Spiritual Direction And The Gay Person

Intended for counsellors and spiritual directors, this text aims to assist gay men and lesbian women in relationships, prayer, liturgy, and in the problems produced by their commitment to, or rejection of, institutional religion.

Original and much needed, and neither prescriptive nor advocating any particular position on civil rights or a particular denomination or faith group, 'Spiritual Direction and the Gay Person' will assist homosexuals in relationships, prayer, liturgy, and in the problems produced by their commitment to or rejection of institutional religion.

In Freedom, Glorious Freedom, acclaimed author John J. McNeill shows how lesbian and gay Christians can achieve full spiritual maturity and self-acceptance. McNeill discusses freedom of conscience and discernment of spirits, ancient teachings of the Christian church that have a special urgency for lesbian and gay people who need to free themselves from all the homophobic authorities and deal with God on a direct and personal basis. The liberating process of coming out of the closet is seen as a spirit-filled effort to achieve the glory of God by becoming fully alive. McNeill offers a twelve-step spirituality as a spiritual process of liberation from all addictions in order to experience the love of God in its fullness. The epilogue expresses in detail a philosophical vision, looking both to the past and to the future, of how gay liberation fits into the Spirit-directed evolution of human history and its role in the ongoing struggle for human liberation. For more than thirty-five years, John J. McNeill, an ordained priest and psychotherapist, has been devoting his life to spreading the good news of God¿s love for lesbian and gay Christians.

Reclaiming Men’s Spirituality is a study that investigates men’s spirituality by exploring three research questions: Can a form of spirituality about men be identified and described, how can this spirituality be examined, and what is it that needs to be reclaimed? To answer these questions and at the same time remain committed to the importance of lived experience, this study opted to investigate the lives of men by attending to ten spiritual histories. The study is situated in Malta, and the ten spiritual histories provide access to various features, expressions, and contours that relate closely to men’s being. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with ten spiritual directors who have men as spiritual directees. Their contribution clarifies the structure of men’s spirituality, the effort required when directing male spiritual directees and the impact generated in the lives of men thanks to spiritual direction. To provide a frame of reference for the examination of all the gathered data, John of the Cross’s spiritual framework has been chosen as the mystical instrument against which men’s spiritualities are studied, leading to richer insights into the operations, motives, goals, and problems of such spiritualities.

Cutting-edge essays, written by seasoned spiritual directors, which examine a variety of new frontiers in spiritual direction in the 21st century.

The author explores a mystic Christian spirituality and describes numerous practical steps that gay men and women can take in order to connect with and express their innate spiritual nature.

""Rev. Dr. Justin Tanis is a creative queer theologian and activist with a wealth of pastoral experience. His classic, Transgender--Theology, Ministry and Communities of Faith, is now available again for faith communities and university students struggling to include trans-people. It is a primer for understanding the spiritual journeys of transgendered people, examining the biblical support for inclusion, and provides faith communities guidelines for hospitality. His notion of 'gender as a calling' is a creative theological proposal for all of us to recognize our own gender calling and the diverse callings of the marginalized. Tanis imaginatively uses the image of twilight space of dawn and dusk, in-between space occupied by trans-people. His theology impacted my own commitment to transgendered rights and inclusion. At this time of conservative religious targeting the advances of trans-gendered people, we need the prophetic theological voice of Justin Tanis' compassionate inclusion."" --Rev. Dr. Robert E. Shore-Goss, Queer Theologian and author of Jesus Acted Up ""Justin gives tremendous insight into life at the intersection of gender identity and faith. As a transgender Latina religious leader and psychotherapist, I have referenced Justin's book in workshops and discussion groups to help allies and advocates of the transgender community to understand and promote acceptance of the transgender community. Justin's book is a must-read for clergy who want to integrate transgender community members in to their congregations."" --Nicole M. Garcia, MDiv, MA LPC ""Transgender: Theology Ministry and Communities of Faith remains a trailblazing work in the exploration of transgender identities, gender variance and Scripture, and responses of exclusion and inclusion conveyed by communities of faith. Dr. Tanis' wide-ranging research and candid conversations about transgender persons seeking faithful spiritual identity provides a helpful framework for transgender people; and for families, friends, and communities who want to support us. Outlining explicit and implicit barriers to participation, Tanis challenges faith communities to offer genuine hospitality and welcome to transgender and gender non-conforming people, offering several ways to extend such welcome, including liturgical resources created specifically for the transgender community. This text continues to be a valuable resource for my parish ministry, pastoral care, professional writing, and personal reflection. I am grateful to see it back in print."" --Rev. Dr. David Weekley Justin Tanis earned his PhD from the Graduate Theological Union in Interdisciplinary Studies, a Master of Divinity degree at Harvard University, and a Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary. As a pastor, he served congregations in Boston, Honolulu, and San Francisco and was Director of Leadership Development for Metropolitan Community Churches; he is now affiliated with the United Church of Christ. He works at the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion and previously directed communication work for the Hawai'i Equal Rights Marriage Project, National Center for Transgender Equality, and Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. In addition to Transgender: Ministry, Theology, and Communities of Faith, which was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, he is a contributor to the forthcoming Understanding Transgender Identity (Baker Academic Press). He has also contributed chapters to the Queer Bible Commentary and Take Back the Word: A Queer Reading of the Bible.

Is the Christian mystical tradition a relic of another time, shaped by celibates for celibates, unable to engage meaningfully with people of our time who embrace their corporeality and sexuality as crucial aspects of their journey towards union with God? This book reflects in serious theological depth and detail on the spiritual and sexual journeys of gay men of mature and committed Christian faith, employing the Christian mystical tradition as the lens and the interlocutor in this process. This study examines the major themes and stages of the mystical tradition as outlined by Evelyn Underhill, but also including more recent work by Ruth Burrows, Thomas Merton and Constance Fitzgerald. Using methods of qualitative research, it then considers the texts of in-depth interviews conducted with men, most of whom are theologians or spiritual leaders with a deep Catholic faith, and all of whom are openly, self-affirmingly gay. Finally, it employs Ricoeur’s hermeneutical theory to engage in a creative theological conversation between the traditional mystical stages and themes and these men’s lives, as described in their interviews. This is a unique study that brings together ancient spirituality with contemporary lived religion. As such, it will be of interest to scholars of religious studies, theology, Christian mysticism and spirituality, and queer studies. It will be of particular interest to those teach spiritual direction and to all who seek new ways to engage with the spiritual lives of LGBTIQ+ people.

Mark Yarhouse gives honest and accurate answers to parents and pastors who have questions about homosexuality. Throughout the book, the author uses a new framework for understanding the issue, carefully separating the concept of "same sex attraction" from a "gay identity." In a clear and compassionate style, he explains the research regarding what causes same-sex attraction and whether or not it can be overcome. He also discusses what Christians can do when someone they know opens up to them about their homosexual attractions.

If you read only one self-help book this year, make Self-Empowerment: Have the Life You Want! it. It's the portable therapist to help you close the gap between how life is, and how you would like it to be, in important areas of your life, such as your Mental Health, Health, Career, Relationships, Finances, Family, Community, and Spirituality, based on over 20 years of counseling, psychotherapy, and coaching by Ken Howard, LCSW.