How should we approach a conversation with a gay couple wanting to get baptised or get their child baptised? What should we bear in mind when considering who to invite to formal church membership or leadership positions? How can we be consistent and loving in disciplining people who are living unrepentantly in ways that are contrary to what the Bible teaches?  

Ashleigh, Ed and Andy discuss the issues of church membership and discipline particularly in relation to sexuality and relationships, but also more broadly for anyone who is part of a church. 

Resources mentioned and related

• The Living Out Church Audit 
• The Courage to Warn Anne Witton 
• Living Out Webinar for Church Leaders 13 June  
• What Does Good Pastoral Support Look Like? Andy Robinson

What if there’s disagreement in our church on sexuality? Ashleigh, Ed and Andy discuss why this isn’t something we can just agree to disagree on, and some key principles to bear in mind as we work things out in light of that. The team then offer some practical wisdom on how to have these conversations within your church leadership team and as a whole church, including whether it’s helpful to hold events engaging with opposing views. 

Resources mentioned and related

• Why Can't Christians Agree to Differ? Sam Allberry 
• How Important Is All This? (Explore Questions #6) 
• The Pastoral Principles – Church of England 
• People to be Loved Preston Sprinkle 
• Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? Preston Sprinkle 
• What Does it Mean to be a Truly Inclusive Church? Anne Witton 
• The Living Out Church Audit 

In this episode we discuss how we can provide good pastoral care, both for those who are themselves same-sex attracted and wanting to follow Jesus, and for those who have gay family members and want to love them well.

Andy, Ed and Adam share some of the things that have helped them most as they've opened up about their sexualities, the importance of doing simple things well and listening to individuals' experiences, and how showing love to the partner of a gay relative can point them to Jesus.

Resources mentioned and related:

• What Does Good Pastoral Support Look Like?
• What Can Church Leaders Do To Help Same-sex Attracted Christians?
• How Can Our Churches Support Christians Who Experience Same-Sex Attraction?
• Space at the Table: A Review

What cultural and biblical context do we need to bear in mind as we teach on sexuality and gender? How do we handle the Bible passages which directly address homosexuality? 

Ashleigh, Andy and Andrew discuss the need to approach these topics with both clarity and compassion, whether it’s best to do a one-off sermon or a whole series, and the importance of being aware of the people we’re speaking to and their experiences.

Resources mentioned and related

• Born This Way. Really? Adam Curtis
• Finding Your Best Identity Andrew Bunt
• The Unexpected Joy of Being Single Catherine Gray
• Purposeful Sexuality Ed Shaw
• What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?
• People to Be Loved Preston Sprinkle
• Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? Preston Sprinkle

In the first episode of this new series, we talk about why and how we should start the conversation on sexuality and gender in our churches. Andrew, Ashleigh and Ed share their experiences of what happens when you do (and don’t) discuss these topics in church, and why not being upfront on what we believe can be so unhelpful.

The team also discuss how to engage well with our culture and our own church family as we prepare to have these conversations, making sure we’re clear on what we believe and the range of views and experiences we’ll encounter as we talk about sexuality and gender.

Resources mentioned and related

• Starting the Conversation
• All of Us Strangers
• How Biblically Inclusive Is Your Church? The Living Out Church Audit
• You Will Never Be Ready

Ashleigh introduces our brand new podcast series - coming 7th March!

Our new series is coming soon, and in the meantime we're highlighting a couple of episodes from the vault. In our second series, we took on some of the most common questions we get asked about faith and sexuality, including this one: how important is all this?

Anne, Ed and Andy discuss whether sexuality is really a big deal. Why are Christians obsessed with sex when there seem to be so many other pressing issues? Do Christians need to fall out over sexual ethics or is it something we can just agree to disagree on? How can we respond when churches and denominations change their stance?

Resources mentioned

• Why Can't Christians Agree to Differ? Sam Allberry
• What Is Sexuality for? Ed Shaw
• Why Should the Church Be Debating Homosexuality? Ed Shaw
• How Can We Have Good Discussions With Christians Who Disagree With Us on Sexuality? Andrew Goddard
• I Will Follow Jon Guerra

While we work on our next series, we thought we'd take the opportunity to highlight a couple of episodes from the vault. In our second series, we took on some of the most common questions we get asked about faith and sexuality, including this one: isn't the Christian sexual ethic harmful and repressive?

In the first half of the show we explore ways in which Christians and churches have sadly harmed people in the areas of sex and sexuality. We talk about how silence has made it hard for people to feel safe and understood; how churches have sometimes created cultures of shame; and we discuss the damaging legacy of conversion therapy.

In the second half, we push back on the claim that the pattern for sexuality laid out in the Bible is harmful, and we share our own experiences of the Christian sexual ethic as life-giving. Oh, and you can step back in time and find out what we were all watching on TV!

Resources mentioned

• Isn’t the Christian Sexual Ethic Harmful and Repressive? Andrew Bunt
• Does Living Out Support ‘Gay Cure’ or ‘Reparative Therapy’? Ed Shaw
• Washed and Waiting Wesley Hill
• What Should We Do With Gender Stereotypes? Andrew Bunt
• How Biblically Inclusive Is Your Church? The Living Out Church Audit 
• Still Time To Care Greg Johnson
• LGBT and Mental Health: What’s the Link? Andrew Bunt
• LGBTQ+ Suicide Andrew Bunt
• How Can You Live Life Without Sex? Ed Shaw

In this special episode we say a sad farewell to our Content Director, Anne Witton. Anne shares her reasons for stepping down from front-line ministry at this time and talks honestly about some of the joys and struggles of her work with Living Out.

The team discuss highlights of the last few years, share favourite resources and remember plenty of funny moments.

Resources mentioned and related

• Anne's Story
• The Courage to Warn Anne Witton
• The Importance of Rounded Stories Andrew Bunt
• What Is Sexuality for? Ed Shaw
• 15, Same-sex Attracted... and Christian? Ashleigh Hull
• Christmas special 2022 podcast
• Thinking About Transgender feat. Dr. Julie Maxwell (Youth Leaders' Crash Course #6) podcast
• The Plausibility Problem Ed Shaw
• The Plausibility Problem: A Review Steve Ward

Andy explains how Hebrews 2 speaks into his experience of suffering and temptation in the area of sexuality, by reminding him that Jesus has been tempted and is sympathetic when we're struggling.

Dan's chosen passage is 1 Corinthians 6, which has helped him to see the worth and dignity we have in God's eyes, how we've been bought at a price, and what that means for what we do with our bodies.

Resources mentioned and related

• Kitchen Floors and Gethsemane Andy Robinson
• The Plausibility Problem Ed Shaw
• What God Has to Say About Our Bodies: A Review Dan Reid
• What God Has to Say About Our Bodies Sam Allberry