![]() ![]() Around that same time, he published Changing Our Mind, a book that calls for the “inclusion of LGBT Christians” and advances a fresh interpretation of the Bible supporting his new view. They never said their son’s “marriage” was not valid or that anything was suspect or sinful about his current expression of homosexuality.Īnother example was David Gushee, who previously announced at Matthew Vines’s conference in 2014 that he changed his position to a gay-affirming view. They showed family pictures of their son and explained how, although they made parental mistakes at first, they now have a positive relationship with him. For example, Greg and Lynn McDonald talked at length about their son who is “married” to another man. The conference website says, “No matter what theological stance you hold, we invite you to listen, reflect, and learn as we approach this topic from the quieter middle space.” ETJ cofounder and conference organizer Greg McDonald said, “We have no desire to change your theology.”ĭespite this claim, the hidden premise that permeated the conference was that walking with Jesus can include same-sex marriage as well as transgender “transitioning.” Not only did no one say anything to the contrary, but virtually every speaker, facilitator, and volunteer spoke in a way that led one to believe those behaviors are permissible. ![]() Virtually every aspect of it operated on the unspoken premise that it’s permissible for followers of Jesus to satisfy LGBTQ desires. Three Serious Concernsĭespite these good aspects, the conference was deeply problematic because of the false and somewhat hidden premise that permeated most of the teaching: Followers of Christ can participate in homosexual sex, same-sex marriage, or transgender “transitioning.” That premise undergirds three serious concerns I have with the Unconditional Conference.įirst, the Unconditional Conference claimed to be theological neutral but wasn’t. I think the conference got these and several other points right. These are true and important principles that I have taught in my speaking and writing for nearly two decades. Listen and reassure them that you love them. Invite them to share more of their story. Instead, thank them for being vulnerable. Don’t assume they’re engaging in homosexual sex or transitioning. For example, if your child tells you they experience same-sex attraction or are confused about their gender identity, don’t freak out. The conference also provided many practical dos and don’ts. I’m glad the speakers encouraged Christians to change course in this regard. Too often, believers shy away from them or, worse, end their relationships by their callous and disrespectful behavior. For example, I appreciated the focus on leaning into relationships with friends and family who identity as LGBTQ. In other words, the stated intent was not to change anyone’s theology.īefore I explain my concerns, I want to highlight some positive elements of the conference. ![]() Hosted by nationally known pastor Andy Stanley and held at his church, which boasts a weekly attendance of nearly 40,000 people, the event sought to create a theologically neutral space where parents and leaders could learn how to minister to youth who identify as LGBTQ. His stated goal was to “promote inclusion of LGBTQ people by reforming church teaching.” The organization he started, The Reformation Project, teaches that homosexual sex and same-sex marriage are biblically permissible, and its goal to mainstream this theology into the church is overt and clear.įast-forward to last month, when I attended the Unconditional Conference put on by Embracing the Journey (ETJ). In 2014, I attended Matthew Vines’s conference on the Bible and homosexuality.
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