and explore how they can be read queerly. (8:13)

Brian and Shay talk about the prophetic call of the Isaiah passage. What does this passage teach us about the Biblical interpretation of Sodom and Gomorrah? What is our responsibility when it comes to being the church? What does conversion mean? (9:17)

Brian and Shay talk about how the Psalms can bring meaning to community. What role do the Psalms play in communal dreaming? How do these songs give hope in the face of oppression. (6:44)

Brian and Shay talk about the importance of dreaming big dreams and asking for audacious requests. What are the things we’re asking for from our church communities? Where should our dreams be bigger and our asks more daring?

Brian and Shay talk about Mary and how she violates gender roles in order to be closer to Jesus and what the implications are for the church today.

Brian and Shay talk about the message that queer people have been given. We talk about learning to trust ourselves, to trust our experiences, and to speak from our truth.

Brian and Shay talk about what it means to leave a church or a community as a form of protest. When you decide to leave, how should you do it? What does it mean to leave a community?

Brian and Shay talk about how important it is to honor the people who came before us and also to pass off the work to a new generation. How can we handle transitions well? How do we create rituals to mark important moments in our lives?