The Transgressive Community: A Queer Christian Manifesto
When I look back on my evangelical upbringing, it might be aptly described as a “flannelgraph” childhood. If you have a similar background, you’ll know exactly what flannelgraph is: the flannel-covered background on which picture of Bible characters would be moved around to tell a story. In other words, my childhood faith was picture perfect. I was a good Christian kid from a good Christian home who attended a good Christian school. After graduating top of my class, I turned down several university scholarships to become a missionary instead.
And my childhood church stood with me the whole time. They encouraged me, celebrated me, prayed for me, and even financially supported me in my ministry. And why wouldn’t they? They were like family, many of them affectionately known as “auntie” and “uncle”, despite no blood relation. I loved and trusted them completely. I knew that they loved and trusted me too, no matter what.
No matter what…
Then I came out. I am came out as queer, as bisexual. I came out as fully affirming as a Christian. And now, my childhood church no longer stands with me. They no longer encourage me, celebrate me, and if they pray for me, it is to pray for salvation from what they can only understand as heresy. Their rejection was courteous and polite (they are Canadians, after all)…