Life on Side B

It has been 6 months and we are finally finishing season 1 of the podcast. Today I am joined by Ashley and we are looking back over this season, talking about why community and belonging was chosen as the first theme, and sharing our favorite moments. Plus, we are spilling the tea on what's coming up in season 2 including the new theme, a new format for the podcast, and a special event coming in January. 

This week we are circling back with five of our guests from this season to ask questions sent in by listeners. I got to talk to Meg about non-Christians within intentional community spaces, Melinda about her experience coming out at 34, Dean and Lisa about emotional attachment and martial infidelity, and Matt about the relationship between celibate partnerships and marriage. 

Per the conversation with Dean and Lisa, here is a list of some LGBT+ Side B friendly counseling services that might be helpful for anyone single or married in need of counseling. As we said in the episode, make sure you find a counselor that is right for you and that you feel comfortable with. 

• Global Counseling Network - www.globalcounselingnetwork.com

Music from this episode by Scott Holmes. 

Max has been with his partner, Jonathan, for 8 years. In today's episode, he shared about his experience in a celibate partnership as well as what he has learned over the last 8 years. A celibate partnership is a committed relationship between two queer people committed to pursuing celibacy together, normally because of a share conviction of the traditional Christian sexual ethic. This is an episode you won't want to miss.

Music:

Theme Song - Driven to Success by Scott Holmes

This week, I am talking with Matt about celibate partnerships and what that looks like in the lives of LGBT+ Christians. A celibate partnership is a committed relationship between two queer people committed to pursuing celibacy together, normally because of a share conviction of the traditional Christian sexual ethic. Matt shares about his own partnership, what he has learned through his partnership, and the blessings and difficulties he and his partner have faced along the way. Celibate partnerships have been one of the most criticized issues within the Side B movement and not even all Side B Christians themselves agree on the topic, yet regardless, it is a major way many Side B Christians have found a source of community. So it is important that we listen to the voices of those who are in partnerships and how those partnerships have supported their faith. 

Music:

Theme Song - Driven to Success by Scott Holmes

For many Side B Christians that remain single, a call to celibacy is a sacrifice of the possibility to have kids and a family as well as a spouse. But is that always the case? Bekah Mason joins me today to talk about her experience fostering and adopting as a single woman. She shares an amazing perspective on family in the Bible and how taking care of orphans is not simply a command for married people but all Christians. You won't want to miss this episode. 

Bekah Mason, ThM, is a mom, educator, student, and writer in Chattanooga, TN. Her studies have included research in the areas of history, theology, education, and sexuality, and she speaks and writes in those disciplines as well. In addition, Bekah serves on the board of Give Her Wings and is a member of The Pelican Project. She has written about singleness and sexuality at Boundless, Christ and Pop Culture, and Christianity Today, and blogs at bekahmason.com.

Episode Outline:

2:03 - Episode Introduction

2:50 - Bekah gives an introduction of herself.

5:00 - Bekah shares about how she identifies related to her sexuality.

8:00 - Bekah shares a bit about her story and how she has come to reconcile her sexuality and faith.

20:53 - Bekah shares about how she became a foster mom and finally adopted her two kids.

29:13 - Bekah explains how the Bible has influenced her view of family and the importance of adoption

33:06 - Bekah explains how her community around her helps support her as a mom.

38:40 - Bekah explains her thoughts on what it might look like discussing sexuality, and especially one's sexuality with one's kids.

43:19 - Bekah shares some of the difficulties and blessings of being a single mom. 

53:32 - Bekah and I discuss steps people can take if they are interested in fostering and/or adopting

Music:

1. Theme Song - Driven to Success by Scott Holmes

I have been excited to get Laurence on the podcast because he brings an amazing perspective on a wide range of topics from community to identity. More than anything our conversation impacted me with what he shared on the importance to look for how we can serve those we are in community with rather than how they can serve us. So often we go into community looking for how others can help us but Jesus calls us to another way of living.

You can contact Laurence at [email protected]

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Laurence studied dentistry at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. After his graduation he worked part time on staff with a college ministry and part time as a dentist. After 6 years he left dentistry to focus on helping students and young professionals grow in their faith and become disciples of Jesus.

Laurence has served in different leadership position in collegiate ministry in the Netherlands for 14 years. After that he moved to Colorado Spring in the US to work for the same mission organization. He is responsible for the training and development for next generation US missionaries before and on the field. He is also an international speaker and consultant on the topics of sexuality and LGBTQ.

Music:

1. Theme Song - Driven to Success by Scott Holmes

2. 18:21 - Stomps and Claps by Scott Holmes

3. 43:15 - Teamwork by Scott Holmes

Today, David Gill and I are continuing our review of the book, Costly Obedience by Mark Yarhouse and Olya Zaporozhets. This conversation was divided into two parts. In part one, we went through chapters one and two. Today we are finishing the book. 

David Gill is a graduate of Covenant Seminary (’15) and a life-long musician whose current hobbies include leading worship and scoring silent films from 1915-1929. He is the current music director for the Revoice conference, and he looks to build bridges in the arts and LGBT communities with the Church.

Books Mentioned:

Yarhouse, Mark, and Olya Zaporozhets. Costly Obedience: What We Can Learn from the Celibate Gay Christian Community. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019.

Music:

1. Theme Song - Driven to Success by Scott Holmes

2. Interlude #1 (15:15) - Hotshot! by Scott Holmes

3. Interlude #2 (36:38) - Shine Bright by Scott Holmes

Today, David Gill and I are reviewing the book, Costly Obedience by Mark Yarhouse and Olya Zaporozhets. The conversation was so good that it was hard to edit it down to one episode so this conversation is being separated into two parts. 

David Gill is a graduate of Covenant Seminary (’15) and a life-long musician whose current hobbies include leading worship and scoring silent films from 1915-1929. He is the current music director for the Revoice conference, and he looks to build bridges in the arts and LGBT communities with the Church.

Books Mentioned: 

Yarhouse, Mark, and Olya Zaporozhets. Costly Obedience: What We Can Learn from the Celibate Gay Christian Community. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2019. 

Music: 

1. Theme Song - Driven to Success by Scott Holmes

This week, Luke Calvin is joining me for the episode to discuss church inclusion. Recently, conservative churches have struggled to process the inclusion of celibate gay Christians. As Luke beautifully says in the episode, the church is meant to be a place where "others" can find they belong. So what does and should that look like for Side B Christians.

Luke is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri and is the co-director of New Hope Counseling Services.  He is also a worship director, and a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.  He lives in Wentzville, MO with his wife, Jen, and 2 boys Grey and Reese. 

Music:

1. Theme Song - Driven to Success by Scott Holmes

2. Interim Music - (17:10) Come Ye Sinners by Murphy, D.X. and (35:56) Sun-Kissed by Scott Holmes 

Books Mentioned:

(50:24) Mike Mason, The Mystery of Marriage: Meditations on the Miracle. Colorado, CO: Multnomah Books, 2005.