Respectful LGBT Conversations: Seeking Truth, Giving Love, and Modeling Christian Unity

In stark contrast to the shrill and nasty interactions among many Christians regarding contentious LGBT issues, this book models a redemptive mode of engagement by featuring respectful conversations among deeply committed Christians who hold to diverging traditional and non-traditional views. The foundational values guiding these conversations are the quest for truth, giving the gift of love to all brothers and sisters in Christ, and modeling Christian unity. Emerging from these conversations are practical steps for a way forward that include creating safe spaces for ongoing conversation and practicing courageous Christian leadership. Based on case studies for a Christian university and two Christian churches, this book provides helpful advice for navigating conflict within churches, Christian denominations, and Christian educational institutions.

Harold Heie is a senior fellow at The Colossian Forum. His website, www.respectfulconversation.net, is devoted to encouraging and modeling respectful conversations concerning contentious issues about which Christians have strong disagreements. His previous books modeling respectful conversation are Evangelicals on Public Policy Issues: Sustaining a Respectful Political Conversation, and A Future for American Evangelicalism: Commitment, Openness, and Conversation.